Valve cover replacement OEM vs. Genuine BMW

Fiasco · 05-17-2021, 12:22 PM

Is it a big deal to go China over Genuine BMW on this part? FCP Euro prices the Genuine BMW version at more than double what China can be had for. Is anyone running China valve covers? Any issues?

E92_William · 05-17-2021, 01:29 PM

People run Chinese valve covers just fine with no issues so that would work more than well enough. I am myself

b1aze · 05-18-2021, 09:53 AM

OEM is the exact same as Genuine BMW...? That’s the definition of OEM, Original Equipment Manufacturer.

The biggest reason I’d personally avoid the non-OEM versions is because of the integrated CCV system.

Fiasco · 05-18-2021, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E92_William

People run Chinese valve covers just fine with no issues so that would work more than well enough. I am myself

Thanks for your response. How many km on your Chinese valve cover? Any fitment issues? Any new leaks?

franksinatra · 05-19-2021, 09:48 PM

I can only speak to my own personal experience but I got a cheap valve cover, fitment was fine no problems there. But the CCV system went bad within a few months and caused a rough idle that I was chasing for a long time. Once I replaced with the BMW part, worked great ever since.

Personally I would always suggest original BMW on this. The actual part is made by Mahle but I haven't found anywhere that sells them.

Fiasco · 05-22-2021, 12:54 AM

Ok so we've got a couple for and a couple against. Might have to try and find the most inexpensive Genuine BMW value cover possible. That FCP Euro shipping time is nuts though, usually only like 2-3 days to Canada. You wanna support but some of their prices are outrageous.

bluewater328 · 05-23-2021, 03:18 AM

I went genuine and am happy with that decision.

mapleleaf1773 · 05-23-2021, 07:48 AM

Same here

cwlo · 05-23-2021, 09:09 PM

Went with a Uro, and it has been fine.

theMeeks · 07-07-2021, 11:02 PM

Just replaced mine with an OEM (Mahle) and no issues so far. OEM was 600 vs 300 for aftermarket. After researching the only aftermarket one I would have gone with was Rein, but Rock Auto was sold out.

CTinline-six · 07-08-2021, 09:18 AM

I go with OEM because of the integrated CCV system. It's more expensive, yes, but not exactly a job you want to do more times than you have to.

bluewater328 · 07-08-2021, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theMeeks

Just replaced mine with an OEM (Mahle) and no issues so far. OEM was 600 vs 300 for aftermarket. After researching the only aftermarket one I would have gone with was Rein, but Rock Auto was sold out.

Didn't know the OE one even came out. Lots of Mahle-made BMW parts never see the aftermarket. ie. Everyone would go ape-shit over a Mahle DISA valve!

theMeeks · 07-25-2021, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewater328

Didn't know the OE one even came out. Lots of Mahle-made BMW parts never see the aftermarket. ie. Everyone would go ape-shit over a Mahle DISA valve!

Was still a "BMW" part, but this one actually says Mahle on the cover along with BMW.

Fritzer · 08-04-2021, 04:18 PM

Whatever the price difference is, it's probably not worth the risk. Gaskets are very cheap, relative to the issues bad ones can cause.

4 Doors · 08-12-2021, 03:42 PM

Just buy the real deal original and be done with it. For the hassle of changing out the valve cover, just do it once. Then you don't have to worry about it. Not worth the minimal savings.

scanspeak · 08-13-2021, 07:15 AM

Its a bitch of a job, just get the best.

