"Best" aftermarket Vanos line?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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]

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]

it was the original line that came with the car (05 LCI car). I wouldn’t be able to tell you for sure because I ended up having it towed to my mechanic who does my big projects and had it taken care of while upgrading to ACL bearings.

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.

[Notan_S54]

Was it the updated version with the 2nd mounting tab?

it was the original line that came with the car (05 LCI car). I wouldn’t be able to tell you for sure because I ended up having it towed to my mechanic who does my big projects and had it taken care of while upgrading to ACL bearings.

[George Hill]

I had to replace mine because it blew, which led to oil coming out like crazy everywhere, especially onto the headers. I only knew because I was driving on the freeway when I hear an explosion coming from my engine bay. When I got home oil was all over the garage floor. Thought it was a rod bearing that blew but thankfully, just the vanos line.

Was it the updated version with the 2nd mounting tab?

[Notan_S54]

I always thought aftermarket ones were just for the sake of change, I had never heard of OE lines apparently cracking due to fatigue. Is the symptom a slow leak or a catastrophic failure that can take out your engine? I would be pissed if a $250 line killed my motor after all the other preventative work done...

p.s. how much needs to come out to replace this? Just the fan/shroud and some belts hopefully?

I had to replace mine because it blew, which led to oil coming out like crazy everywhere, especially onto the headers. I only knew because I was driving on the freeway when I hear an explosion coming from my engine bay. When I got home oil was all over the garage floor. Thought it was a rod bearing that blew but thankfully, just the vanos line.

[BL92]

I just installed the Dr.Vanos line, Not much info how to route it down, yes to get to the lower fixing, just below the coolant hose, i removed the fan and shroud to free up room
I loosely fitted the bottom end first to the accumulator, have to twist to get it to seat, then loosely fitted the fixing just below coolant hose, the loosely fit the upper most fixing.
wasn't until the banjo end up top, which mounts to the vanos, was lined up perfectly with no stress on the fitting, i fitted the banjo. Then snug up only, the lower fixings, then under i torqued the upper banjo to 9nm using a 1/4 drive torque wrench., I read some where that 13nm was too much, hasn't leaked yet

[Atreezy]

I always thought aftermarket ones were just for the sake of change, I had never heard of OE lines apparently cracking due to fatigue. Is the symptom a slow leak or a catastrophic failure that can take out your engine? I would be pissed if a $250 line killed my motor after all the other preventative work done...

p.s. how much needs to come out to replace this? Just the fan/shroud and some belts hopefully?