KIT-11531436408KIT from FCP Euro gets you a combination of Rein and BMW hoses. I've used this kit a couple of times now and been very happy.

 

KIT-11531436408KIT from FCP Euro

not a bad kit except

The Rein “HVAC Heater Pipe”. CRP-CHP0567 Is made in China (a recent switch) and should not be used IMO.

 

FCP Euro used genuine BMW for the other coolant hard pipe..they should have used Genuine for both In that kit.

 

I just emailed them asking about it, and gave your suggestion.

 

There really isn't a good aftermarket option in Europe that I've been able to find. Original BMW seems to be the only quality choice.

 

Yea, I found one from Gates which I will buy to replace that FEBI crap. Hopefully it will be from better quality. At least from the images it looks ok, but the FEBI doesn't look to bad as well

I buy Gates all the time when I need to replace a timing belt or accessory belt. Their stuff always seems to be from pretty good quality, but I don't know about their coolant hoses. I will keep this thread updated with how it holds up.

 

As you're in Europe then I'd find the Meyle ones and give them a go. Personally, Gates are shite for anything but the timing belt. They used to use decent *** SKN etc bearings in there kits but are now a cheaper Tiawanese brand and the seals don't even fit the hole sometimes. So yes that's to do with timing belt kits but just saying their quality has gone down just like FEBI.

Not sure if Lemforder make the hoses but easy enough to check their catalogue online.

But so far Meyle's quality seems to be holding the line.

 

As you're in Europe then I'd find the Meyle ones and give them a go. Personally, Gates are shite for anything but the timing belt. They used to use decent *** SKN etc bearings in there kits but are now a cheaper Tiawanese brand and the seals don't even fit the hole sometimes. So yes that's to do with timing belt kits but just saying their quality has gone down just like FEBI.

Not sure if Lemforder make the hoses but easy enough to check their catalogue online.

But so far Meyle's quality seems to be holding the line.

Sad to see all those brands slowly are getting worse and worse. Strange enough, recently I bought a Gates serpentine belt kit for my e46, and I checked and actually on the bearings it says those are from INA and made in Slovakia. Maybe I got some old good stock

 

Not a Meyle fan. Do you mean Mahle?

 

Genuine only for coolant hoses. At least that is my opinion (I believe shared by many). Try this site as they are normally pretty competitive:

BMW & MINI parts styling tuning new and used parts - Schmiedmann - New parts

Schmiedmann – Sales of auto spare parts and accessories. Specialized in BMW & MINI we can offer spare parts, styling and tuning, used parts. Schmiedmann offers access to our spareparts store, which hold over 300000 individual products. We carry everything in BMW parts, from clips and bolts to...

www.schmiedmann.com

I've used them a few times.

 

What's their shipping costs and times like because I've found many parts at good prices from Scmiedmann but haven't bit the bullet with an order yet as even Autodoc got bad post brexit.

 

Trust me. Get genuine. It seems expensive but Rein and Febi just suck now unless you find some old stock made in Turkey.

Chinese quality control is abhorrent and you will have leaks. I have had to replace all my recent non-genuine. There used to be OE options that were good. No more.

Some folks will likely claim they used one of the OE/OEM folks when they did their refresh, but I suspect it was more than 3-4 years ago. Right now it is really bad.

 

Decided to go OEM after all, because I don't want to be again in the situation it might not fit or something. The price isn't even that bad compared to what some shops ask for aftermarket ones.

 

Decided to go OEM

I think you mean genuine BMW, right?
OEM is a tricky phrase that does not indicate quality. Plenty of the original equipment manufacturers now put their name on cheap chinese made poor quality parts.

 

I thing this ks really tricky to say exactly what brand is better than the other. As I got into E46 game Few years ago I was around some E46 that had their cooling partially overhauled at some time. 90% of them had Febi hoses and ETs. Mine had also Febi ET installed in 2014 and it lasted 6years of driving. Others had mostly front 2 coolant hoses from Febi and they were OK. I did a full colling system overhaul and I went with Febi hoses and I had no problems in 60-70 000 kms. They fit as they should. Mine were made in Turkey. A few weeks ago we did the same for my friend’s 328i and we went also Febi hoses. They can break or they will last long. Who knows. I think that the key is (when going aftermarket crucial parts like this) to replace them every 4-5 years or seat a certain amount of kms/miles and do it again. It’s a hard to bite bullet for a lot of people that I know, because they don’t want to do it again after 4-5 years. An example: I used Meyle WP with cast aluminum impeller. I don’t care if it’s good or not, the original was there 20 years and 305 000kms and it worked well…There is no way that that Meyle is gonna be there for more than 4 years. I’m going to replace it with another one, it’s a fairly cheap part. However If you don’t mind spending more money the original is way to go.

 

mm interesting, I don't know where my hose is from since I already threw away the bag it was shipped in. In my case it didn't fit on the radiator in the first place (ok I have a Nissens radiator, not an original one from BMW but since these radiators are known for being of good quality I kind of expect its fitting to be good). When trying to fit the hose I just couldn't get in on there whatever amount of pressure and lubricant I did put on it. My old original BMW hose did go on without any problems at all. When changing the inner o-ring with a smaller normal sized o-ring I could get it on, and it wasn't leaking from there after the installation. The next problem was fitting the coolant temperature sensor. The fitting on the hose is just too small to put the sensor in there. I tried putting it there without o-ring just to check if the o-ring was the issue, but it still didn't want to go in there. I even damaged the sensor because I couldn't get it out anymore. I bought a new sensor and in the old original BMW hose it fitted without any problems.