05-17-2021, 12:22 PM	#1
Fiasco Private First Class 89 Rep 144 Posts Drives: 2010 328xi E90 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Valve cover replacement OEM vs. Genuine BMW Is it a big deal to go China over Genuine BMW on this part? FCP Euro prices the Genuine BMW version at more than double what China can be had for. Is anyone running China valve covers? Any issues? Last edited by Fiasco; 05-18-2021 at 11:59 PM..
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05-17-2021, 01:29 PM	#2
E92_William Captain 1470 Rep 900 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 328xi Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	People run Chinese valve covers just fine with no issues so that would work more than well enough. I am myself __________________ Airplane Mechanic BMW Masochist
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05-18-2021, 09:53 AM	#3
b1aze Just one more taste... 570 Rep 2,011 Posts Drives: 2013 128i 6MT MSport Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Uxbridge MA iTrader: (18)	OEM is the exact same as Genuine BMW...? That’s the definition of OEM, Original Equipment Manufacturer. The biggest reason I’d personally avoid the non-OEM versions is because of the integrated CCV system. __________________ My Build Thread: Jet Black 6MT 128i with MSport
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05-19-2021, 09:48 PM	#5
franksinatra Private 11 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 328i 2011 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0)	I can only speak to my own personal experience but I got a cheap valve cover, fitment was fine no problems there. But the CCV system went bad within a few months and caused a rough idle that I was chasing for a long time. Once I replaced with the BMW part, worked great ever since. Personally I would always suggest original BMW on this. The actual part is made by Mahle but I haven't found anywhere that sells them.
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05-22-2021, 12:54 AM	#6
Fiasco Private First Class 89 Rep 144 Posts Drives: 2010 328xi E90 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Ok so we've got a couple for and a couple against. Might have to try and find the most inexpensive Genuine BMW value cover possible. That FCP Euro shipping time is nuts though, usually only like 2-3 days to Canada. You wanna support but some of their prices are outrageous.
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05-23-2021, 03:18 AM	#7
bluewater328 Colonel 645 Rep 2,098 Posts Drives: 2011 bluewater 328i LCI sedan Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Hawaii iTrader: (0)	I went genuine and am happy with that decision.
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05-23-2021, 07:48 AM	#8
mapleleaf1773 First Lieutenant 423 Rep 411 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328i XDrive Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: West Virginia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328i XDrive [0.00]	Same here
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05-23-2021, 09:09 PM	#9
cwlo Private First Class 84 Rep 110 Posts Drives: 04 m3 Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Went with a Uro, and it has been fine.
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07-07-2021, 11:02 PM	#10
theMeeks Private 23 Rep 77 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328i X-Drive Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	Just replaced mine with an OEM (Mahle) and no issues so far. OEM was 600 vs 300 for aftermarket. After researching the only aftermarket one I would have gone with was Rein, but Rock Auto was sold out.
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07-08-2021, 09:18 AM	#11
CTinline-six Hoonigan 6947 Rep 3,017 Posts Drives: '09 328i, '98 Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i N51 [0.00]	I go with OEM because of the integrated CCV system. It's more expensive, yes, but not exactly a job you want to do more times than you have to. __________________ "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." -Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
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08-04-2021, 04:18 PM	#14
Fritzer No one sleep in Tokyo 960 Rep 1,506 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 328i//1995 E34 530i Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: San Diego, California -> Austin, Texas iTrader: (3)	Whatever the price difference is, it's probably not worth the risk. Gaskets are very cheap, relative to the issues bad ones can cause. __________________ 2011 E90 328i, 1995 E34 530i, 1992 E32 740i, 1991 E34 525i
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08-12-2021, 03:42 PM	#15
4 Doors Major 1185 Rep 1,508 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328i (E91) Touring Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Michigan iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 BMW 335xi [10.00]	Just buy the real deal original and be done with it. For the hassle of changing out the valve cover, just do it once. Then you don't have to worry about it. Not worth the minimal savings. __________________ Instagram: @4doors Current: 2011 E91 328i M-Sport Touring Past: 2008 E90 335xi 1996 E36 328i Sport
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08-13-2021, 07:15 AM	#16
scanspeak Lieutenant 357 Rep 514 Posts Drives: BMW E92 325i 12/2007 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	Its a bitch of a job, just get the best.
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