Which wire goes to the computer from my oxygen sensor?

Tiny
CHRISTOPHER SA
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 BMW 320I
  • 2.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 197,200 MILES
I have installed a used 328i exhaust system (stock BMW) onto my 320i BMW. Everything is fine except the oxygen sensor. The 'new' (328i) exhaust came with the two original oxygen sensors which were located in a different position - downstream from the catalytic converters. The original exhaust system had a single oxygen sensor in front (upstream towards the manifold)) of the catalytic converters. When installing the 'new' 328i exhaust system onto my car I blanked off one of the oxygen sensor ports with a screw-in plug and used the other port.

The wire on my original oxygen sensor was not long enough so I cut off a set of the wires from one of the oxygen sensors from the 'new' (328i) exhaust and used these wires to extend the wiring on the original oxygen sensor (as the plug was different).

My oxygen sensor has 4 wires - black, yellow, red and white.

According to info on one of the BMW forums the Siemens 4-wire Oxygen Sensor wires are as follows:
Yellow sensor signal (5v)
Black sensor ground
Red Heater +ve (12v)
White Heater -ve

Can you confirm that the yellow wire is the one that goes to the car's computer? This is important for me to know. If the yellow is NOT the one that goes to the car's computer, which one does?
Thursday, October 17th, 2024 AT 4:58 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,572 POSTS
You will need to install a sensor upstream of the converters to get that system to work properly. The one(s) in front of the converters are the ones that the ECM uses to control the fuel mixture. Basically, you go to a spot on the pipe where you need the sensor, then drill a hole and weld as sensor bung into place to install it there. Then plug the holes downstream of the converters. If you try to use the location after the converter the ECM will not be able to control the fuel mix because the converter will be altering the actual gases the sensor uses for operation.
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Thursday, October 17th, 2024 AT 10:05 PM
Tiny
CHRISTOPHER SA
  • MEMBER
  • 236 POSTS
Okay, I will do that, but in the meantime can I get an answer to the question about the wires? Is the yellow one going to the computer?
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Friday, October 18th, 2024 AT 12:26 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,572 POSTS
The housing and black wires are ground. The yellow wire should be O2 signal. However, that is in the car harness. Sensor manufacturers use a variety of colors from the sensor to the first connector. It's not unusual to see 2 white wires for the heater and other colors used for the signal and ground so I would check the wiring in the car's harness first.
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Friday, October 18th, 2024 AT 2:19 PM

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