Has anyone used an aftermarket heater control valve? I was planning on rebuilding mine with a kit but the aftermarket valves are as cheap as the kits to rebuild the originals. Just wondering if anyone had any experience with these, good or bad.
this is my collection of failed chinese heater valves reports http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/1270185
But maybe some have good results and mention that here? Since I read that with breaking clips and hose connectors, I am careful, a broken hose connector in the heater valves can cause a big coolant leak and in worst case a headgasket problem.
Last edited by shogun; 10-05-2018 at 08:22 PM.
Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!
Have to add: all the reported failures I found on the net refering to the heater valve version which fits E34, E32, E31.
Maybe someone here uses a cheap aftermarket valve for the E36 and is happy with it and no claims?
Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!
look for good construction. plasic hose fitters should be one piece molded plastic.
Look for an exact match to OEM.
Havent replaced mine yet
I just replaced one on my '97 M3 build along with the entire cooling system.
The car is up on stands, but the initial test drive and coolant system bleed went well after rebuilding from the head gasket up.
I was actually rather impressed with the quality of the unit; and it was a 1/4 of the price of OEM
I put a Chinese valve in an e36 about two years ago. Wish I recalled the details. It looked 100% identical to the original part. Worked till my daughter took the car across the country. She mentioned the other day that one day she had heat on only one side so I fear it may be failing already.
Gates makes one now too, part no. EHV101. I put one on my 98 M3 when I overhauled the cooling system. I have to rev the engine to get heat flowing which could be trapped air or my control unit not working correctly. I've bled the system several times and my control unit does weird things, so it probably needs the capacitor replaced. It doesn't leak and it's been on the car for a year and a half so far.
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