Mechanical Noob needs advice

GR63 · 26 Jul 2023 at 16:58

I have a 2.0 diesel BMW F20 with B47 engine and some codes (p22AE and P0401) indicating problems with EGR and O2 sensor likely. Acceleration is very hesitant so I think its worth a look.

I've watched a couple (actually LOTS) of videos of removing Intake and EGR on BMW B47 engine and think even I might manage it. Likewise the O2 sensor replacement. I know I need a socket adapter for the O2 sensor (£6 or so on the Bay) but whatever socket set I have is somewhat old, couple of bits absent, couple broken so I could do with some advice on a budget socket set to buy.

I DONT need gold standard, I'm not planning to do lots of work on cars so no point over speccing...

I do wonder if any of these bolts are magnetic and that might help me dropping them into some inaccessible spot???

Anyway, please go gentle, everyone has to start somewhere

You were noobs once!

Links are fine since I doubt OCUK sell socket sets!!!

Diddums · 26 Jul 2023 at 17:04

Halfords Professional are excellent bang for buck and often pop up on HUKD.

MissChief · 26 Jul 2023 at 17:05

Diddums said:
Halfords Professional are excellent bang for buck and often pop up on HUKD.

This. Although I believe they changed manufacturer a few years ago and the quality has gone down they still come with a lifetime guarantee.

GR63 · 26 Jul 2023 at 18:53

You mean like this one? https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand...ece-1/4in-socket-set-modular-tray-332462.html Not the £250 set

And they dont seem to do Professional now, just Advanced??

ZeeWrath · 26 Jul 2023 at 19:58

Diagnosing the problem is the hard part. If you had proper dignostic software like BMW ISTA you'd get the error specific to your car, tests it can run and workflows for fixing.

I'm pretty much a noob at this sort of stuff. Managed to change the rocket cover gasket on an N57 with an older version of the £250 set. I think I was only missing some female torx sockets and an injector removal slide hammer thing. Undoing the electrical connectors without breaking them was the most time consuming bit

jpaul · 26 Jul 2023 at 21:07

get some plusgas for softening up bolts, wire brush too for any corrosion removal, but the car/f20 's not so old so probably ok;
I don't know if halfords are 12 or 6 face sockets - I'd go for 6, less chance of knacking bolts;
make sure socket kit will have any spanners you need, too, if not , maybe buy sockets you need piecemeal, especially if you already have a 1/2 or 3/8 ratchet driver.
if you need torx female|male bits I'd pay more attention to the quality, the receiver is often softer alloy in my experience , so easier to ruin.
... you only get one chance to make a good impression on a bolt.