Cam Sensor?

[bmwpwr]

My check engine light came on. The codes say the Cam sensor is the culprit. Am I doing any harm to the car driving it with a faulty cam sensor? Is it an easy fix?

[madfronter]

The thing is a pain in the ass to change. Well not really but getting the censor back in is a bitch because you cant see the spot while your hands are in there so you have to use touch to find the hole. My went bad and I changed it. I would change it if I were you.

[hotdog19d]

I have driven my TI with a bad sensor for a few months. I just ordered a new one last week, we'll see how easy it is to replace... I'll keep ya posted.

[BMWDRIFTER]

it uses the crank sensor as a backup, so it will run ok unless it fails also

[socal318ti]

This seems to be the cause of my check engine light as well. Where did you order the replacment sensor and how much? Thanks.

[hotdog19d]

I ordered it through euro-depot theeurodepot.com it was $85. Normally I order new OEM parts from pacific bmw, but I needed a few used parts as well.

[socal318ti]

Thanks a lot. I'll be doing it this weekend. That check engine light has really started to bother me.

[bmwpwr]

ever since my check engine light came on it feels slugish. Would that cause the cars performance to be off?

[madfronter]

It did for me. I would get on the gas and my car would hesitate a lot.

[hotdog19d]

well I got my sensor yesterday, it doesn't look like it will be to hard to replace just have to get the upper intake out of the way

[bmwpwr]

I hope that does the trick. Im going to get mine changed. It feels like I hit a brick wall when I get on the gas. There is no power in the higher rpms.

[hotdog19d]

Thats what mine was doing too, I just finished installing the new one, pretty straight forward. The hardest part for me was getting the little fricking plastic clip off the block. Also be careful with the little clips that held it plugged in. I dropped mine and can't find it. I hope its not a problem.

[bmwpwr]

Thats what mine was doing too, I just finished installing the new one, pretty straight forward. The hardest part for me was getting the little fricking plastic clip off the block. Also be careful with the little clips that held it plugged in. I dropped mine and can't find it. I hope its not a problem.

After fixing that do you have al your power back?

[hotdog19d]

well I just started my car and its running worse than ever

[hotdog19d]

I "think" that I may have an ail leak from the manifold because it isn't tight enough, I need to find out what the specs are

[CirrusSR22]

Check all your vacuum hoses....

I replaced the cam sensor about a year ago, and during the process I broke/tore one of the vacuum lines. It was the big fat one coming from the valve cover.

I never realized that it broke until I started the car when I was done and FREAKED because it barely would run.

[hotdog19d]

I'll check it out.

[hotdog19d]

thanks by the way, for pointing that out

[bmwpwr]

Got my cam sensor fixed. That solved my hesitaion problem.

[madfronter]

Got my cam sensor fixed. That solved my hesitaion problem.

Awesome, glad to hear you got it all fixed and running good again.

[emode]

Hey everyone,

This is my first post on this board. Earlier today I just picked up my first BMW, a 1997 318is coupe in white. My last car was a modified Mazda MazdaSpeed Protege. That thing was pretty fast when I was done with it(13.1 ets), but I just need that RWD Anyways, The car has about 110,000 miles on it, and as I was driving it back to my home today I noticed that there was an issue that is scaring me a bit. Whenever I go to wide open throttle, right as I am coming up to the 4500rpms mark the car just has this horrible stuttering and bucking sensation, and can't really produce more power. It has happened in all the gears, and is the same each time. It also seems like the electrical system gets weaker during these episodes cause the lights flicker a tad dimmer. I am hoping it is something simple like dirty duel system or sparks or something. I bought some seafoam and new plugs for now, will throw them in today or tomorrow and see if it helps. I searched around the board a little bit but couldnt find this problem anywhere else. Is there anyone out there who could help shed some light on the situation. Im hoping I dont need a new fuel pump and filter too......arrgh

thought this sounded like my issue, anyone have a definitive for this problem yet?