"Best" aftermarket Vanos line?

[Notan_S54]

If it was original, afaik it wouldn't have had the second tab. I believe that was added after the E46 was out of production.

Anyway, I had the same failure mode on the original line, thing just exploded at the flex joint. The lower ear had also apparently broken off.

Sad to see the OE price hike. Hopefully temporary, but I won't cross my fingers.

Makes sense that it wasn’t added until after E46 production. Regarding the spikes in prices for OE pieces on our cars, I just upgrade parts now. It makes little sense for me to pay OE price for one item when I can pay the same price and upgrade 2-3 things. Also put in a braided line for the oil return line.

[Pklauser]

Sure, but "upgrade" is not an objective term. Many, myself included, would argue that just because a part is aftermarket does not make it an "upgrade". If anything, aftermarket parts are often a downgrade backed by much less R&D than the original part.

[Notan_S54]

Sure, but "upgrade" is not an objective term. Many, myself included, would argue that just because a part is aftermarket does not make it an "upgrade". If anything, aftermarket parts are often a downgrade backed by much less R&D than the original part.

🤦🏻♂️

Fair point but I’m not saying throwing aftermarket parts at the car for the hell of it. I’m saying if it makes sense to go for a less expensive, but equal or greater part, that’s the route I’m taking.

[dukeofchen]

🤦🏻♂️

Fair point but I'm not saying throwing aftermarket parts at the car for the hell of it. I'm saying if it makes sense to go for a less expensive, but equal or greater part, that's the route I'm taking.

Considering our cars are chock full of known failure points I find it funny when BMW engineering / R&D is used as a blanket case for OE or bust.

[Pklauser]

Considering our cars are chock full of known failure points I find it funny when BMW engineering / R&D is used as a blanket case for OE or bust.

I hear that, but in the context of this oil line, how many failures of the updated line have been reported?

[Notan_S54]

I hear that, but in the context of this oil line, how many failures of the updated line have been reported?

Can’t we ask the same question for aftermarket braided lines? I resonate with the people in the community that having original equipment comes off as more put together and nice to both enthusiast and casual followers of these cars. But it’s not really solid reason to just write off aftermarket parts. And in the case of aftermarket parts; manufacturer and company will greatly matter in quality (for example ebay vs RE). In the end, it will always come down the quality part over OE vs aftermarket. Just my stance.

[dukeofchen]

I hear that, but in the context of this oil line, how many failures of the updated line have been reported?

From reading this thread apparently none, but when OE is pushing $200+, aftermarket from a reputable manufacturer at $50-60 seems well worth considering for something that is no more than a high pressure hose. There are plenty of areas where skepticism towards aftermarket is warranted if you can't trust they've done the engineering / research to match the design specs to the application, but I don't feel like this is one of them.

[Pklauser]

Yea the $200 OE price is definitely a bummer. I'd be interested in collecting any failure info on the aftermarket lines. I thought one of the vendors, potentially bimmerworld, had said their flex line needed to be replaced every so often, but I don't see that on their site now.

The downside I see to the flex line is that you have stress on the crimps from the tight bends, as opposed to the ridged OE line, but that's all just intuition. Selfishly, I bought the V2 OE line when it was only $100.

[0-60motorsports]

RE but I switched back after many years to the revised OE design. No reason, just felt like i wanted it to look OE again.

[maupineda]

I have ECS line, just because it has a nice curvature to it that follows the VANOS unit and can be ran parallel to the valve cover, which gives it a better appearance IMO. some corrugated pipe covering and looks stealth, almost factory like.

[WestBankM4]

All Beisan internals, Dr. Vanos Line and Ceracoated.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk

[WestBankM4]

Edit

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[maupineda]

Here is the ECS line, as said, I liked it can run parallel to the cam cover

[Cubieman]

Here is the ECS line, as said, I liked it can run parallel to the cam cover

I like the wire shroud on it, looks more OEM, I never used my ECS line as I didn't like the bright red.

[BL92]

Yea the $200 OE price is definitely a bummer. I'd be interested in collecting any failure info on the aftermarket lines. I thought one of the vendors, potentially bimmerworld, had said their flex line needed to be replaced every so often, but I don't see that on their site now.

The downside I see to the flex line is that you have stress on the crimps from the tight bends, as opposed to the ridged OE line, but that's all just intuition. Selfishly, I bought the V2 OE line when it was only $100.

This !

I don't like the routing at all, I would go OE TBH, the prices though? Surely they are pulling our leg ? Does anyone have any info in the price hikes