Beisan or OEM upper chain guide

[Arinb12]

Would you recommend choosing beisan over a new OEM one?

I'll be checking timing next week, figure I might overhaul the vanos seals and change this out (never been done)

Read something about the OEM ones having a shorter lifespan when replaced due to lower guide wear and the beisan replacement mnot having that issue.

Plus the significant difference in price ..

[cobra]

Realistically it depends on how long you plan to keep the car I guess. The oem one lasts 60k before there's significant wear, and by 90-100k it's so thin it's ready to break. The beisan one will last twice as long. It's not a difficult job but also not something I really ever want to do again.

I went beisan.

[Cubieman]

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/main-forum/e46-2001-2006/636-beisan-s54-exhaust-upper-chain-guide-solution

[heinzboehmer]

Yeah if you plan to keep the car for any significant amount of time just get the Beisan one. When you're back in there replacing the oem one for the second time, you're gonna wish you spent the extra $40 the first time.

Honestly, I'd just get the Beisan one regardless. It's not really that much more expensive.

[Arinb12]

Beisan it is.

Cars on 155k don't see it's ever been done in the vast history I have for it...

Was fine 4k miles ago when headgasket was done but why not ey

[maupineda]

I would go with Beisan, the OE has some hollow sections which may not be as sturdy.

[Rhythim]

New Beisan piece on top, 138k mile original below. Made sense to go with the solid part.

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[jet_dogg]

This is one of those things that finds a solution to sell a problem.

On the other hand I suppose it's good for those who don't want to stay on top of their maintenance.

[Obioban]

New Beisan piece on top, 138k mile original below. Made sense to go with the solid part.

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I think that has been replaced before at some point-- that looks most like 50-60,000 miles of wear than 138k. I don't think I've ever taken a car apart with over 100,000 miles that didn't have a completely failed top guide.

[Obioban]

This is one of those things that finds a solution to sell a problem.

On the other hand I suppose it's good for those who don't want to stay on top of their maintenance.

No.

This is an actual problem that can be easily and cheaply solved. If you're doing anything in that part of the engine, it makes sense to replace the upper guide with the Beisan part. Pulling the VANOS unit off to address anything should not be considered "maintenance". Do it once to address the fundamental engineering issues with the engine, then never worry about it again.

[M9Seth]

Have one for sale, BNIB. PM me if interested.

[jet_dogg]

Well if the beisan piece lasts forever then I suppose it makes sense.

[Arehman]

Beisan, no brainer.

[Obioban]

Well if the beisan piece lasts forever then I suppose it makes sense.

Nothing is forever, but it's ~10x the service life... which is functionally forever for most people.

[Rhythim]

I think that has been replaced before at some point-- that looks most like 50-60,000 miles of wear than 138k. I don't think I've ever taken a car apart with over 100,000 miles that didn't have a completely failed top guide.

Guess you can never say never, but I bought the car with 110k on it and a 3" thick binder of service history that never mentioned it having been replaced, and the PO thoroughly documented the vanos lockdown at 100k. Perhaps it was done then, but there's no record of it.

Regardless, the stock parts are clearly suboptimal and was glad to see an updated version was available when I checked it during the process of changing out rod bearings 3 years ago. Was a no brainer.

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