bmwguy2 wrote:
> On Jun 14, 6:52 am, noobiedoobie > wrote:
>
>>On Jun 13, 8:30 pm, Fred W > wrote:
>>
>>
>>>bmwguy2 wrote:
>>>
>>>>Does anybody know where the O2 sensor on a 1986 325es is?
>>>>I tried looking under the area where the spark plugs are and could not
>>>>find it.
>>>>Anyone has seen a picture online anywhere?
>>
>>>>I saw a picture of 1988 models (I beleive) which was on a really easy
>>>>place to see but not my damn car.
>>
>>>>Thanks for all your help in advance.
>>
>>>Look in the exhaust pipe. They are never anywhere near the spark plugs.
>>
>>>--
>>>-Fred W
>>
>>According to the Haynes Manual I have here, the O2 sensor on an '86
>>325 is located just after the catalytic converter along the exhaust.
>>Just out of curiosity, why are you trying to locate it? My O2 sensor
>>on my '91 535 is placed right inside the catalytic converter, but the
>>electrical connection is in the engine compartment.
>
>
> My car's idle is not stable (it fluctuates b/w 800-1800 RPM) and I was
> told to replace the O2 sensor and it might fix the problem
>

It might, but there's a whole better chance that it won't. When O2
sensors go bad they throw check-engine codes and the car idles very
poorly, but genrally not where the idle races up and down. Your symptom
sounds a lot more like a severe vacuum leak. Look around in the ngine
compartment for a hose that has blow off or cracked or a cracked rubber
intake manifold boot.

--
-Fred W