how much of a PITA to replace?

usually they're pretty easy, but i wonder if it might be a bitch on that car. just sold mine to my buddy, but i think the sending unit might be acting up periodically. i knew about it, but it didn't bother me and i forgot to tell him about it...i felt bad about it when i remembered it today (it periodically causes the amber oil light to illum...resets and generally stays off when you turn the ignition off/on), so if it isn't ricockulously expensive and/or annoying to replace, I'm gonna put a new one in for him.

2/4/2007 1:32:40 AM

fuck a B[/b]ring Money with you

2/4/2007 4:19:27 AM

what year was it?

TSB 110900, its a real common problem, the heater element screws up on them, I replaced one on a '02 and it was pretty easy, just drain the oil, and make sure you take off the filter housing cover to let all the oil drain out of there into the sump also, then its just two bolts and a plug, but only the dealer has them and the are $texas$ because they know they are screwed up, do not buy the aftermarket standard motor parts sensor, they are the old style and will fail again, get the updated design from the dealer

[Edited on February 4, 2007 at 10:18 AM. Reason : blah]

2/4/2007 10:11:24 AM

LOL

There was no update to the design logged in the BMW TIS or the EPC and they are pretty strict on revising part numbers in the catalog. That being said definitely avoid anything but the OEM BMW parts. Luckily it lists for a whopping $11.61 so you should be able to afford this months ration of baby diapers.

Part number is 12-61-1-710-509.

2/4/2007 6:15:01 PM

OH AND BY THE WAY, you dont need to drain the engine oil, or get underneath the car at all. Remove the airbox maybe get the PS tank out of the way if you need to, remove the oil filter cap, pull it out with filter media, allow oil to drainback into engine, then remove the pressure switch. Catch the small amount of resudial oil that comes out in a rag, it wont be much.



(switch is #12 in pic)

[Edited on February 4, 2007 at 6:26 PM. Reason : owned]

2/4/2007 6:22:00 PM

I am mistaken then, I was thinking oil level switch,

2/4/2007 10:50:55 PM

My cost for the OEM part thru worldpac is less than $7. So dont get robbed Duke.

2/5/2007 7:54:07 AM

so from my description, you think it problem is the px sending unit, not the level sending unit?

(although for $11 or whatever, i can try the "throw parts at it" approach)

2/5/2007 8:08:44 AM

i dont know i havent put my hands on the car so diagnosing it is tough. you mentioned oil pressure sending unit in the thread title so i ran with it.

2/5/2007 12:47:14 PM

is it an amber check oil light? if so it is probably he level sensor, thats the more common problem ,if it is the pressure sensor, its a red light

2/5/2007 7:16:57 PM

yeah, it's an amber light

2/5/2007 7:50:17 PM

OIL LEVELLING SENSOR 12-6-17-508-003 $130.57



Necessary preliminary tasks:

* Switch off ignition.
* Unfasten cover on full-flow oil filter to enable engine oil in filter to flow back into the oil sump.
* Drain engine oil.

Remove reinforcement plate.

IMPORTANT: Do not drive the vehicle under any circumstances with the reinforcement plate removed, including on or off the service rack.



Disconnect plug connection (1).
Unscrew nuts (2).
Remove level switch (3).

Installation:
Clean sealing surface on oil sump and replace seal of level switch.

Installation:
Screw on oil-filter cover tightly.
All Screwed on covers 25 Nm

Top up engine oil.

2/5/2007 10:08:33 PM