What the best Non BMW OE Valve Cover? Rein, Febi, Elring?

AWSB328iM · 01-03-2023, 01:10 PM

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 · 01-03-2023, 07:09 PM

Quote:

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 · 01-04-2023, 10:38 AM

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 · 01-05-2023, 06:23 PM

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

SiEgs90 · 03-11-2023, 05:54 PM

Quote:

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 · 03-11-2023, 10:15 PM

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 · 03-15-2023, 03:04 PM

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 · 03-26-2023, 09:41 AM

Quote:

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 · 03-26-2023, 12:54 PM

Quote:

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 · 03-26-2023, 05:08 PM

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 · 03-27-2023, 01:04 PM

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 · 03-27-2023, 01:49 PM

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

Suvorovo · 03-27-2023, 04:02 PM

Quote:

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 · 03-28-2023, 12:07 PM

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 · 03-31-2023, 11:33 AM

Quote:

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.

Igor_M5 · 10-20-2025, 06:59 PM

Bumping this to see if anyone has some recent insight on alternatives or continue on with OE?

VinnyK · 10-26-2025, 11:35 PM

I am currently replacing the magnesium cover to the plastic cover. call me crazy for doing this but my genuine bmw ccv just took a dump after 3 years and my valve cover is warped and leaking oil into the spark plug port with a 4 month old gasket and zinc bolts torqued to 12nm. i do not feel like spending 800 plus for a genuine valve cover and another $300 for the ccv so im removing the early ccv system and swapping in the n52k valve cover. i got the a premium one from amazon as it has good reviews. i first tested the pcv when it arrived and it works perfectly. will be installing in 2 weeks or so ill let you know the results. so far quality seems decent for $100.

01-03-2023, 01:10 PM	#1
AWSB328iM Captain 405 Rep 647 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 328i M-Sport 6MT Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Memphis, TN iTrader: (0)	What the best Non BMW OE Valve Cover? Rein, Febi, Elring? 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!
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01-04-2023, 10:38 AM	#3
Suvorovo Lieutenant 295 Rep 532 Posts Drives: Creaky e90 330xi 6MT Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	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.
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01-05-2023, 06:23 PM	#4
AWSB328iM Captain 405 Rep 647 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 328i M-Sport 6MT Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Memphis, TN iTrader: (0)	Ended up ordering a Rein Kit. Will advise on my thoughts next week.
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03-11-2023, 10:15 PM	#6
AWSB328iM Captain 405 Rep 647 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 328i M-Sport 6MT Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Memphis, TN iTrader: (0)	Great so far! A friend had a snap on inch pound torque wrench and I was careful to torque the bolts evenly all around.
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03-15-2023, 03:04 PM	#7
yupetc Captain 544 Rep 868 Posts Drives: F15N55, G30B58 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	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) __________________ 2017 540i - MHD2+, VRSF DP, TU Pump 2015 X535i - CP Pistons, Manley Rods, Irox coated bearings, Cometic head gasket, Wagner head studs, M2 crankshaft, MILVs VRSF charge Pipe, Wagner FMIC PURE500 turbo, MHD2+ VRSF DP, B58TU HPFP UR Front/Rear Sway Bars, Eibach springs, KONI FSD Struts
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03-26-2023, 05:08 PM	#10
Hotter First Lieutenant 100 Rep 399 Posts Drives: BMW E92 328i -> 330i Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Lithuania iTrader: (0)	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 Last edited by Hotter; 03-27-2023 at 01:14 AM..
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03-27-2023, 01:04 PM	#11
Jros Private First Class 98 Rep 132 Posts Drives: EUDM E92 325i 2006 Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Italy iTrader: (0)	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 Last edited by Jros; 03-27-2023 at 01:11 PM..
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03-27-2023, 01:49 PM	#12
Jros Private First Class 98 Rep 132 Posts Drives: EUDM E92 325i 2006 Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Italy iTrader: (0)	P.S. my cover has the oem style gaskets, not the flat ones as the MITZONE. I honestly wouldn't use that one.
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03-28-2023, 12:07 PM	#14
Jros Private First Class 98 Rep 132 Posts Drives: EUDM E92 325i 2006 Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Italy iTrader: (0)	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
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10-20-2025, 06:59 PM	#16
Igor_M5 2570 Rep 2,133 Posts Drives: Many, BMW. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New York City iTrader: (11) Garage List 2009 E90 328i [10.00] 2007;2013 E91 335is [10.00]	Bumping this to see if anyone has some recent insight on alternatives or continue on with OE?
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10-26-2025, 11:35 PM	#17
VinnyK New Member 4 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 06 330i/6 03 530i/5 05 530i Join Date: Oct 2024 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	I am currently replacing the magnesium cover to the plastic cover. call me crazy for doing this but my genuine bmw ccv just took a dump after 3 years and my valve cover is warped and leaking oil into the spark plug port with a 4 month old gasket and zinc bolts torqued to 12nm. i do not feel like spending 800 plus for a genuine valve cover and another $300 for the ccv so im removing the early ccv system and swapping in the n52k valve cover. i got the a premium one from amazon as it has good reviews. i first tested the pcv when it arrived and it works perfectly. will be installing in 2 weeks or so ill let you know the results. so far quality seems decent for $100.
	Appreciate 0 Quote