Tackling knock sensors

**1996 328ti** · 04-11-2015, 11:08 PM

Tired of seeing my 95 sit in the garage.
Today I started to work on the knock sensors.
I'm going to get to them by removing the oil filter housing.

Forgot what a bitch it is to get the alternator out.
The bottom bushings are stuck. I got the bolts out.
Just can't get the alternator out.

Decided to step away for the rest of the day.

Wondering. How much oil is going to leak out of the block.
I really don't feel like draining the oil.

MINIz guy · 04-12-2015, 12:04 AM

None.

**1996 328ti** · 04-12-2015, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MINIz guy

None.

Thanks. I'll suck whatever is in the filter housing. I didn't think from when I replaced the gasket and bushings before.

I sure hope replacing the knock sensors fix my idle problem.

mobius · 04-12-2015, 03:26 AM

How prone are the knock sensors to failing? At this point I literally have everything in the engine bay out except the engine itself and brake master cylinder and resevoir. I'm wondering if I should replace them with it this disconnected. I took it all apart for the complete cooling system overhaul. I got the car over the winter and it had a hunting issue with the idle. It would be normal then idle really low start shaking in some cases and also stall out in some cases. If it didn't still out then the idle would go back up eventually and then minutes later the cycle would start all over again. As long as there was load on the engine it was fine but at lights or stopped otherwise would do that. I noticed the vacuum hoses were all shot today especially the fuel injector tree.

**1996 328ti** · 04-12-2015, 04:09 AM

Knock sensors are a PITA. IF you have access to them, I'd replace them.
The right way is to remove the upper/lower intake manifolds.
OE sensors are not cheap.

I've beenchasing down an idle problem for some time.
Now it's to the point it stalls after warmed up sometimes when I approach a turn.

I replaced the hoses to the injectors already.
Do you have any leaks near the oil filter housing?

mobius · 04-12-2015, 04:14 AM

I will then. I've got that all out the upper and lower manifolds. My car has 100k on it but I figured I might as well replace everything I can while it's like this. I plan on keeping the car as long as possible. I'm hoping this over the top approach gets rid of my idle issue. If it doesn't what's left is the engine and likely that would be work with head. I hope you get yours sorted. Let me know if you track it down I'd be curious.

**xxxJohnBoyxxx** · 04-12-2015, 05:51 PM

Make sure the area where the knock sensors bolt on is clean the the sensors are torqued correctly.

**1996 328ti** · 04-12-2015, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxJohnBoyxxx

Make sure the area where the knock sensors bolt on is clean the the sensors are torqued correctly.

Will do.
Got the alternator out. Now to get the bracket out. Need to go back to the oil filter housing DIY.

**1996 328ti** · 04-12-2015, 07:58 PM

Got the forward knock sensor out but don't see anyway to get the rear out without removing the lower intake manifold.

I was hoping to get to it from behind the oil filter.

**1996 328ti** · 04-12-2015, 09:06 PM

I need to go away next week.
Next weekend I'm going to replace the one knock sensor I can get to and reassemble.
If it still isn't working, it's going up for sale.
I'm done. Most likely it will need a tow truck.
I can't afford to put any more money into this thing.

I don't even have anyone locally to work on it.
Not that I trust anyway.

mobius · 04-12-2015, 09:17 PM

The rear one I got out with the lower manifold still on. I tackled this part a little differently because I removed all the wire connectors so I could completely move the squid and main harness to the side. You've got the m42 motor though right? As mines the m44.

**1996 328ti** · 04-12-2015, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobius

The rear one I got out with the lower manifold still on. I tackled this part a little differently because I removed all the wire connectors so I could completely move the squid and main harness to the side. You've got the m42 motor though right? As mines the m44.

Yes. A M42.

I gave up on the rear sensor.
Right now I'm trying to put it all back together.
Having a bitch of a time getting the alternator back in.

mobius · 04-13-2015, 12:03 AM

Apologies man you're having such a time with it. I've found BMWs pretty easy to work on for the big German three. What's going on with the alternator?

**1996 328ti** · 04-13-2015, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobius

Apologies man you're having such a time with it. I've found BMWs pretty easy to work on for the big German three. What's going on with the alternator?

Stuck. I managed to pry it out. Can't seem to get it to line up back it its mount. I'll get back into it next weekend. Going away for a few days.

**1996 328ti** · 04-20-2015, 01:00 AM

Decided to take another crack.
I used a light coating of grease on the alternator carrier.
Made it a lot easier.

Next I need to put back the throttle body and hope that it fires up.
And maybe with any luck the knock sensor I changed was the right one.

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