I'm going to replace my Air Flow Meter (same as the 'MAF'?) with a used one because the cheapest new one I've seen is $360!!!!

And now that I have a used one, what in the hell about this thing would justify $360? It seems so simple, is it made of gold? Why isn't there a sensor replacement instead of buying the whole piece?

Crazy, right? I had a similar experience with the MAF in my VW recently. $188 after the dealer discount for the MAF which must be purchased in the housing. I wonder if that is to protect the fragile sensor portion of the unit. You can easily remove the filament from the housing with the removal of 2 screws, but you cannot buy it separately.

In some beemers, the sensor itself is a plug-in type into the housing. But the price stays pretty much the same. I agree that it looks like a rip-off. But there is no other way about it. Some people spray acetone or brake cleaner into it with varying degrees of success (mostly failure really). At some point you really have to pay for it to maintain proper engine functioning (specially emissions related functions).
To minimize this nasty occurence, air filters should be replaced regularly. Oil-based filters is a no-no since any type of oil reaching the "filament" will damage it.

In some beemers, the sensor itself is a plug-in type into the housing. But the price stays pretty much the same. I agree that it looks like a rip-off. But there is no other way about it. Some people spray acetone or brake cleaner into it with varying degrees of success (mostly failure really). At some point you really have to pay for it to maintain proper engine functioning (specially emissions related functions).
To minimize this nasty occurence, air filters should be replaced regularly. Oil-based filters is a no-no since any type of oil reaching the "filament" will damage it.

There are no filaments on the afm - it's a barn-door system.

There are no filaments on the afm - it's a barn-door system.

The part I replaced is this http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/imgdsply.cgi?pn=13621703275-M177 and according to Pelican Parts is an Air Flow Meter, there is a filament in this thing and nothing that resembers what I would think looks like a barn-door system.

That's why I'm getting so confused, MAF, AFM...???

The part I replaced is this http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/imgdsply.cgi?pn=13621703275-M177 and according to Pelican Parts is an Air Flow Meter, there is a filament in this thing and nothing that resembers what I would think looks like a barn-door system.

That's why I'm getting so confused, MAF, AFM...???


That is a MAF, or HFM in BMW terms. An AFM is a barn-door system, used in the 80's BMW's.

The people with e39s with V8 engines use VW MAFs. I assume they pull the sensor out and put it in the old housing, but I'm not sure. I don't know how they determined this would work, either.

AFAIK, no on has tried this for the MAFs on the I6 engines.

The people with e39s with V8 engines use VW MAFs. I assume they pull the sensor out and put it in the old housing, but I'm not sure. I don't know how they determined this would work, either.

AFAIK, no on has tried this for the MAFs on the I6 engines.

+1

VW, Range Rover, and others use the same MAF. There has been extensive research on this over at m5board.com.

I would say that a large proportion of E39 M5 owners no longer use BMW MAFs (Mass Air Flow). Can't help much with an I6 part number, but all V8's use the same ones...

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