M52 Engine running rough
Moderator: martauto
I have identified the issue to a faulty lambda sensor, the wiring loom is fine. I have question when it come to replacing the sensor, there are 2 types zirconium oxide and Titanium dioxide Lambda sensors. BMW is Titanium dioxide Lambda sensor my question is can zirconium oxide senor be used as well or does it only have to be Titanium dioxide sensor?
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

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- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
The two types work on completely different principles, and are not interchangeable. Zirconium is essentially an oxygen driven battery, using the different concentrations of oxygen inside and outside the sensor to generate electricity. The titanium type is like the coolant temperature sensor, changing resistance, bit in response to oxygen concentration rather than temperature. This type needs to be supplied with power externally, through a resistor, resulting in a similar signal to that produced directly by the zirconium, at the junction of the resistor and the sensor.
Bosch make a universal sensor for your car - 0 258 986 505, which will require you to join it to your existing lead and plug with the joiners provided.
Bosch make a universal sensor for your car - 0 258 986 505, which will require you to join it to your existing lead and plug with the joiners provided.
Thank you for the explanation and the details of the Bosch part number, I have been looking up this part number on the Bosch Parts catalogue for E36 M52 (https://aa-boschap-ru.resource.bosch.co ... 6-2017.pdf) this details the part code as being F 00E 261 264 this does not have a universal part code for this.Brianmoooore wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 7:26 pmBosch make a universal sensor for your car - 0 258 986 505, which will require you to join it to your existing lead and plug with the joiners provided.
I have also noticed that the titanium sensors have the following colours Red, White, Black and White where as the zirconium have the colours white, white, black and grey.
Looking up the picture for F 00E 261 264 thei shows the colours for a titanium sensor.
The sensor colours of my faulty sensor are that of the titanium one. These titanium sensors are used with Siemens ECU.
Please advise
- Brianmoooore
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- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
I have two M52B28s that are in their original cars. One is a M52B28 and the other is a M52B28Tu. If I type either of the car's registrations into the Autodoc website it produces the same list of lambda sensors for both.
If I look at the Bosch universal sensor I mentioned, and click on the list of OEM part numbers it replaces, it lists the sensors that are on my two cars. There are also sensors with leads and plugs listed. If I look at the OEM part number of one with the appropriate length of lead, it matches those on my cars.
Both my cars have Siemens management.
Do you know the registration/VIN of the car that your engine came from?
If I look at the Bosch universal sensor I mentioned, and click on the list of OEM part numbers it replaces, it lists the sensors that are on my two cars. There are also sensors with leads and plugs listed. If I look at the OEM part number of one with the appropriate length of lead, it matches those on my cars.
Both my cars have Siemens management.
Do you know the registration/VIN of the car that your engine came from?
Sent you PM of reg detailsBrianmoooore wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 2:03 pmDo you know the registration/VIN of the car that your engine came from?
- Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Putting your reg. into ECP and Autodoc produces different results from my also 'S' reg. car. It seems that the changeover date is 10/98.
Checking the ETK for a 528i tourig, which was produced from 1996 to 2000, shows the same lambda sensor as for your E36 for cars produced up to Sept. '98, along with a Siemens MS41 ECU,
Cars produced after Sept. '98 (including both of mine) show a different lambda sensor, compatible with the Bosch universal one, and a Siemens MS42 ECU, so it seems that MS41 uses a titanium sensor and MS42 a zirconium one.
Edit: MS42 is for the M52Tu , which my 'S' reg definitely isn't. It must be one of the last single vanos, and ECP and Autodoc are wrongly identifying it as an early Tu.
Checking the ETK for a 528i tourig, which was produced from 1996 to 2000, shows the same lambda sensor as for your E36 for cars produced up to Sept. '98, along with a Siemens MS41 ECU,
Cars produced after Sept. '98 (including both of mine) show a different lambda sensor, compatible with the Bosch universal one, and a Siemens MS42 ECU, so it seems that MS41 uses a titanium sensor and MS42 a zirconium one.
Edit: MS42 is for the M52Tu , which my 'S' reg definitely isn't. It must be one of the last single vanos, and ECP and Autodoc are wrongly identifying it as an early Tu.
That makes sense the engine is from the car registered in 06/'98 with Siemens MS41 ECU so I will need to get a titanium Lambda sensor. Is my understanding correct that the Bosch universal sensor is zirconium one?
The way I have found to differentiate titanium from zirconium is the colours of the wires that are on the sensors. The titanium ones have the following colours Red, White, Black and White and the zirconium have the colours white, white, black and grey.
The way I have found to differentiate titanium from zirconium is the colours of the wires that are on the sensors. The titanium ones have the following colours Red, White, Black and White and the zirconium have the colours white, white, black and grey.

