i'm in need of a replacement o2 sensor. the oe sensor is $40, but the "bosch 11027 exygen sensor" is only $16 shipped!, and it says its like an oe fit, but it is universal so im not sure.. does anyone have experience with a non OEM o2 sensor?

 

nevermind. found what i was looking for. i guess i stopped searching too early :x

 

is there anything wrong with running a universal o2? i am in need of one as well..

 

I tried Bosch before but always got a feedback control code. I think it was a code '17'. NTK/NGK 02 sensor works great.

 

I hope my Bosch wont have that problem... So far no check engine lights or anything.

 

The only draw back of the universal O2 sensor is you have to do some minimal wiring where as for an extra ~$30 you can just plug it in to the harness.

 

Don't use Bosch, use NTK sensors. Don't use universal sensors either. A one wire sensor is a Zirconia sensor it may be vented through the wiring, or the body of the sensor. So you may never solder that wire. They usually come with crappy connectors that can easily be penetrated by water. Just buy the proper sensor. 40 dollars is nothing be glad you don't have a Toyota or Mercedes and your not forced to pay 400-800 bucks for a sensor.

 

it's funny people would go cheap on something important but then they spent tons of money on useless ****.

 

I never once had a problem with the bosch 1 wire universal O2 sensors. I never could justify the extra cost of having the 'convenience' of being a plug in part. This is even more true if you have a header where the O2 bung gets moved from the engine bay and placed beneath the passenger floor boards, necessitating the use of extra wiring anyway.

If you use a universal O2 sensor, make sure you at least take the wiring pigtail off the stock part, giving you something to wire to that will plug right into the shielded wiring of the harness.

The $20 part is just as effective as the $40 part. And really for the cost you can buy a set of spark plugs with the money you saved by buying the universal. I always bought a new O2 sensor when I would do my plugs, and buying the 'ready to plug in' sensor was never on my mind.

I can see favoring a particular brand if it was a 4-wire sensor, but honestly its a 1 wire narrowband sensor, its just as aweful as the S4 TPS at doing its intended job.

 

I have used the Bosch 1 wire universals on several RX7s. No trouble no problem with the 'extra wiring'. It's really not that complicated.

 

I have not had any issues or codes with the Bosch 1-wire universal O2 sensor either. In fact, I was able to re-use the connector from the old O2 that was on the car and applied a new terminal to the Bosch universal. So now it is plug-in just like before. The car ran better and the gas mileage came back too.

 

I have also never had an issue with the Bosch univeral 1-wire 02 sensors. I was even getting 26 MPG in my 88 NA for several years, when I still daily drove it.

 

26 MPG?!? I wish I could get that on the highway!

 

Truth be told, I think it was running a bit on the lean side, but it was pretty consistent mileage.