Cam Position Sensor - Check Engine light

himes · 11-06-2003, 09:22 AM

Took the car to the dealer to diagnose the Check Engine light. They said it was the Cam Position Sensor. Car has 68k miles and runs fine. They quoted 1 hr labor to replace.
Can anyone who's changed this part post info on how tough the job is? Thanks.

Car is a 1998 323is.

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Not tough at all, but there are a few bolts that need to be removed to get at it - I'm working on a tech article that would cover this (actually working on it today...) You need to remove the top covers, and then you need to remove the solenoid that controls the Vanos unit in order to get access to this...

Hope this helps,

-Wayne

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Here is a photo of the sensor:

himes · 04:18 PM

Wayne, Thanks but mine doesn't look quite like that. I can see the sensor but it's behind what I think is the vanos solenoid and I don't know how to get that solenoid off. It has a big 32mm nut around it's center. I supposed I'll need something like a fan clutch wrench to get on that solenoid, but there's not much room around there. There's also what I believe to be an oil supply line in the way. The picture below shows what I think is the solenoid and that oil supply line. Thanks.

himes · 11-08-2003, 04:16 PM

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Hi there. Welcome to the board by the way. Here is really the only place you will get your questions by people who actually know, instead of people who are simply guessing.

Your car and my car are the same - in this photo, I have removed the vanos solenoid to get to the sensor. Let me see if I have a few more pics...

-Wayne

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Simply put a 32mm wrench on the Vanos solenoid and undo it - then loosen up the Vanos oil supply line (yellow arrow), and make sure you have some paper towels handy, as it will leak...

You should be able to get to the sensor then...

Of course, you have to remove the top plastic covers too...

Hope this helps,

-Wayne

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

The real challenge will be unplugging the sensor, which is down under the manifold. Remove the alternator cooling boot, and you should be able to reach down in there, next to the oil filter canister, and undo the connection. Shine a light down through the holes in the top of the manifold...

-Wayne

himes · 11-09-2003, 03:08 PM

Wayne,

Thank you very much for the clarification on the vanos solenoid and the oil supply line. But am still a little confused about what you wrote here...."you have to remove the top plastic covers too..." Which top plastic covers do you mean? Valve cover? Do you guys sell this camshaft position sensor part?

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

The top plastic covers, you know, the ones with the silver stripes on the side that say "BMW" - sortof obvious. The ones that covers the valve cover and the spark plugs.

Tell all your friends that this is the place for tech answers!

-Wayne

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Certainly, here it is in our catalog:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/SuperCat/BE36/BMW_BE36_ELSENS_pg3.htm#item10

-Wayne

himes · 11-10-2003, 05:13 AM

OH! Quite right! Those things have been off for days now. Thank you for all of your help! Will let you know how it goes. By the way your thread on replacing the cam shaft is quite interesting too. I'll look forward to the compleat writeup on that.

himes · 11-10-2003, 06:40 AM

Wayne, one more question if you please....will the Check Engine light go out if the Cam Position sensor is replaced and the new one works OK?

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

You might have to reset the codes:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/Mult-Code_Reading/Mult-Code_Reading.htm

I'm not sure if they automatically reset themselves. Also, regarding your cam position sensor - this is a pretty robust part with no moving parts (except the sensor 'wheel' inside the valve cover). It may be a problem with the wire harness or the connector. It may be something wrong with the sensor wheel (need to remove the valve cover). Replace the sensor first, reset the codes, and then see what happens.

As for getting to the sensor, you may find my artcle (photos only right now) on manifold removal useful:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW\techarticles\E36-Int-Manifold-Gasket\E36-Int-Manifold-Gasket.htm

-Wayne

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Hmm, here's a better shot of the sensor plug:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW\techarticles\E36-Head-Gasket\pic35.jpg

-Wayne

himes · 11-19-2003, 01:38 PM

Wayne,
I received the Cam Sensor part and installed it last night. After fiddling with the Instrument Cluster diagnostic procedure (hold down odometer button, turn on key, push odo button repeatedly to get to tEST 14, then hold down on it there) was able to reset the engine DME and make the Check Engine light go out. All is fixed. Thanks for your help.

ps. I also received the shipping mis-charge credit too. Thanks!

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Sweet. Glad all is working well. Tell all your friends about this BBS and Pelican too!

-Wayne

bmwe46 · 12-20-2004, 07:48 AM

hi you guy really expect at this. can i have a question. my e46 the check engine really jumpy. it go on for sometime and then it off sometime then it up again. so is there anyway i can find out what wrong with it beside buying the reset engine thing

Jimbot · 12-24-2004, 04:44 PM

Is this procedure the same for an e46? I put up a new thread asking this question here...

Cam Position Sensor replacement

Thanks!

Danubo49 · 01-05-2005, 06:35 PM

Wayne,
I am impressed by your knowledge about the bimmer, may I ask. whether it is also possible not to remove the top manifold in E36 M44 engine to access the other end of the sensor(under the manifold) can I get away with that difficulty by simply going around the manifold?? I wish you have answer for me on this matter...

danubo49