I have only had my car 3 weeks. The following has already been found to have issues.

1. Broken engine mount - not yet fixed.
2. Head Rest not working - fixed.
3. Neck on aux. heater valve corroded - replaced entire pump.
4. Fan missing 4 blades - part on order.
5. Bald Tires - replaced all 4.

I'm a little annoyed because I had the car checked out and now all this stuff is coming up, other than the tires which I knew about..... But it is a joy to drive.

So last night, my check engine light comes on. I learn how to do a stomp test to figure out what it means and it's a code 1212, Oxygen Sensor 2.

Does that mean my O2 sensor is shot, or is it something else?

Please help a guy keep the faith that the E34 was the way to go. My wife is having serious doubts about my purchase now.

wow, who did the PPI? (pre-purchase inspection) I don't know how they would miss the fan missing 4 blades :confused

btw, E34 IS the way to go, you just have to jump these hurdles and you'll be set :redspot

I found a little bit more info on the 1212 error code.

It says to check the oxygen sensor wiring and the operation of the sensor. The value should fluctuate between .02 and .85v. Slow fluctuation indicates a polluted oxygen sensor and negative fluctuation indicates a damaged sensor.

Anyone have an idea on how to actually perform this test?

considering the price of the oxygen sensor, Just replace it.
You should probably take a look at this list of things "That will break"
http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/trouble/what_will_break.htm
Considering the apparent level of preventive manitence on your car
I would definitely be paying close attention to the suspension.
One should try to keep in mind that you have purchased a 12 year old car
I would be quite surprised if you didn't have some "issues" to address.

Good Luck

yeah,
your car is TWELVE YEARS OLD

what did she want, a 2002 camry?

oh wait, never mind, I have a wife too...and yes, she did :biglaughb:

do what I did...give her the car...Dara stole mine and now I dont have it. She wont give it back

I sold our 2003 Subaru Outback H6 3.0L full load and bought this. So I have some money to spend, but was meant to be invested in a condo. I had a 17,000 difference between what I sold the Subaru for and bought the 540 for.

She loved the Subaru, and only because we're at the point where we both walk to work did I convince her to get an older bmw.

oh well. I'm love it everytime I step into it.

BTW, o2 sensors are $110 each, not the $50 everyone keeps trying to tell me they are.

ironie, I'm going to be doing the thrust arms in the next month or two.

I gotta pace myself on this stuff, but for the price, I think i'll do okay.

I sold our 2003 Subaru Outback H6 3.0L full load and bought this. So I have some money to spend, but was meant to be invested in a condo. I had a 17,000 difference between what I sold the Subaru for and bought the 540 for.

She loved the Subaru, and only because we're at the point where we both walk to work did I convince her to get an older bmw.

oh well. I'm love it everytime I step into it.

BTW, o2 sensors are $110 each, not the $50 everyone keeps trying to tell me they are.

Dude, you f******** up.

However, we're all in this together

You better get everything at once and just do it. Less psychological impact

try bimmerzone.com $76/

Hi, Folks Bluebettsy here. I have a little problem doing the stomp test. I have a 95 530I auto w/ the kick down switch, do I hit the switch also or just the accelerator pedal? I also notice the car idles fine when the temp is approx. 60F. below 60F it idles and drop below 600rpm. When she is warm she runs great. input anyone?

Stomp test don't work for me either. What's the "real" instruction on how to do this?

'95 530I Auto.

I unplug the battery and it reset the check engine light.

It think it came on right after I change out the foul plug. Any who, I drove the car all day and nothing show up.

OK GUYS I FOUND THE PROBLEM, AFTER GETTING FUSTRATED WITH THE STOMP TEST. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT TO A TECH WHO HAD A BMW SCANNER, O2 02 ALL THE WAY I CHANGED BOTH AND NOW SHE RIDES LIKE A LIMO FRESH FROM THE DEALER. UNTIL A POT HOLE GROWS LEGS AND WALK INTO MY PATH OR SOME THING ELSE GIVE
:drink1

Older cars that have been neglected (if you have 4 blades missing on the fan that qualifies IMHO) in the past are going to need those things made right and then going forward as parts wear out, be replaced. It is a fact.

If you take the annual depreciation of your Subaru I think you will see that the BMW isn't really costing you that much as a comparison.

In my case to compare I take a lease payment of $500 plus per month and increase my insurance by about $200 per car and the math is easy. The BMW is very inexpensive to own (I do the work myself and for the most part enjoy it)

Back to the fan...I am assuming your talking about the cooling fan and not the A/C fan. If so, isn't there a lot of engine vibration? I would check the water pump shaft for play. It sounds like it has been going through a lot.

Good luck and may the mechanical gremlins leave you alone!
Don