Materials to Maintain Your ZHP IIIII Hand Protection IIIII Tools to Maintain Your ZHP
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    65

    Valve Cover Replacement -- Aftermarket or OE?

    I know the most obvious response is always "you can never really go wrong with OEM", and it's a rule I generally agree with, but I've been doing some research in figuring out what the best path is for which valve cover I should get to replace my existing during my VCG and Vanos reseal.

    Generally speaking I always do try to go OE, but man... ~$450+ for a valve cover that seemingly always cracks at some point. Is it absolutely terrible if I went with an amazon/ebay brand instead? Can anyone direct me to threads with people's experience? I've been trying to search both on here and e46f and haven't found much, as the two key words "valve cover" are often mixed with results regarding gaskets.

    To simplify my question: Should I just bite the bullet and spend $450 on a new OEM valve cover, or spend $80 for an amazon/ebay one?
    With either decision, I am using OEM gaskets anyway.

    Thanks in advance!
    200K REFRESH PROJECT

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    3,130
    Go M56! Aluminum valve cover and crappy CCV delete!

  3. #3
    I would source OEM parts from FCP euro and know that I will have lifetime warranty on every part I source from them. To me this is the way to go...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    65
    Quote Originally Posted by ZHPizza View Post
    Go M56! Aluminum valve cover and crappy CCV delete!
    Looked at this briefly but noticed there ends up being some weird situation with two caps or something? Not exactly sure but I know it goes on fine. Is this really the best route?
    Quote Originally Posted by cakM3 View Post
    I would source OEM parts from FCP euro and know that I will have lifetime warranty on every part I source from them. To me this is the way to go...
    Definitely! Always buy from FCPEuro. They’re amazing. Just an insanely priced part everywhere I’ve looked. Generally I’m able to find OEM parts at a pretty good price online except for this one.

    Thanks for the advice thus far.
    200K REFRESH PROJECT

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Leesburg, VA
    Posts
    1,209
    Autohaus AZ has the Rein & Vaico covers - https://www.autohausaz.com/catalog/k.../valve%20cover
    2006 330ci ZHP - Silbergrau Metallic / Stoff Laser/Anthrazit / Alu Black Cube trim / Adaptive Xenon headlights / HK hi-fi system / heated front seats

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Branford, CT
    Posts
    16,055
    Quote Originally Posted by ZHPizza View Post
    Go M56! Aluminum valve cover and crappy CCV delete!
    This is what I would do, and will do, once I find a replacement plastic piece for the one I have.
    BP
    2005 330i ZHP / 6MT
    Imolarot / Naturbraun
    2003 330iT / 6MT
    Orientblau / Naturbraun




    It's not the car you drive, it's how you drive it.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    3,130
    Quote Originally Posted by roddykar View Post
    Looked at this briefly but noticed there ends up being some weird situation with two caps or something? Not exactly sure but I know it goes on fine. Is this really the best route?
    It is by far the best route if you're not afraid of a little DIY creativity. If you were already planning on replacing the valve cover and CCV yourself, then you're fine. Several of us have done it here and will be happy to guide you along the way.

    Quote Originally Posted by az3579 View Post
    This is what I would do, and will do, once I find a replacement plastic piece for the one I have.
    What plastic piece are you missing?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Branford, CT
    Posts
    16,055
    Quote Originally Posted by ZHPizza View Post
    What plastic piece are you missing?
    Don't remember. Friend gave it to me and it's been sitting a while, low on my priority list. lol
    I have to ask him again. It's a piece that's a bit difficult to get, I just can't remember what it is.
    BP
    2005 330i ZHP / 6MT
    Imolarot / Naturbraun
    2003 330iT / 6MT
    Orientblau / Naturbraun




    It's not the car you drive, it's how you drive it.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    65
    Quote Originally Posted by John in VA View Post
    Autohaus AZ has the Rein & Vaico covers - https://www.autohausaz.com/catalog/k.../valve%20cover
    Yeah I saw. But they have a bad rap for the valve covers I guess. Based on the research I did Vaico’s was especially unreliable.

    Quote Originally Posted by ZHPizza View Post
    It is by far the best route if you're not afraid of a little DIY creativity. If you were already planning on replacing the valve cover and CCV yourself, then you're fine. Several of us have done it here and will be happy to guide you along the way.
    hmm. Appreciate the insight. Probably wouldn’t be able to since my car’s at the shop already. They had called me saying I need to get a new valve cover too. I wonder if they’d even perform a little mod like this. Maybe I’ll call and ask tomorrow.
    200K REFRESH PROJECT

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    10,243
    Autozone.com
    Quote Originally Posted by roddykar View Post
    They had called me saying I need to get a new valve cover too. I wonder if they’d even perform a little mod like this. Maybe I’ll call and ask tomorrow.
    I've never had an issue with my indy putting in non-OE parts, but he now has a sign at his front desk that he will not install customer-provided parts unless they are OEM or are willing to waive such and such responsibility. I completely understand, there's a story there. Thankfully, he still lets me give him whatever parts I want.

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