NRW Valve Covers?

[PandaM3]

Was looking at getting NRW valve covers since my covers need to come off to install vanos hub covers. Has anyone used these? The fact that they are aluminum seems they would be better for higher mileage BMW's than the magnesium covers. I do see that FCP sells them so they must be good?

[play2lose]

I bought a set during their black friday sale. Will be getting them installed in a few weeks. Have seen other members install these valve covers as well.

[M3SQRD]

Yes. I, and plenty of others on this forum, have used NRW valve covers and other items they offer for the e9x M3. Their aluminum valve covers are a great alternative to new OEM magnesium valve covers and they’re ~$590 cheaper than OEM for a pair of valve covers. NRW did have a presence on this forum for years.

[tdott]

They do seem like high quality replacements.

But they've only been out for a few months now, so there is no long term data on them yet.

My OEM ones lasted 10yrs, so I figured having them powder coated hopefully have them last the same or longer, that's good enough for me back then because these replacements weren't available, now that they are, I'm inclined to try these, but hopefully i wont need them any time soon. When the time comes and I need replacements, i'll likely go this route.

[nick3753]

Does anyone know how much more they weigh compared to the OEM magnesium?

[Redd]

I did a group buy of NRW Alu Valve Covers for Malaysia M3 owners. We had about 10 sets. All installed with zero issues.

[PandaM3]

Originally Posted by nick3753

Does anyone know how much more they weigh compared to the OEM magnesium?

Found a YouTube video… they say 1 lb more per side. Not a big deal.

Originally Posted by Redd

I did a group buy of NRW Alu Valve Covers for Malaysia M3 owners. We had about 10 sets. All installed with zero issues.

Good to hear. I ordered the Honda typeR red covers (I’m hoping typeR red makes it as reliable as a Honda) from FCP euro along with the grommets. Should get to me by Saturday and car dropped off at EAS Monday for the covers and carbahn timing covers. Any additional parts I need that they can’t swap over?Hopefully I should be good for a track day Saturday.

[OmairK]

FYI... NRW covers do not come with the Crankcase Vent Valves on each respective cover. That brings the delta down between the two sets. I am going NRW and going to buy new CCV valves.

[PandaM3]

Originally Posted by OmairK

FYI... NRW covers do not come with the Crankcase Vent Valves on each respective cover. That brings the delta down between the two sets. I am going NRW and going to buy new CCV valves.

Can’t those parts be swapped over from the old valve covers?

[OmairK]

They can... But old ones will be shitty and they often fail causing oil and grime to get up inside your plenum. Good idea to replace while you're in there.

[play2lose]

Originally Posted by OmairK

FYI... NRW covers do not come with the Crankcase Vent Valves on each respective cover. That brings the delta down between the two sets. I am going NRW and going to buy new CCV valves.

Thanks for the tip! Totally forgot about these.

[PandaM3]

Originally Posted by OmairK

They can... But old ones will be shitty and they often fail causing oil and grime to get up inside your plenum. Good idea to replace while you're in there.

Anything else that should be replaced while the valve covers are off? dropping the car off next week for the valve covers and the Vanos covers from Carbahn/ Dinan. I think I've kept up with all the other maintenance, but the car does have 110kmiles.

[OmairK]

Get O-Rings for camshaft position sensors.

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by PandaM3

Was looking at getting NRW valve covers since my covers need to come off to install vanos hub covers. Has anyone used these? The fact that they are aluminum seems they would be better for higher mileage BMW's than the magnesium covers. I do see that FCP sells them so they must be good?

PandaM3 suggest effort to utilize M3Post

There are several existing informative, detailed posts on NRW VCs; including myself as an 'early adapter' along with their silicone bolt grommets.

[PandaM3]

I did and only one post came up and didn’t have much info and only said something about nrw being banned or not a forum sponsor. Maybe the posts got erased or maybe because I’m using my phone app because they aren’t showing up. Searching YouTube only comes up with one video.

[MechEngineer408]

NRW products are solid.

[TheMechanic]

Any other cheaper options? How are the stock BMW priced, can't seem to find them at Fcpeuro. Mines are also starting to leak slowly, at 60k miles (but it is a 2009, so they aged...)

[spammysammich]

Originally Posted by TheMechanic

Any other cheaper options? How are the stock BMW priced, can't seem to find them at Fcpeuro. Mines are also starting to leak slowly, at 60k miles (but it is a 2009, so they aged...)

1600/pair last time I looked. And that didn’t include hardware.

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by TheMechanic

Any other cheaper options? How are the stock BMW priced, can't seem to find them at Fcpeuro. Mines are also starting to leak slowly, at 60k miles (but it is a 2009, so they aged...)

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...m3-11127838266

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...848153#reviews

Those do come with new bolts, oil separators and new gaskets. No spark plug tubes though.

[TheMechanic]

Over 2k for the whole lot including spark tubes.... geez. and I also need brake disks. I am pretty sure (from looking at my covers) that just replacing the seals won't do, all paint is flaking off.

[TheMechanic]

Hey, anyone used the aluminum ones from ECS Tuning

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bavarian...127848154~bav/

[spammysammich]

with an estimated ship date of Jun 2024 i hope you're not in a rush.