P1519 cam sensor mystery

[fly]

I have been reading this forum for years. I have made many repairs thanks to all the great threads sharing your experience. I just completed a head replacement on a 97/98 528i 5speed. All went well thanks to the help.

If anyone every has a cooling issue with their 5 series, I label myself unfortunatly as a cooling system expert (only because 5 bmw pros all gave up). I know the system now more than I care to admit. fly@pacbell.net will get you direct if you need help or advice on the head replacement.

With all that said. I have a mistery and looking for creative experience.

e39 cam sensor keeps showing an error P1519. I have replaced the cam semsor twice with no change. The car passes emisions perfectly but wont pass smog due to the check engine light. A Bmw guy told me the cam sensors can be a problem in the aftermarket world and must be purchased at twice the price from the dealer.

I learned a couple things. The dealer claims I have 2 sensors. My 1998 has a single vanos with only one intake cam sensor. when starting the car it would race up to 2500 rpm then settle down to iddle. I just replaced the sensor again with the bmw oem part. The car starts perfect and runs perfect. The initial rpm increase at startup went away and now works perfect. Unfortunatly the error code came back in the first 10 miles. The after market sensor were ordered for the 98 the correct part is for a 97 model pre-dual vanos. An obvious change in performance. However......

My question is, what else could cause the cam sensor code other than the sensor its self?

We know the vanos unit is working fine. Has anyone ever heard of this? Has anyone ever replaced the head on their 5 series? Is it possible we are getting a misread off the cam somehow?

PLEASE HELP!

Thanks Guys!






BTW the after market sensor work fine. Its inportant to order for the year the car was manufactured and not titled. If your car is made towards the cut off, you may get the wrong parts. I own a 1998 yet all the parts are 1997 for my car. The dealer shows the 1998 as a dual vanos in error.