Discussion
A little help needed!
my 330 has sat for a couple of months, started driving it again a week or so ago and have DSC+ABS+Brake warning lights on the dash. Code reader threw a few random ABS communication errors plus front left ABS sensor. Figured I'd replace the sensor and go from there.
Ebay e46 front sensor duly ordered, approached it today. As per usual where my e46 is concerned, it b
d fought me every step of the way. Bolt sheared after coming out 3 or 4 turns which was weird - either it's seized or it's not! Absolutely soaked in penetrating oil and went to town on it with mole grips but it is stuck solid and will need heat or at least better access than I can get on the drive.
Old sensor came out with gas pliers, new sensor is very very tight (and looks different, round barrel with a square head, old one is slimmer) - will need grease and a hammer to fit I think
fortunately I checked the other end - not only does it have a different number of pins (3 vs 2 on the car), the locating lugs inside the socket are at different angles, so it won't fit without filing them down.
Given the state of my luck today (my 10 month old impact gun turned out to be totally dead as well) I put the wheel back on and went and made a cup of tea.
I will probably do the drive of shame to a garage to get them to remove the broken bolt before I make it worse and I need a new [whatever the abs sensor mounts to], but what is up with the ABS sensor? RealOEM shows a part number of 34526792897, superceding 34526752681, whereas the one I bought says 34521165609, 34521164651 - yet it states it is good for Front left/right e46 98-07 all bodyshapes...
So did I buy the wrong part?
Truly a case of "every 20 minute job is one broken bolt away from being a 3 day nightmare"
my 330 has sat for a couple of months, started driving it again a week or so ago and have DSC+ABS+Brake warning lights on the dash. Code reader threw a few random ABS communication errors plus front left ABS sensor. Figured I'd replace the sensor and go from there.
Ebay e46 front sensor duly ordered, approached it today. As per usual where my e46 is concerned, it b
d fought me every step of the way. Bolt sheared after coming out 3 or 4 turns which was weird - either it's seized or it's not! Absolutely soaked in penetrating oil and went to town on it with mole grips but it is stuck solid and will need heat or at least better access than I can get on the drive.Old sensor came out with gas pliers, new sensor is very very tight (and looks different, round barrel with a square head, old one is slimmer) - will need grease and a hammer to fit I think
fortunately I checked the other end - not only does it have a different number of pins (3 vs 2 on the car), the locating lugs inside the socket are at different angles, so it won't fit without filing them down.Given the state of my luck today (my 10 month old impact gun turned out to be totally dead as well) I put the wheel back on and went and made a cup of tea.
I will probably do the drive of shame to a garage to get them to remove the broken bolt before I make it worse and I need a new [whatever the abs sensor mounts to], but what is up with the ABS sensor? RealOEM shows a part number of 34526792897, superceding 34526752681, whereas the one I bought says 34521165609, 34521164651 - yet it states it is good for Front left/right e46 98-07 all bodyshapes...
So did I buy the wrong part?
Truly a case of "every 20 minute job is one broken bolt away from being a 3 day nightmare"
NiceCupOfTea said:
I will probably do the drive of shame to a garage to get them to remove the broken bolt before I make it worse and I need a new [whatever the abs sensor mounts to], but what is up with the ABS sensor? RealOEM shows a part number of 34526792897, superceding 34526752681, whereas the one I bought says 34521165609, 34521164651 - yet it states it is good for Front left/right e46 98-07 all bodyshapes...
So did I buy the wrong part?
Looks like it. And they don't seem compatible. Where did you buy it from?So did I buy the wrong part?
According to your part numbers...
This is what you've got:
This is what you need:
The one you've got is what I had on my 2000 330Ci.
Don't worry about the 'drive of shame'...had the same issue: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I thought it'd be a staight forward job but was an absolute bugger. Needed to be drilled out by the garage.
Edited by g3org3y on Wednesday 7th July 18:56
That's exactly what's happened, wrong part. 
I got it from ebay - figured I'd try a cheap pattern part as once it's been changed if it fails again it's easy to swap, and I didn't fancy spending £80 on genuine BMW/ATE. I didn't cross reference the part with realoem I must admit - what's that all about then? Did BMW revise it? They'd have had to revise the hub carrier too or whatever it is... My car is a 2004 330i Touring - auction says it fits e46 all body styles 98-2006!
I guess I need a trip to the garage, order a new part and new bolt (and hope it fixes the problem - there were several codes coming up about communications)
Your thread was interesting - funnily enough your dilemma about wheels is famiiar - my rears are quite low, and I recently chewed the hell out the rim protector on one of the fronts. My MV2s are in an absolutely awful condition, lots of kerb rash and corrosion, flaking paint, and the the front left leaks, so I just bought a set of Style 68s on ebay - good shape with tyres for £200 which I'm pretty happy with. Will get some RS5s or something on them and hopefully improve the ride...
