Is it a OE VDO/Siemens sensor?

[325ci5sp]

Is it a OE VDO/Siemens sensor? I bought from a huge vendor here in Brazil (was expensive) and when comparing to my original sensor it does look like a fake… no stamps at all. It only has this logo mark that seems easy to replicate.
It is made by Continental Brazil says the box so maybe it’s a cheaper production line down here…? does anyone got something similar from VDO nowadays? PN 12 14 1 703 221



By the way here is how my original sensor insulation was after 21 years... I will remove the intake manifold and check the harness to the ECU side too cause I am really worried after seeing this.

And this car (323ti compact) is really strange, it has the M52B25 engine and OBD2 sensors like crank sensor (below the starter) and intake temp sensor w o-ring, but uses MS41.0 -OBD1- ECU, and was only produced in Europe between 97-00.

[Eric93se]

Get the one that says genuine bmw, should be Siemens

https://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin...2+14+1+703+221

[shogun]

all the same, Continental Germany acquired Siemens VDO Automotive back in 2007 for 15.7 billion USD, making Continental to one of the five largest automotive suppliers in the world.
this camshaft position sensor 12141703221 is made by VDO https://www.ecstuning.com/b-vdo-part...141703221~vdo/
and here it says Continental VDO https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/12141703221
PelicanParts calls it Part#12-14-1-703-221-M82 Continental VDO 5WK96011Z

[Eric93se]

Others as well as myself have had problems with Cam sensors that are not Siemens. I've tried about 3 non Siemens including VDO and have had trouble with them. When one conglomerate buys out another it does not mean they re-tool them.

[flyfishvt]

The MS41.0 the was used in non US OBD2 cars. US cars got MS41.1. MS41.0 is definitely not an obd1 dme.

The reason for the difference is as follows.

US fully implemented the OBD2 standard in 96
Outside US partially implemented it in 96 and fully implemented it in 2001.

The evidence is easy to see. Only US cars builtbduring this time period have o2 sensors after the catalytic converter and only US cars have the 16 pin obd2 port under the steering wheel. Those are the major differences that most people are familiar with.

[pbonsalb]

Others as well as myself have had problems with Cam sensors that are not Siemens. I've tried about 3 non Siemens including VDO and have had trouble with them. When one conglomerate buys out another it does not mean they re-tool them.

This happened to me a few years ago. Maybe there are counterfeits.

[shogun]

as pbonsalb, maybe that were fake ones.

VDO, Siemens VDO or Continental VDO. All comes from the same production plants. (maybe they call them different in some countries)
History: 2001 VDO was bought by Siemens AG, this division from then on was called Siemens VDO Automotive AG.
In 2006 Siemens VDO Automotive (AG) was integrated into Siemens AG. The company and product names „Siemens VDO“ and „VDO Dayton“ were continued, inside Siemens that division was called „Siemens VDO Automotive“.
In 2007 name was legally changed again to the old name „Siemens VDO Automotive AG“.
And then Siemens VDO Automotive AG was sold to Continental AG.

[MParallel]

The MS41.0 the was used in non US OBD2 cars. US cars got MS41.1. MS41.0 is definitely not an obd1 dme.

The reason for the difference is as follows.

US fully implemented the OBD2 standard in 96
Outside US partially implemented it in 96 and fully implemented it in 2001.

The evidence is easy to see. Only US cars builtbduring this time period have o2 sensors after the catalytic converter and only US cars have the 16 pin obd2 port under the steering wheel. Those are the major differences that most people are familiar with.

For example all EU E36 328i have a Siemens MS41.0 and no EU E36 was ever OBD2. So definitely an OBD1 DME.

[325ci5sp]

Thanks everyone for the replies, here is something interesting I have found.

The sensor I bought is indeed original from Continental VDO made here in Brazil. The question is, why the OE BMW/VDO Siemens is better as everyone says?

In theory they come all from the same company, which is a multinational and has many plants around the world. They must follow the same manufacturing process and quality control (again, in theory).

Here are some pictures of the siemens sensor chopped open, you can see apart from the 3 wires it has a 4th one used for insulation/ground (idk) and a protection sheet.

Then this is a side by side of my continental vdo and a fake $20 china sensor that I bought back in Feb. I had to zoom a lot but you can notice how the fake one does not have an insulation sheet and the vdo does. But I can't see the fourth wire.

Now I am curious to see this same shot from a original siemens if someone can post please (as mine was destroyed), if it has a larger insulation, or this fourth wire can be seem from there, then we might have found out why they are better and last longer.

[Eric93se]

I have a feeling the shielding is significant.

[B320i]

It can also pay to shop around for these sensors depending on where you are in the world. Here in Australia, genuine ones (BMW) start at US$200 from various resellers with dealers charging even more! Ouch. There are a couple of Latvian/Eastern European eBay sellers who sell the genuine parts for much more reasonable prices, often they work out cheaper than the big U.S. chains like Pelican or FCP because they don't charge you another small fortune in shipping.

Also, for those interested, this part used on the later Siemens MS41/41.1 fits and works perfectly with the older M50B20TU engine with the MS40.1 DME, too. The original part is 12 14 1 730 028. RealOEM has its usual confusing mannerisms that suggest the newer part might fit. It does, and what's more, the newer part is shaped such that you don't need to use (and can't use) the o-ring. This part is also just half the price of the original piece the little 2L engine uses - if you can actually find it.

[matheusbfm]

Hey 325ci5sp, seems we're almost in the same situation: I'm from Brazil too, have a 323Ti, but my failing sensor is the Crankshaft one. Bought a new VDO/Siemens sensor from a famous marketplace, the box looks legit, but there's no VDO/Siemens logomark/stamp anywhere in the sensor itself. Did yours have any?