any luck / problems / experience with aftermarket heater control valves ?

[enf1945]

1998 328i

seems everything past 1996 has the same one except 318 .

Big difference in price from imports to OEM $$

imports run about $ 60

OEM is $ 230 +

not exactly a real key part that will prevent the car from running
but I dont want installation
problems ( bad fit ect)

Thanks !

[boarder2k7]

I used an aftermarket for mine, and it looked like it came off the same molds as my OEM one, it was that close. Quality wise though I'm not sure, it's currently one year old and okay. Will it make it to 15 before it dies like the last one did? No idea. And as always, YMMV

[johnf]

... seems everything past 1996 has the same [heater bypass valve] except 318....

Did you mean to write the 318ti (the lovable mongrel) – when thinking of just U.S. models?

[shogun]

Here some negative experience about China made aftermarket heater valves, the plastic connections came off, http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/1263643/

[Driiven]

I wouldn’t use aftermarket heater valve on mine period ymmv either bypass or run oem

[enf1945]

The replacement one i got is from China but is not as described in the link. There is no O ring connector to the
heater or from the radiator. Its all molded plastic. Already tested the solenoids. Fwiw they are 18 ohms. You can hear them click.

thanks