Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting o2 sensor oem vs universal

What is the difference between the Bosch OEM and "universal" 02 sensor? Can either be used. Looking at Autozone its interesting the difference in cost between the Focus and Contour. Contour SVT needing 4 makes the $99 hurt, the ford part websites has $113 as the cheapest I've found so far.

For example here is the listing from Autozone when searching for "oxygen sensor" for a 99 SVT contour (and for my 2000 Focus below - big difference there):


OXYGEN SENSOR for a
1999 FORD CONTOUR
SENSOR LOCATED BEFORE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (Change)

Normally Stocked Normal Stock
Special Order Special Order
Not Available Not Available



Item Part
No.
Warranty Core
Value Unit
Price Availability
Store Web
BOSCH
UNIVERSAL 15730 3 MO $59.99 Normally Stocked at Your Selected Store Add to Store List Ships within 2 Business Days Buy Online
BOSCH
O.E. TYPE 13741 3 MO $99.99 Store Special Order Add to Store List Web Special Order Buy Online
2 REQUIRED

For my Focus
OXYGEN SENSOR for a
2000 FORD FOCUS
SENSOR LOCATED BEFORE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (Change)

Normally Stocked Normal Stock
Special Order Special Order
Not Available Not Available



Item Part
No.
Warranty Core
Value Unit
Price Availability
Store Web
BOSCH
O.E. TYPE 15716 3 MO $47.99 Normally Stocked at Your Selected Store Add to Store List Ships within 2 Business Days Buy Online
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT HAS 8 1/2" WIRING HARNESS
BOSCH
UNIVERSAL 15729 3 MO $59

I had to buy an O2 for the wife's Honda. The OEM or OEM style was more expensive. However the universal didn't have a plug with it. It had bare wire ends. That's the biggest thing I noticed.

And on advice from Honda owners, keep with OEM, even Ford purchased. They seem to work better.

Good luck!

Well lets look at this a second, you have a 99 Contour, and how many miles.
Look at how long your OEM one lasted, my best guess is pretty long.
Mine first went out at like 50k, so the shop put a NAPA one in. 18k later is failed, I being really dumb brought Autozone, already repalced it once under warranty now it is good though.
Anyways I now use only Motorcraft parts, they last a long time, remember you get what you pay for.

i picked up some borg warner units from advanced auto for alot less than the bosch oem units. i will have them on in a couple weeks so i can't say anything from experience but the people i have spoken to have all said that they should be fine.

I guess my main problem is the mechanic says all 4 are gone and its $720 to replace them. From reading everything it looks like the ford parts should be $500 at most so we are talking about $200 plus in labor? And other than one of the 4 they don't sound that hard to replace, I'm mechanically inclined enough to replace them.

But the car has other things being done and I guess if labor is reasonable I figure while its there I might as well let them do it.

But $720 and all I get out of it is o2 sensors bugs me.

I need them to pass inspection

Did the Borg Warners require splicing of the wires?

Was reading in another thread that some of the oxygen the sensor reads comes through the wires so no solder but shrink wrap for the wires.

I found this guy on ebay. I bought 2 upstream sensors (BORG WARNER) for $28 each + shipping. They came with the right connector (mind you -> I only bought the upstream ones) and they work beatifully in my 98SE. His name is Kevin Simmons, iceberg117@hotmail.com

My upstream by the firewall O2 sensor went out at 58,000 miles. I replaced it with the bosch instead of the ford and it has lasted a lot longer than the ford did. I have 76,000 miles on the bosch and it still is working fine. I recommend the bosch based on my experience.