Another one bites the dust

krhodes1 · 03-15-2026, 01:04 AM

This makes three of the original sensors in my '11 128i dying in the past 9 months or so. First a front, coincidentally the same day I change out the REAR shocks, on the test drive - I thought I broke something back there, but no, fix one thing something else breaks car karma. Last time, it was a rear one, and they were on sale so I ordered two. And I got lucky, the other rear one failed today (and I was SURE it would be the one I didn't have already). Got the ding of doom driving to a friends house with the usual lights popping up on the dash.

Got home, got out ProTools, confirmed it was the code for a dead sensor (left rear), took a quick drive to confirm no live data from that one. Went in the garage, dug out the spare, and had it on the car in 15 minutes. Easy-peasy, but amusing they seem to have the life of these things figured out so consistently. Car will be 16 in a few months, and it's at 75K miles and a bit, all failed within the past maybe 2000 miles. This car has NEVER seen salt, so everything underneath is like new plus dust and grime.

Next time I order anything from a supplier, I will add a front sensor so I have it when the last one croaks. Or that will end up being the next thing I order.

Actually, I noticed my wheels center caps are past their prime, bubbling and chipping, maybe a new set of those and a sensor. Got to keep the old girl ship-shape!

lookalikehuuh · 03-15-2026, 12:23 PM

interestingly I haven't had a single naturally failed wheel speed sensor on both of my cars. I did have to replace 1 becuase I was an idiot and forgot to remove it when I was pushing out the wheel bearing and of course I broke it.

My higher mileage car is at 250K miles now and the 335 is at 150K miles without a single failure. I was going to say maybe its corrosion but sounds like your car hasn't been exposed to salt so... no idea.

My cars have also never seen snow in their lives since they are both socal cars.

tlow98 · 03-15-2026, 10:03 PM

Wow. Swapped within 15 minutes. Do you put them in through the valve stem?

03-15-2026, 01:04 AM	#1
krhodes1 Colonel 2072 Rep 2,827 Posts Drives: 2011 328i Wagon Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Westbrook, Maine, Port Charlotte, Florida iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 328i Touring [10.00] 2011 128i [6.83]	Another one bites the dust - wheel speed sensor This makes three of the original sensors in my '11 128i dying in the past 9 months or so. First a front, coincidentally the same day I change out the REAR shocks, on the test drive - I thought I broke something back there, but no, fix one thing something else breaks car karma. Last time, it was a rear one, and they were on sale so I ordered two. And I got lucky, the other rear one failed today (and I was SURE it would be the one I didn't have already). Got the ding of doom driving to a friends house with the usual lights popping up on the dash. Got home, got out ProTools, confirmed it was the code for a dead sensor (left rear), took a quick drive to confirm no live data from that one. Went in the garage, dug out the spare, and had it on the car in 15 minutes. Easy-peasy, but amusing they seem to have the life of these things figured out so consistently. Car will be 16 in a few months, and it's at 75K miles and a bit, all failed within the past maybe 2000 miles. This car has NEVER seen salt, so everything underneath is like new plus dust and grime. Next time I order anything from a supplier, I will add a front sensor so I have it when the last one croaks. Or that will end up being the next thing I order. Actually, I noticed my wheels center caps are past their prime, bubbling and chipping, maybe a new set of those and a sensor. Got to keep the old girl ship-shape! __________________ '11 328! Touring - Tasman on Chestnut, 6spd manual, factory upside-down "i" option '11 128i Convertible - Space Gray on Savannah Beige, 6spd manual, also '14 Mercedes-Benz E350 wagon, '95 Land Rover Discovery, '74 Triumph Spitfire
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03-15-2026, 12:23 PM	#2
lookalikehuuh Colonel 1884 Rep 2,177 Posts Drives: 2006 330i, 2007 335i Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0)	interestingly I haven't had a single naturally failed wheel speed sensor on both of my cars. I did have to replace 1 becuase I was an idiot and forgot to remove it when I was pushing out the wheel bearing and of course I broke it. My higher mileage car is at 250K miles now and the 335 is at 150K miles without a single failure. I was going to say maybe its corrosion but sounds like your car hasn't been exposed to salt so... no idea. My cars have also never seen snow in their lives since they are both socal cars.
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03-15-2026, 10:03 PM	#3
tlow98 Major General 3171 Rep 6,051 Posts Drives: 2009 E91, 2014 F15 x35i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (2)	Wow. Swapped within 15 minutes. Do you put them in through the valve stem?
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