Which Valve Cover Should I Go With? OEM vs Vaico vs Elring (2018 F80 M3)

[BMWPAPI]

Hey guys,

So my 2018 F80 M3 (Competition Package) just started making that infamous squealing noise from the valve cover area — definitely the PCV diaphragm giving out. I’m planning to tackle the valve cover replacement soon and have been browsing FCP Euro.

I found three options listed and wanted to get some opinions from people who’ve been down this road before:

1. Genuine BMW Valve Cover (PN 11127846359) – $746

2. Vaico Valve Cover (PN 11127846359) – $495

3. Elring Valve Cover (PN 11127846359) – $315


Not really in the mood to pay up all the way for genuine BMW but that all depends if you guys think the Vaico one is all the way worth it for the best bang for my buck.

Any firsthand experience or feedback on the Vaico vs OEM valve cover longevity? Trying to decide if it’s worth saving ~$250 or just going genuine and being done with it.

Appreciate any input 🙏

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by BMWPAPI

I found three options listed and wanted to get some opinions from people who’ve been down this road before:

1. Genuine BMW Valve Cover (PN 11127846359) – $746

2. Vaico Valve Cover (PN 11127846359) – $495

3. Elring Valve Cover (PN 11127846359) – $315

Don't forget another option:

4. DIY valve cover from cardboard ~$2.50

Options 2, 3, and 4 will achive the same result.
Option #1 will fit perfectly and last.

Your choice.

a

[sdhasher21]

Replaced mine. Stuck with oem.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by BMWPAPI

Hey guys,

So my 2018 F80 M3 (Competition Package) just started making that infamous squealing noise from the valve cover area — definitely the PCV diaphragm giving out. I’m planning to tackle the valve cover replacement soon and have been browsing FCP Euro.

I found three options listed and wanted to get some opinions from people who’ve been down this road before:

1. Genuine BMW Valve Cover (PN 11127846359) – $746

2. Vaico Valve Cover (PN 11127846359) – $495

3. Elring Valve Cover (PN 11127846359) – $315


Not really in the mood to pay up all the way for genuine BMW but that all depends if you guys think the Vaico one is all the way worth it for the best bang for my buck.

Any firsthand experience or feedback on the Vaico vs OEM valve cover longevity? Trying to decide if it’s worth saving ~$250 or just going genuine and being done with it.

Appreciate any input 🙏

For a part that is a PITA to change, I would only go OEM, OE, or Genuine. Viaco and Elring are both aftermarket, it’s not even OEM.

[Vantablack]

OEM or bust. If you get the cheap Chinese knockoffs, you're gonna be paying twice to get it done right

[djpeetur]

I had the same idea about going cheap. But end up going oem cover, changing the plug gasket and cam exhuast bolt also. Do it right the first time. Lifetime warranty

[l2iceman]

So I recently swapped my valve cover. I accidentally got an Elring one (long story, but I should've specified Genuine, as I ordered it through a distributor along with a bunch of other genuine parts). I already had the old vc removed when I picked up the new one, so went and installed the Elring anyway. Perfect fitment, quality felt the same to me (they're all mould injected anyway). Comes fully assembled just like the original (gasket pre installed, bolts, etc)

It's only been 2 weeks but no leaks.

Also, make sure to get a new crankcase vent hose, as the top side connector tends to break when removing it.

[l2iceman]

Originally Posted by Vantablack

OEM or bust. If you get the cheap Chinese knockoffs, you're gonna be paying twice to get it done right

Vaico and Elring are reputable German parts suppliers and supply many oe parts lol

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by l2iceman

Vaico and Elring are reputable German parts suppliers and supply many oe parts lol

Too bad in this case Vaico and Elring Valve Cover is actually made in China. The Genuine BMW one is made in Austria.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...vaico-v20-4684

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...ng-11127846359

[l2iceman]

Ah got it. Well, being they're reputable brands, I hope they have a decent QA process. Even Porsche has parts made in China lol

[djpeetur]

When it comes to fluid that can leak thru a gasket parts I try to stay oem. I bought oe trans pan gasket and it leaked. Switch over to oem no leaks. Oem valve cover for the win. Unless ur doing you own labor you can buy cheap cover and replace with warranty.

[djpeetur]

Oem valve cover. Spark plug well gasket, 15 cam exhaust bolts.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by djpeetur

When it comes to fluid that can leak thru a gasket parts I try to stay oem. I bought oe trans pan gasket and it leaked. Switch over to oem no leaks. Oem valve cover for the win. Unless ur doing you own labor you can buy cheap cover and replace with warranty.

OE is actually supposed to be better than OEM.

There is Genuine, OE, OEM, and then Aftermarket.

Genuine are parts stamped with BMW Logos (Ex: Bosch made radiator parts stamped with BMW)

OE (Original Equipment) are Genuine parts without the BMW Logo made by the same manufacturer. (Ex: Bosch made radiator without the BMW Logo.

What are OE BMW Parts?

OE BMW parts are exactly the same as Genuine BMW parts, but they have the logo or brand scratched off of them.

An OE manufacturer might make 10,000 control arms, all with “BMW” branded on them, but then BMW says “oh, well we only need 7,000 of them”. So 3,000 control arms sit in the manufacturers inventory that dealerships aren’t going to buy. What do they do with them?

The manufacturer isn’t allowed to sell these to anyone other than BMW, because it has the brand on the part and doing so would be a licensing violation. So, they physically scratch the BMW brand off of the product, so that they are not violating licensing agreements, and then sell these to parts stores like ourselves to sell to end consumers.

These parts are usually more difficult to come by as there is always a limited quality of leftover, unsold parts that BMW didn’t buy direct from the manufacturer.

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) are parts made by a parts supplier that creates parts for BMW but not the original manufacturer of the part. (Ex: Wahler making the same radiator)

Examples are not real but an example lol.

What are OEM BMW Parts?

This is where it might get somewhat confusing. OEM BMW parts are parts manufactured by companies that are OE suppliers to BMW. In some cases this is the same manufacturer that is making the Genuine and OE parts, and sometimes it isn’t.

Because these parts are manufactured by someone who is an OE provider to BMW, the company making them has been vetted and verified under BMW’s stringent quality requirements.

https://www.bmwpartsfactory.com/genu...-oem-bmw-parts

[paulo_f80m3]

I have used Elring products on absolute everything. Not one issue. Elring has been supplying BMW parts for decades. You'll be perfectly fine.

[Jaizero]

If you have the valve cover off you might as well replace the cam shelf bolts while you're in there.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by Jaizero

If you have the valve cover off you might as well replace the cam shelf bolts while you're in there.

First off....



Secondly... what is a cam shelf bolt?

[b_w.]

Ratty exhaust cam from improper torque. Replace 15 bolts one at a time.

[greysea]

I saw something on youtube about the replacements of the bolts. You can search and find videos.

Usually will show an engine bay with the rattle or clicking nose that some say it is the injectors but others say its the cam bolts. I did see a video of someone changing those out and then it went away.

But I wouldnt know the difference of if its normal s55 noises or not. But hey… might as well just to be sure if I am way deep in there.