I got it from ebay - figured I'd try a cheap pattern part as once it's been changed if it fails again it's easy to swap, and I didn't fancy spending £80 on genuine BMW/ATE. I didn't cross reference the part with realoem I must admit - what's that all about then? Did BMW revise it? They'd have had to revise the hub carrier too or whatever it is... My car is a 2004 330i Touring - auction says it fits e46 all body styles 98-2006!I guess I need a trip to the garage, order a new part and new bolt (and hope it fixes the problem - there were several codes coming up about communications)
Your thread was interesting - funnily enough your dilemma about wheels is famiiar - my rears are quite low, and I recently chewed the hell out the rim protector on one of the fronts. My MV2s are in an absolutely awful condition, lots of kerb rash and corrosion, flaking paint, and the the front left leaks, so I just bought a set of Style 68s on ebay - good shape with tyres for £200 which I'm pretty happy with. Will get some RS5s or something on them and hopefully improve the ride...
Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Wednesday 7th July 19:32
NiceCupOfTea said:
That's exactly what's happened, wrong part. I got it from ebay - figured I'd try a cheap pattern part as once it's been changed if it fails again it's easy to swap, and I didn't fancy spending £80 on genuine BMW/ATE. I didn't cross reference the part with realoem I must admit - what's that all about then? Did BMW revise it? They'd have had to revise the hub carrier too or whatever it is... My car is a 2004 330i Touring - auction says it fits e46 all body styles 98-2006!
I guess I need a trip to the garage, order a new part and new bolt (and hope it fixes the problem - there were several codes coming up about communications)
Your thread was interesting - funnily enough your dilemma about wheels is famiiar - my rears are quite low, and I recently chewed the hell out the rim protector on one of the fronts. My MV2s are in an absolutely awful condition, lots of kerb rash and corrosion, flaking paint, and the the front left leaks, so I just bought a set of Style 68s on ebay - good shape with tyres for £200 which I'm pretty happy with. Will get some RS5s or something on them and hopefully improve the ride...
Having ordered my fair share of incorrect parts, I now usually cross ref with AutoDoc and buy OE/Branded items (usually via eBay). I got it from ebay - figured I'd try a cheap pattern part as once it's been changed if it fails again it's easy to swap, and I didn't fancy spending £80 on genuine BMW/ATE. I didn't cross reference the part with realoem I must admit - what's that all about then? Did BMW revise it? They'd have had to revise the hub carrier too or whatever it is... My car is a 2004 330i Touring - auction says it fits e46 all body styles 98-2006!I guess I need a trip to the garage, order a new part and new bolt (and hope it fixes the problem - there were several codes coming up about communications)
Your thread was interesting - funnily enough your dilemma about wheels is famiiar - my rears are quite low, and I recently chewed the hell out the rim protector on one of the fronts. My MV2s are in an absolutely awful condition, lots of kerb rash and corrosion, flaking paint, and the the front left leaks, so I just bought a set of Style 68s on ebay - good shape with tyres for £200 which I'm pretty happy with. Will get some RS5s or something on them and hopefully improve the ride...
Looking on eBay, you can get a Bosch part for ~ £40. The replacement bolt I bought direct from BMW iirc.
The difference in the sensors depends on whether you have ASC (older, more basic system) or DSC. Grey connector is ASC, blue is DSC. I suspect you have DSC with a 330. The DSC sensors are significantly more expensive as they can detect much smaller variances in wheel rotation than the ASC sensors.
I have a spare brand new genuine ATE sensor in my garage, still in the box, although I can't remember whether it's front or rear. I bought it for my E46 330Ci but in the end I didn't need it, and I've since sold the car and bought an E91. Let me know if you're still looking for one and I'll check the part number to see which wheel it fits.
Personally I always went for genuine BMW/ATE sensors as I've heard very mixed reviews on cheaper stuff (and as noted above, the DSC system is much more sensitive than the ASC). However if you're not bothered about having to do the job again for the price difference I can see the appeal in a cheaper part.
I have a spare brand new genuine ATE sensor in my garage, still in the box, although I can't remember whether it's front or rear. I bought it for my E46 330Ci but in the end I didn't need it, and I've since sold the car and bought an E91. Let me know if you're still looking for one and I'll check the part number to see which wheel it fits.
Personally I always went for genuine BMW/ATE sensors as I've heard very mixed reviews on cheaper stuff (and as noted above, the DSC system is much more sensitive than the ASC). However if you're not bothered about having to do the job again for the price difference I can see the appeal in a cheaper part.
Yep, likely the ASC/DCS issue (was a pre/post facelift thing IIRC).
Generally beware of relying on ebay compatibility checks, as I often see parts compatible with either the pre or post facelift cars with a blanket "97-05 all E46s trust me mate will be ok" statement.
