PDC question

[Mikee]

Hi All

Words cannot describe how happy I am to find this forum!

I was a member on X5 Drivers till it did a Lord Lucan last year. Thought you'd all disappeared, but nice to see some familiar names again...AW8, pvr etc. You know who you all are!

Just looking for some advice on where to get replacement front parking sensors. I replaced one last year with an e46 part (6 911 831) but never seemed to work properly and now need to replace the 2 in the front centre of the car ('53 plate 4.6). Original part no. is 6 911 838 but apart from going to the stealers, I've emailed the usual BMW breakers and searched eBay, but no luck. Is there anywhere else I can try, and should the e46 part work ok?

Thanks... and Hello to those who might remember me from before!

[pvr]

Greetings, yes - remember you all right

There are a few part companies that sell BMW part cheaper, but as I am on a different PC they are not in my "favourite" list. Will check if I can find them ....

[Mikee]

Cheers pvr. Glad to see you've not changed your avatar from before.

[pvr]

He did unfortunately pass away

[pvr]

Any good?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GENUINE-BMW-5-SER ... 447wt_1141

or

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-PDC-Parking-S ... 500wt_1156

[Mikee]

Sorry to hear about the dog mate.

Thanks for the links. I've emailed the second one as when I replaced one last year I had to slightly modify the one i bought to make it fit... It was listed as being for the e53 but the connector block had a tiny extra bit of plastic in it that needed to be cut out to make it fit. Just wanna make sure i buy the right one this time.

[x555]

[quote=""pvr""]Any good?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GENUINE-BMW-5-SER ... 447wt_1141

or

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-PDC-Parking-S ... 500wt_1156[/quote]

I used the second link place (grimsbybmw) to get mine the other day and they are new sensors, way cheaper than the stealers and also come with a contact number for support which is reasuring as he is a bmw indy specialist (simon thorpe)....... but you do have to do a little modding as the conections don't line up with the oem plug so a bit of carefull triming with a stanley knife is needed nothing hard though!
Ohh and welcome back mike

Edit: just about to post this and saw that you had already replied to pvr ....... must learn to type faster

[Mikee]

Hey x555, another familiar face.

Thanks for the welcome! I've missed the forum and you lot of know it alls!

I did buy one last year from an e46 that needed trimming up to fit but I never thought it worked properly, maybe it was a bit of a dud one in the first place. Do yours work perfectly then?

[x555]

Far from it at the moment mate there on and off as i think either the module is knackered or the other front sensor needs replacing.
I'm thinking the latter as since changing the front right one with the one from that link they have started to work better (that one works where as it didn't before ) so i think that rules out the module.
I tested them after fitting the new one and they all beep correctly bar one (front middle left)
So i suppose i will get another from that ebay dealer and try that.

[Sanj]

Welcome back Mikee! I felt the aame when this site came alive!

Good to have you back!

[Mikee]

Sanj!
Good to see your still lurking around!

[CondorX5]

Sanj does a lot of lurking Mike........ Welcome back.

[Mikee]

Thanks again CondorX5...

Back on Topic, in case anyones interested, I've had an email from the Guy Simon with the Sensors and I've been assured that they wil work perfectly well, but will need to be trimmed up inside the connector block to fit. When they arrive and I refit them I'll post up if they work. Certainly are a lot cheaper than anywhere else at £33 a pop.

And just out of interest, everywhere I searched on the internet told me that I'd have to remove the front bumper to remove te PDC sensors. I managed to get them out with a flathead screwdriver, a bit of wiggling and a lot of swearing. Nothing is damaged and the PDC sensor housing blocks were just held in with 3 metal clips... Why do you need to remove the front bumper, or is that just with the facelift model?

[x555]

I never replaced a front one on my pre facelift x only a rear one (no need to take bumper off)
But with the facelift the bumper has to come off or at least pulled forward as they are housed/surrounded by the steel of the bumper itself.
However if there is a way i would like to know as it's ARPITA having to take the bumper off for what should be such a small repair
Do us a how too Mike and show us the light

[Mikee]

It wasn't pretty mate. Like I said a flathead screwdriver behind the housing and what I would call 'gentle teasing' and out they popped. TBH when the one came out last year it looked like someone had had it out already as there were a few scratches on it. Maybe that made it easier, I don't know. Sure glad I aint gotta take the bumper off tho. Definitely ARPITA as you said x555!