[1flyguy]

Can I upgrade the valve cover from plastic to metal so I dont have to deal with the constant replacements? If so, what’s the a good one to buy that’s not crazy expensive

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by 1flyguy

Can I upgrade the valve cover from plastic to metal so I dont have to deal with the constant replacements? If so, what’s the a good one to buy that’s not crazy expensive

I have no personal experience, but the Mitzone one is pretty well regarded:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353699030865

[Efthreeoh]

If you go with the BMW OE magnesium vavle cover, you will have to also get the 2006 Crank Case Ventilation system (CCV) parts and a 2006 oil pan tube.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

I have no personal experience, but the Mitzone one is pretty well regarded:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353699030865

I may have to get that for the Z4. Didn't know it was a thing. Thanks for the post!

[jsunma]

So here's a thread about these aluminum valve covers from last year.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...hlight=Mitzone

Reading down to the end, it seems that the Mitzone one uses a flat gasket and not the OEM-type gasket. But, there's another brand of these - this one from "Temsone" - that does use the OEM-type gasket.

I'd be interesting in hearing if anyone has any experience with these...ideally the "Temsone" that uses the grooved gasket as I'm not so keen to install something that uses a gasket that can't readily be replaced. The price for these things is right; but that of course only makes sense if they're not junk. Anyone?

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by jsunma

So here's a thread about these aluminum valve covers from last year.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...hlight=Mitzone

Reading down to the end, it seems that the Mitzone one uses a flat gasket and not the OEM-type gasket. But, there's another brand of these - this one from "Temsone" - that does use the OEM-type gasket.

I'd be interesting in hearing if anyone has any experience with these...ideally the "Temsone" that uses the grooved gasket as I'm not so keen to install something that uses a gasket that can't readily be replaced. The price for these things is right; but that of course only makes sense if they're not junk. Anyone?

I don't know for sure, but think you use the flat gasket for the 330i/magnesium VC?
https://www.amazon.com/BECKARNLEY-03.../dp/B0148K94LS That style is readily available and looks like the one that ships the Mitzone VC. I presume it is, but no experience one way or the other...

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I may have to get that for the Z4. Didn't know it was a thing. Thanks for the post!

It seems like a good set up. Report back with your findings!

[e91Owner]

Bought the mitzone one a while ago and sent it back almost immediately after unboxing. Looked like a cheap cast and wasn’t level on the bottom. I didn’t even bother trying to swap it out and went with the Rein. Since the mitzone uses the same CCV system and there seem to be so many complaints about the castings, I wouldn’t be too happy not knowing what the baffles look like.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by e91Owner

Bought the mitzone one a while ago and sent it back almost immediately after unboxing. Looked like a cheap cast and wasn’t level on the bottom. I didn’t even bother trying to swap it out and went with the Rein. Since the mitzone uses the same CCV system and there seem to be so many complaints about the castings, I wouldn’t be too happy not knowing what the baffles look like.

I searched last night for other vendors on Amazon and found this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRJ5S4SB...6583bab02&th=1

Hard to say if it is better than the MiTZONE brand that StradaRedlands found. The casting is definitely different and uses an aluminum PCV valve (vs. plastic) and a neoprene(??) profile gasket vs. a flat gasket. What needs to be considered is the cost to make the aluminum casting tooling. It's not cheap, even with digital surface mapping tools and CAD/CAM milling machines. For the price of $130 to $160 it seems like a very low price even if all of the work is done in China.

But I may do what you did, buy a sample of the TEMSONE version and see how well it is made. The issue I have is my Z4's valve cover is tight as a drum at the moment. I also want to swap to an aluminum oil pan but haven't pulled the trigger on that either.

[branlday]

I was wondering about these too? Would the goal be to have something that outlasts the spec plastic cover? Or is there some other benefit to switching from the plastic to aluminum? I have to imagine BMW had a good reason for going with plastic (I would think weight or cost).

[e91Owner]

Originally Posted by branlday

I was wondering about these too? Would the goal be to have something that outlasts the spec plastic cover? Or is there some other benefit to switching from the plastic to aluminum? I have to imagine BMW had a good reason for going with plastic (I would think weight or cost).

I may be in the minority, but the valve covers on my N52s were never a problem. Yes, the gaskets hardened and leaked and the CCV diaphragms failed over time, but I never had cracks/warps in the cover itself like some others have had. The ability to potentially replace the CCV easily, for me, is only the real benefit I see to an aluminum cover that is made properly.