Fault Codes 498E and 3EFC - Are cheap sensors sufficient?

GeoMcc · Nov 22, 2021

Hey everyone

I tried searching the forum, but it didn't give me much within the last 10 years.

I have these 2 oil level sensor related faults according to BimmerLink:
498E: 498E oil level sensor
3EFC: 3EFC Thermal Oil Level Sensor (Layer_TOENS)

Should these both be fixed by replacing the sensor in the sump (looks like 12617508003 from

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=UB52-EUR-07-2010-E81-BMW-120d&diagId=11_4061

)?

If so are the low-cost parts available from Amazon good enough? They have chinese copies with names like Twowinds or Qiilu for £15 to £20, or Hella for £40 to £50 and a febi for £58.

How about the properly chinese ones from AliExpress? A very quick search on there shows them about £8 advertised price with free 3 week shipping, which is probably about a tenner by checkout.

It will be waiting for the next oil change (last one was done in October, so it won't be due for a while), so I can wait for extended delivery times, but I would like to get it not showing any fault codes, and I'd rather not replace the sensor at every oil change.

Jack79 · Nov 23, 2021

First of all BMW use two sensor that are different.
12617508003 - this one is for car that do not have option to check level on dashboard. Orginaly it was made by HELLA
12617607910 - this one show oillevel on dashboard. Made by Temic and it is much more expensive.
You can not switch tham. So buy proper one. They look different. You got picture in realoem.
I pesonaly would by HELLA or Temic, not from dealer. Cheaper can work, but how long? Sometimes thay are broken from beginning. BMW do not like cheap sensors

I would also check plug in sensor . Wires can be broken.

SamM140 · Nov 23, 2021

If be tempted to buy the proper branded ones.

I bought a Chinese ABS sensor from Amazon in the summer and the car didn't like it / it was a dud because there was no signal being received from it

GeoMcc · Nov 23, 2021

Thank you Jack, that information about the two types of sensor is what forums are great for. I've had the car less than 2 months, but haven't found any way of seeing the oil level from the drivers seat. I have a dipstick, and no iDrive/CIC/CCC/display on top of the dash, just the standard radio/CD. RealOEM also gave me that diagram from the chassis number, so I hope it knows.

£40 for the Hella seems like the way to go then. Not sure when it will get its next oil change, but I dipped it on sunday and it was less black than I expected after 1000 miles.

Fault Codes 498E and 3EFC - Are cheap sensors sufficient?

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