OEM or Aftermarket DISA Valve?

This is the DISA valve you want to get:

http://www.germanautosolutions.com/...sa_repair_kit/product_m54_disa_repair_kit.php

He just stated he doesn't want a repair kit. If OP is in the same situation as i was, his valve is internally damaged and needs a full new unit. From the looks of it, OP just missed the low price. Since late last year, bmw increased their prices for this item by about $80. I purchased mine last year in May and it cost $180.

OP try to find who the actual manufacturer is, it may be Vaico.

DISAs are overrated. They have a minimal impact on performance during daily driving. I started to replace mine with the Dorman product, and found out that Dorman only makes DISAs for the 330 manifold. Then I mixed up some plastic epoxy, coated the control arm shaft with it (this is where it wears), put it back together, aligned it, let it set up, and installed it. It was a $7 fix and I'm happy with it so far.

But, if you are going to replace it, I recommend OEM. Yeah, it's $120 more than VAICO, and $293 more than plastic epoxy, but what's your peace of mind worth?

that's if your flap is busted. My problem was internal... it made a noise even though the flap had minimal play and pin looked solid.

op what's your issue? is it the flap?

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Bimmer App

The best option is a Bavarian Auto Recycling DISA valve... You get a guaranteed OEM part at a non-OEM price. http://www.bmrparts.com/
Check them out, I used them for all my parts, especially since my bimmer is nearly 14 years old with over 342,000 miles. It's just not worth purchasing new OEM parts unless I can't source through Bavarian. Just my two and a half cents worth!

pawelgawel said:

that's if your flap is busted. My problem was internal... it made a noise even though the flap had minimal play and pin looked solid.

op what's your issue? is it the flap?

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Bimmer App

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That's the thing. It does make a noise and the flap is loose. I don't want to buy a $80 repair kit just to fix the flap. The car has well over 120k so maybe time for a new one.

Oem

fresshhlikeuhhh said:

That's the thing. It does make a noise and the flap is loose. I don't want to buy a $80 repair kit just to fix the flap. The car has well over 120k so maybe time for a new one.

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Do some research on aftermarket one first and then decide. You're on the right track thinking this way. I decided to go with a new one no matter what at 90K with the old price. At $300 OE, I would consider Vaco but just do some reearch first.

pawelgawel said:

He just stated he doesn't want a repair kit. If OP is in the same situation as i was, his valve is internally damaged and needs a full new unit. From the looks of it, OP just missed the low price. Since late last year, bmw increased their prices for this item by about $80. I purchased mine last year in May and it cost $180.

OP try to find who the actual manufacturer is, it may be Vaico.

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I put up the wrong link. DUH!

http://www.germanautosolutions.com/...sa_gold_valve/product_m54_disa_gold_valve.php

It's expensive, but you won't have to worry about it failing again.

If you buy an OEM or aftermarket DISA the bellcrank assembly will fail again and you will need another one. The GAS kit eliminates the failure points. Many, many, many people I know have done it and have been VERY happy for $80. Seems a waste to buy an OEM one to me. Kind of like buying an OE VANOS kit when you have Beisan available.

considering a new unit should last 100k, and his old unit is 120k, id get a new unit altogether. it is a mechanical valve and does fail internally as well.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Bimmer App

smolck said:

If you buy an OEM or aftermarket DISA the bellcrank assembly will fail again and you will need another one. The GAS kit eliminates the failure points. Many, many, many people I know have done it and have been VERY happy for $80. Seems a waste to buy an OEM one to me. Kind of like buying an OE VANOS kit when you have Beisan available.

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He says his failure is internal which a GAS kit won't address. So it appears he needs the whole shebang.

330iPilot said:

I put up the wrong link. DUH!

http://www.germanautosolutions.com/...sa_gold_valve/product_m54_disa_gold_valve.php

It's expensive, but you won't have to worry about it failing again.

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$414 dollars my dude...is that a joke?

Or for 254$. http://faulknerbmwpartssource.com/p...iteid=216042&categoryID=167152&subcat1=174722

Sweetness said:

$414 dollars my dude...is that a joke?

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Like I said, it's expensive. What they do is buy an OEM DISA, and upgrade it with their kit. Hence the high price. His kit is stellar and you will have a DISA that will probably never fail on you.

Alternatively, you could get the one linked to above, still get the GAS kit for $80, have the same thing as the GAS Gold DISA Kit, and come out $80 ahead.

this is not an item that fails often. 100K+... its a one time replacement for 90% of the owners.

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Sweetness said:

$414 dollars my dude...is that a joke?

Click to expand...

I know.. That's a little too much for me.
Anyone here bought an aftermarket one?

pawelgawel said:

this is not an item that fails often. 100K+... its a one time replacement for 90% of the owners.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Bimmer App

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Just giving him options. It's no skin off of my back whatever he ends up doing.

first, 330pilot was just trying to show him the best product. sure its expensive but its also upgraded with the gas kit.

Its definitely a one time replacement. Hopefully. Likely.

Second, Most people on this forum would recommend "you stick with OEM unless you want to be back here in 6 months with yet another DISA problem." Or something like that, I personally think you would probably be fine going with an aftermarket brand like Dorman, however I won't recommend that.

Heres a review of the Dorman here:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=965136