Bavarian Autosport/Aftermarket valve covers

[DeletePlease]

Does anyone have any experience with the Bavarian Autosport aluminium valve covers (which are possibly AliExpress ones rebranded by ECS)?

My valve cover gaskets have been changed twice in the last 3 years and they're still leaking, so it's probably time to swap out the valve covers themselves.

I was thinking of getting the Bavarian Autosport valve covers because they're cheaper and I personally think they look better.

Planning to pair them with the NRW viton valve cover gasket, grommets and spark plug tubes (and SLON vanos covers while I'm in there).

Still debating on whether to just play it safe with NRW, but wanted to hear if anyone had any experience with the Bavarian Autosport ones

[E46NYBMW]

Following this. Was planning to go the Alibaba route for the valve cover and then either OEM or NRW for gaskets. I have good things about the Carbahn (Dinan) valve covers and will most likely go with them as it’s not a clip on option.

[amrazM]

personally, I would rather invest the 20 hours of labor into refinishing a set of magnesium covers before I bought the aliexpress ones. i spent about 10 hours of grinding and scraping plus baking refinishing my magnesium covers then powdercoated them with prismatic epoxy inside and out then finished the top side in a similar grey color. they came out great. I wouldve gone NRW if I didnt have a supercharger drain pipe attached to my valve cover.

[DeletePlease]

Originally Posted by amrazM

personally, I would rather invest the 20 hours of labor into refinishing a set of magnesium covers before I bought the aliexpress ones. i spent about 10 hours of grinding and scraping plus baking refinishing my magnesium covers then powdercoated them with prismatic epoxy inside and out then finished the top side in a similar grey color. they came out great. I wouldve gone NRW if I didnt have a supercharger drain pipe attached to my valve cover.

I believe my valve covers are warped at this point, so there's no point in refinishing them.

[maddmatth]

I've seen people on the Australian Facebook groups just use the AliExpress ones and they reported they were fine.

Just get OEM or NRW gaskets because who knows if the material on the AliExpress ones is going to last.

[1messedupZ4M]

have installed 6 sets of the China ones, which is what these are. Straight from Aliexpress.

Use OEM/NRW Viton gaskets
Use the China bolts
Use OEM/NRW spark plug tube seals
Install new VANOS caps (personally use SLON)
OEM Timing cover gaskets
Change spark plugs
Change oil while you're there
Use all new orings for oil separator and cam position sensors



I reuse the OEM oil seperators.

Thousands of miles between the sets and never had a leak. Who is to say they wont all come back leaking/ rotted soon, though.

[DeletePlease]

Originally Posted by maddmatth

I've seen people on the Australian Facebook groups just use the AliExpress ones and they reported they were fine.

Just get OEM or NRW gaskets because who knows if the material on the AliExpress ones is going to last.

Originally Posted by 1messedupZ4M

have installed 6 sets of the China ones, which is what these are. Straight from Aliexpress.

Use OEM/NRW Viton gaskets
Use the China bolts
Use OEM/NRW spark plug tube seals
Install new VANOS caps (personally use SLON)
OEM Timing cover gaskets
Change spark plugs
Change oil while you're there
Use all new orings for oil separator and cam position sensors



I reuse the OEM oil seperators.

Thousands of miles between the sets and never had a leak. Who is to say they wont all come back leaking/ rotted soon, though.

Thanks guys for all the data points, super helpful!

Perfect, that's exactly what I'm planning to do. Looks like there's someone selling the Aluminium Chinese ones on Amazon for $500, which seems like a bargain and a safe bet because returns would be easy.

[Johnny E92]

Originally Posted by 1messedupZ4M

My $2 worth, and what I did.

Use OEM/NRW Viton gaskets
- yes
Use the China bolts
- no use OEM bolts with NRW new seals
Use OEM/NRW spark plug tube seals
- yes use OEM or upgrade to NRW ali tubes/seals
Install new VANOS caps (personally use SLON) - no bolt on ones from Mporium, do it once and do it right, bolt on much better than something clipped on
OEM Timing cover gaskets agree
Change spark plugs
- agree
Change oil while you're there
- agree
Use all new orings for oil separator and cam position sensors
- agree

And ‘while your in there’ do the TA’s from rebuild UK, much cheaper to do while they have the top part of the motor apart anyway.



I reuse the OEM oil seperators.

Thousands of miles between the sets and never had a leak. Who is to say they wont all come back leaking/ rotted soon, though.

[S54b32!]

Anyone here had bad expierence with the Chinese aluminum covers? (Long or short term)