I also had an issue with my coolant reservoir which was also from FEBI. The plastic fitting where the coolant level sensor should be installed didn't have the right shape. It was too long for the sensor to be able to tighten it.

Also one time I bought a FEBI suspension kit for another car which included all kind of control arm and tie rod ends. The nuts which they delivered in the kit didn't even have the same pitch so I couldn't use them.

For me I've had too much problems with this brand to call it reliable. They have some good stuff, I've used a lot of FEBI products without any problems at all but sometimes they just sell crap.

 

I have tried many afternarket coolant hoses.
Febi ones are okay if you use only Febi temperature sensor ( othwerwise sensor is very hard to install).
Same for Vaico, but it seems Vaico hoses are better than Febi.

Febi has redesigned top coolant hose ( the one connected to tank).
I have send them a email many years ago, this hose was leaking while driving ( especially when taking corners).

 

mm, my top one is from FEBI as well, and that one looks to be fine. I didn’t have any problems with installing it at all.

About the bottom one, I think it is crazy you need to install a FEBI sensor as well to make it fit. I haven’t tried it yet, but since I still have that old hose laying around maybe one day I will buy a FEBI sensor and try it out.

and what about the fitting at the radiator? You had problems there as well? In my case I replaced that o-ring with a smaller one in order to make it fit.

 

For radiator I have tried Nrf, the cheap version made in China. Leaks instant after install.
Just to try out.....

After that the higher end version ( with logo scratched off). Zero problems.
Too Nrf doesn't produce this version anymore.

 

NRF isn't the OEM supplier right? I thought the OEM ones are not available on if you buy them aftermarket. I bought a Nissens one, and i'm happy with it. Doesn't leak and it looks like from high quality. With NRF I don't have any experience at all.

 

The reason why I don't use oem hoses : replaced them all everytime with coolant overhauling

I have expercience with Febi plastic coolant lines from engine( under intake), these are fine.

 

Nrf under Modine quality control is OEM.
Normal Nrf ( made in China) is crap.

After many tries have found out this.
Same for Febi and Vaico.
They have two versions high end and China crap.

 

Rein and Febi just suck now

Just went through this. Old (datecoded 2008) Behr thermostat heater died.

Replaced thermostat: Gates came through Made In China and looking terrible, so Wahler.
Wahler was fine, but neither 2018 CRP hose sealed to it. New o- rings fixed THAT, but upper
hose had a bulge and evidence of seepage around the crimp to the plastic.
Now, Hella/Behr China ET was leaking at the Hella/Behr radiator. When I replaced
the upper hose (Rein Turkey) it looked like the Hella/Behr radiator was leaking, so
Rein China ET and Nissens radiator. Fit well, sealed fine.
Don't Trust.
Febi lower hose did not fit onto Nissens or Hella/Behr radiator at all. Radiator end too small.

Now, what to do? I can't, in good conscience, leave that old lower hose and Rein ET on there,
as I commute in this car, and it needs to be trustworthy
(as in, I can't be wondering if I'm about to spin in my own coolant from an exploding ET.
I need all of my limited mental powers to be hatin' on my workplace).
Gen-yoo-whine parts have an absurd markup, and are starting
to come through 3rd party anyways.

Guess I'll go browsing... maybe it's time to weld up an ET out of some old junk I have lying around the barn...

t

 

Just went through this. Old (datecoded 2008) Behr thermostat heater died.

Replaced thermostat: Gates came through Made In China and looking terrible, so Wahler.
Wahler was fine, but neither 2018 CRP hose sealed to it. New o- rings fixed THAT, but upper
hose had a bulge and evidence of seepage around the crimp to the plastic.
Now, Hella/Behr China ET was leaking at the Hella/Behr radiator. When I replaced
the upper hose (Rein Turkey) it looked like the Hella/Behr radiator was leaking, so
Rein China ET and Nissens radiator. Fit well, sealed fine.
Don't Trust.
Febi lower hose did not fit onto Nissens or Hella/Behr radiator at all. Radiator end too small.

Now, what to do? I can't, in good conscience, leave that old lower hose and Rein ET on there,
as I commute in this car, and it needs to be trustworthy
(as in, I can't be wondering if I'm about to spin in my own coolant from an exploding ET.
I need all of my limited mental powers to be hatin' on my workplace).
Gen-yoo-whine parts have an absurd markup, and are starting
to come through 3rd party anyways.

Guess I'll go browsing... maybe it's time to weld up an ET out of some old junk I have lying around the barn...

t

Well my issues look like nothing compared to yours So my current setup is: FEBI ET (which I had to modify to make the sensor fit), Nissens radiator, FEBI upper hose and OEM (currently the old one, but I will swap it for a new one which I have laying around) lower hose. Furthermore I have a Wahler thermostat and a SKF waterpump. For as far as I can see it looks like I don't have leaks at the moment.

 

And don't use Nrf easy fit coolant level sensor. It will generates low level, while level is at good level....