[TassieBMW]

Hey guys, I know this general topic has been discussed previously but I wanted to ask specifically about the Febi Bilstein DISA valves.

I've heard the Vaico ones are no good and maybe Rein are slightly better?

My car is at nearly 300,000km (190,000 miles) and I have code 2AAC for the small DISA flap and figure I may as well do both at once.

The $800 USD (or $1,200 in my local currency) that FCPEuro are asking for the Genuine BMW ones seems like daylight robbery for two small pieces of plastic. I really don't think I can bring myself to spend that on such basic items that probably cost them a dollar or less to manufacture.

Febi Bilstein seems to be the only decent European brand that make them. They still aren't cheap, but a lot better at less than half the genuine ones.

Does anyone have experience with this brand of DISA?
Are they a part you would trust, or as some people suggest is it true that only the genuine ones are any good?

[NZE90]

They are made in China and don't last. You can rebuild your old ones. There are kits available. They generally only stop working because they fill up with oil.

[MOD.Works]

Originally Posted by NZE90

They are made in China and don't last. You can rebuild your old ones. There are kits available. They generally only stop working because they fill up with oil.

Febi is not a manufacturer.
Febi sells parts from other manufacturers under its own name and in a own box.

It is true that several parts may be Chinese. But several times I have received the exact same part as OE when buying a Febi. Only the BMW brand has been ground or melted away.
I have bought Febi Flex Discs five times and each time the part has been BMW branded which has been removed. Likewise in some other parts that were in the Febi box.

I bought Febi Disa valves N52 two years ago and they still work well. Disa valves were similar to the original, without any BMW markings. I think they are aftermarket.
Probably in china as most of the parts come from there. But they can also be made in Eastern Europe or Italy, etc. There is also a lot of electronics manufacturing in Turkey and some of the manufacturers make good quality.

[NZE90]

Originally Posted by MOD.Works

Febi is not a manufacturer.
Febi sells parts from other manufacturers under its own name and in a own box.

It is true that several parts may be Chinese. But several times I have received the exact same part as OE when buying a Febi. Only the BMW brand has been ground or melted away.
I have bought Febi Flex Discs five times and each time the part has been BMW branded which has been removed. Likewise in some other parts that were in the Febi box.

I bought Febi Disa valves N52 two years ago and they still work well. Disa valves were similar to the original, without any BMW markings. I think they are aftermarket.
Probably in china as most of the parts come from there. But they can also be made in Eastern Europe or Italy, etc. There is also a lot of electronics manufacturing in Turkey and some of the manufacturers make good quality.

Both of my Febi Bilstein disas failed within 6 months, so i naturally think they're junk.

[whyzee125]

Wait so is Febi Bilstein not related to Bilstein the suspension manufacturer?

[MOD.Works]

Originally Posted by whyzee125

Wait so is Febi Bilstein not related to Bilstein the suspension manufacturer?

No way.

In both cases, the name Bilstein comes from the surname of the founding member. I don't know if they are really related, but it is a different company.
Bilstein shock absorbers were a good brand back in the day. I think they still are.

[jadams161]

I installed the Febi valves a few months ago in a 138k mile N51. They both said made in Germany. No way I was spending $800+ at FCP on "BMW" ones. RM European had the Febi in stock at a reasonable price. They seem fine. The biggest issue really is how much oil your car dumps into the pcv system and intake. The oil eats the plastic and helps them fail. So if your car is burning oil, and has a weak pcv system or needs a new valve cover.. I doubt any brand valves will last long.

[aphael]

Get the oem, or rebuild. I've had the latest oem revision ones for about 40000 miles and they have no problems. You'll spend more if you have to do it again

[TassieBMW]

So 50% say they're ok and 50% say they're junk and buy Genuine BMW?

Being such simple things (a plastic flap driven by a basic electric motor) I struggle to understand how these aftermarket units seem to fail.

I really hate the idea of throwing $1200 to BMW for a shitty part that probably costs one dollar to make.

[Nando_e90]

Hey OP, did you ended up buying the Febi's?

I'm in the need of new DISAS's for my 06 330i but neither for me makes any sense throwing that money for OEM flaps. I have read that Rein, URO and Vaico have high likelihood of failure, so I was thinking going with Febi hoping they are at least a little better.

Does anyone else has experience with them?

[whyzee125]

I, too, wonder how these aftermarket companies can make such junk on things that seem like a simple design, but they seem to do it somehow.

FWIW, everything Uro is made in the U.S. whereas a lot of the other companies are made in China. I think Rein and Vaico are likely made in Germany so this may not necessarily mean Uro is better here but Germany isn't known for their good plastic either.

All I know is aftermarket gaskets, rubber hoses, etc. seem to fail unbelievably fast from all of the "OE" companies but the genuine ones last.