Most sellers will try and put a disclaimer for you to check compatibility yourself, and some will even ask for the VIN.
(and here I thought the brake system on E46s was bombproof..)
Generally beware of relying on ebay compatibility checks, as I often see parts compatible with either the pre or post facelift cars with a blanket "97-05 all E46s trust me mate will be ok" statement.
Most sellers will try and put a disclaimer for you to check compatibility yourself, and some will even ask for the VIN.
(and here I thought the brake system on E46s was bombproof..)
4004 said:
(and here I thought the brake system on E46s was bombproof..)
Not sure if that was tongue in cheek, but the DSC system on the E46 is very sensitive. It's a good system (Teeves MK60 I believe) and far ahead of the old ASC system in terms of capability, but it's certainly not maintenance free. In my time I had to replace at least two sensors, and both rear wheel reluctor rings. I had a receipt for two replacement master cylinder pressure sensors replaced by a previous owner.pmorg4 said:
Not sure if that was tongue in cheek, but the DSC system on the E46 is very sensitive. It's a good system (Teeves MK60 I believe) and far ahead of the old ASC system in terms of capability, but it's certainly not maintenance free. In my time I had to replace at least two sensors, and both rear wheel reluctor rings. I had a receipt for two replacement master cylinder pressure sensors replaced by a previous owner.
Nope, not tongue in cheek, but of course my experience is anecdotal (I did the reluctor rings when refreshing the hubs) and doesn't represent the full MK60 population. MK20 wasn't too bad either.I'll see how it likes living with the M3 master cylinder, but hoping to keep issues limited to false run flat indications
pmorg4 said:
The difference in the sensors depends on whether you have ASC (older, more basic system) or DSC. Grey connector is ASC, blue is DSC. I suspect you have DSC with a 330. The DSC sensors are significantly more expensive as they can detect much smaller variances in wheel rotation than the ASC sensors.
I looked back at my 330Ci Shedtastic thread, mine had the grey connector and is equipped with DSC (according to the button on the dash) and confirmed on the spec sheet (Option #210)
I wonder if the grey/blue sensor is a prefacelift vs facelift thing.
(Mine was a 2000 prefacelift model)Some info re ASC vs DSC for anyone who's interested: https://www.my330i.com/dsc.php
MK60 DSC should have blue sensors, as they are totally different internally to the grey sensors. Blue sensors are active, that is they are powered and have a processing unit inside them. Grey sensors much more basic
I don't know if BMW ever fitted a different type, presumably less sophisticated, of DSC to the E46 that would explain the use of the grey sensors. Mine was an early 330Ci with MK60 and blue sensors.
Quoting BMW literature regarding MK60 DSC: "The connectors are blue to distinguish them apart from the grey connectors used for sensors on the MK20 EI."
See DSC sensor details on page 11 of the below
https://ia801005.us.archive.org/11/items/BMWTechni...
I don't know if BMW ever fitted a different type, presumably less sophisticated, of DSC to the E46 that would explain the use of the grey sensors. Mine was an early 330Ci with MK60 and blue sensors.
Quoting BMW literature regarding MK60 DSC: "The connectors are blue to distinguish them apart from the grey connectors used for sensors on the MK20 EI."
See DSC sensor details on page 11 of the below
https://ia801005.us.archive.org/11/items/BMWTechni...
pmorg4 said:
MK60 DSC should have blue sensors, as they are totally different internally to the grey sensors. Blue sensors are active, that is they are powered and have a processing unit inside them. Grey sensors much more basic
I don't know if BMW ever fitted a different type, presumably less sophisticated, of DSC to the E46 that would explain the use of the grey sensors. Mine was an early 330Ci with MK60 and blue sensors.
Quoting BMW literature regarding MK60 DSC: "The connectors are blue to distinguish them apart from the grey connectors used for sensors on the MK20 EI."
See DSC sensor details on page 11 of the below
https://ia801005.us.archive.org/11/items/BMWTechni...
According to this: https://www.bimmerfest.com/attachments/bmw_e46_tra...I don't know if BMW ever fitted a different type, presumably less sophisticated, of DSC to the E46 that would explain the use of the grey sensors. Mine was an early 330Ci with MK60 and blue sensors.
Quoting BMW literature regarding MK60 DSC: "The connectors are blue to distinguish them apart from the grey connectors used for sensors on the MK20 EI."
See DSC sensor details on page 11 of the below
https://ia801005.us.archive.org/11/items/BMWTechni...
Looks like E46s either had MK20EI ASC (early models/4 cyls), DSC III (MK20) from 6/99 to 8/00 and then Teves DSC III (K60) from 9/00.
Makes sense as my 330Ci is an August 2000 build date hence the grey sensor (as DSCIII MK20)
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