Latest automobiles are progressively pre-loaded with new technologies, apart from the comfort of use it can bring, technology also has the advantage of saving fuel or reducing the pollution released by our automobiles. This is precisely the subject of our article of the day, we are going to look at the complications of the lambda sensor on BMW 3 Series , this sensor also named oxygen sensor plays an necessary role. To find out, first, we are going to identify what a lambda probe is utilized for, then, what are the lambda sensor complications on BMW 3 Series and how to fix them.

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What is a lambda purpose on BMW 3 Series?

So we start our article with the benefit of a lambda sensor on BMW 3 Series , we will first discover what is the purpose of this probe and then how it works.

Role of a lambda sensor on BMW 3 Series

First created by Volvo in the 1970s, it began to appear on our cars in the 1990s with the first EURO 1 emission requirements. As well called oxygen sensor on BMW 3 Series , its goal is to control the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases, this will enable the engine to change the air/fuel mixture to reduce the pollution released by the motor vehicle and lower the car’s fuel consumption.

Lambda sensor operation on BMW 3 Series

Before describing you the different complications of lambda probe on BMW 3 Series , we will look a little more in outline at its operation to allow you to understand exactly how it works and thus to consider more serenely the correction of a problem associated with it.
As we told you, a lambda probe has the task of managing the amount of oxygen present in the exhaust gases . One could naively think that this data is determined upstream of the combustion but it is on the contrary measured at the engine outlet . With the EURO 1 standard there was only one lambda sensor required before the catalyst, but with the arrival of more drastic requirements there are now 2 lambda sensors, one before and one after the catalyst . The benefit is to have more exact data by compiling the two probes. These data are sent to the ECU which will adjust the quantity of air and gasoline injected into the engine to optimize the combustion .

Lambda sensor problem on BMW 3 Series

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At last, we are now going to attack the section you are undoubtedly most enthusiastic about this article, what to do if you have a lambda sensor problem on BMW 3 Series . In a first step we will discover how to locate a lambda sensor HS and in a second step how to change it.

How to know if a lambda sensor on BMW 3 Series is HS

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It is necessary to know that a lambda sensor has in general a lifetime of 150 000 km , this statistics can fluctuate according to the year of your BMW 3 Series, your driving, and the good working of your engine. A poorly taken care of engine that produces unburned gases may permanently corrupt your lambda sensor. One of the clues that can notify you of a defective lambda sensor on BMW 3 Series may be the engine light comes on, if you want to turn off the engine light of your BMW 3 Series, do not hesitate to consult our dedicated article to discover the process to follow. The only effective way to be sure that you have a lambda sensor problem on your BMW 3 Series and to pass your car to the diagnostic case, for that do not hesitate to seek advice from our tutorial which explains you BMW 3 Serieshow to read the fault code of a BMW 3 Series. Take note that if you have complications with one of your lambda sensors, the only solution to correct them will be to change the defective sensor.

How to change a lambda sensor on BMW 3 Series?

And finally, we are going to concentrate on the correction of lambda sensor problems on BMW 3 Series , by explaining how to replace a lambda sensor.

The replacement of a lambda sensor is quite simple to accomplish and you will have the ability to do it yourself with a minimal of tools and mechanical knowledge. A lambda sensor is worth between 25 and 50€ , it is better to change the 2 lambda sensors present upstream and downstream of your catalytic converter because if one of them is defective the second one risks to drop you fairly quickly. To replace it, it will be required to put your BMW 3 Series on candles and at the level of your catalyst unscrew your probes, disconnect them, reconnect them and screw the new ones . Once re-connected, you should not have any more complications with your lambda sensor on BMW 3 Series.

If you have any further questions about the BMW 3 Series, do not hesitate to consult our BMW 3 Series category.