[AWSB328iM]

Looking for feedback on the best of the Non BMW valve cover. Yes, I know the BMW OEM cover is best, but I would like to save $250-300. Seems the OEM covers have jumped $100-150 in the last year. I've changed the cover twice on a past E90, so I know the process well.

I'm having trouble deciding between Rein, Elring, and Febi/Bilstein. All these covers can be sourced for $250-300.

Thanks!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by AWSB328iM

Looking for feedback on the best of the Non BMW valve cover. Yes, I know the BMW OEM cover is best, but I would like to save $250-300. Seems the OEM covers have jumped $100-150 in the last year. I've changed the cover twice on a past E90, so I know the process well.

I'm having trouble deciding between Rein, Elring, and Febi/Bilstein. All these covers can be sourced for $250-300.

Thanks!

No direct experience, but I've heard the really cheap $100 ones on Amazon are fine. So the the OEM and name brand ones are all probably good.

Maybe get one of those and a OE gasket to split the difference?

YMMV, just something I picked up from the internet...

[Suvorovo]

Except for Elring, the other brands seem to have pretty good reviews. Some valve covers on ECS have a 2 year warranty. maybe go that route for piece of mind. FCP only has Elring or Genuine BMW for that lifetime consideration.

127k miles on original valve cover. No idea why this thing hasn't leaked yet. My PCV is pretty healthy.

[AWSB328iM]

Ended up ordering a Rein Kit. Will advise on my thoughts next week.

[SiEgs90]

Originally Posted by AWSB328iM

Ended up ordering a Rein Kit. Will advise on my thoughts next week.

How did the Rein work out for you?

[AWSB328iM]

Great so far! A friend had a snap on inch pound torque wrench and I was careful to torque the bolts evenly all around.

[yupetc]

Rein, Elring, and Febi/Bilstein are all good choices. I've experience with them all throughout different BMW and MINI's so far. Here's how I'll sequence them in best to worst (not considering their cost). Also note that I'm referencing these brands in my experience within many other parts I've used before, not only covering the valvecover gasketries.

1.Febi/Bilstein
2. Elring
3. Rein
Other brands looming around other common sources you'll find:
4. Victor-Reinz (often find fitment issues, seems to be easy to find in other platforms including eBay and Amazon, and their prices can be very cheap, quality of their items are somewhat okay besides fitment issues. This happens on their Eccentric shaft sensor seal, always come in too large and can't seat into our Valvecover).
5. Hamburg or HT, I don't recall well (I often find this brand on many MINI"s engine peripheral parts, they are usually on the cheaper side, and it's a hit and miss because their friction pulley's on a N18 MINI are shit, but water pump turns out well made.)
6. URO (this is last for me because early on with my BMW's I wasn't too well off, and I did go through a whole bunch of savings by using URO parts, many of which failed quite soon. And these are usually the cheapest I can find)

[m_thompson]

Originally Posted by Suvorovo

Some valve covers on ECS have a 2 year warranty.

We just had an OEM valve cover replaced because it leaked. The 2 year warranty only covered the part, not the labor.

[whyzee125]

Originally Posted by m_thompson

We just had an OEM valve cover replaced because it leaked. The 2 year warranty only covered the part, not the labor.

Are you positive it was genuine? I only ask because you said labor so I'm assuming it was done at a shop. Almost all shops use aftermarket parts.

My OFHG has been done 6 times in 104k miles because a shop used aftermarket crap and kept having to warranty it. I redid it myself with genuine BMW parts.

[Hotter]

I am using "Vaico" valve cover for few years now without issues, but it was not that much cheaper than OEM.
I would try aluminum "mitzone" valve cover next:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353699030865

[Jros]

i tried the alu cover from ebay, no problems installing it, fit was perfect even for the infamous valvetronic gasket.

I used rtv all the same, i like to sleep at night

for now, no problems, no oil leaks and perfect fuel trims so no vacuum leaks too.

I actually like the alu cover a lot

[Jros]

P.S. my cover has the oem style gaskets, not the flat ones as the MITZONE. I honestly wouldn't use that one.

[Suvorovo]

Originally Posted by Jros

P.S. my cover has the oem style gaskets, not the flat ones as the MITZONE. I honestly wouldn't use that one.

I recently bought a Genuine BMW valve cover off ebay for 2006 n52 for $430. The mitzone ones are for magnesium valve cover n52s which have a flat gasket.

[Jros]

don't know about mitzone, bit mine has internal ccv and the gasket is the same as the oem plastic cover. My engine is an N52K so it was born with the plastic one.

AL cover was around 180 euros

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by Hotter

I am using "Vaico" valve cover for few years now without issues, but it was not that much cheaper than OEM.
I would try aluminum "mitzone" valve cover next:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353699030865

The aluminum valve cover is very interesting and it looks like people have had good experiences so far (https://www.reddit.com/r/E90/comment...r_in_the_mail/).

Perhaps the best part is that the PCV valve/diaphragm seems easily removable so you can replace it for cheap with something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/303072489395

Not sure how much this will help with leaks since it seems that the gaskets are the issue, but at least it's cheap and won't crack.