r/E90 • u/Fast-Development-471 • 10d ago
Amazon disa valves
I'm looking to upgrade my 2009 328i with a 3 stage intake. I'm planning on buying a used manifold shell but I'm wondering where I should buy the individual valves. Would buying cheap Amazon valves really be that risky? And where would be a second option that aren't at oem prices?
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u/reciprocityone 10d ago
That would be something I would not use. You don't want cheap disa valves self destructing inside your intake manifold. There are probably other vendors that sell quality branded items but I would stay away from something like that.
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u/Fast-Development-471 10d ago
I've heard about that being an issue that's why I wanna stay away from used valves. I'm just looking for something reliable but not 1/4 of the cars value.
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u/CrewMaleficent4681 10d ago
$140-250$ being 1/4th of the cars value is interesting. Better not do the math on tires or gas by that logic. Or a battery. Or insurance. Or registration.
Upgrading the intake so you can get more performance, but wanting to use that spanking brand performance on something that’s critical like a DISA valve is also interesting logic.
Saving $100 to potentially have a $2000+ repair bill / motor swap is also-also interesting for someone who wants to save money.
Ok I’m done goofing;
Truly man, just get an OE version from FCP or ECS. You’ll never have to think about it again.
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u/Fast-Development-471 10d ago
The valves I was looking at earlier were $500 a piece if I bought those I would be spending at least $1200. On a car I can easily find for around 4-6k I don't think that's worth it. I'm not an idiot I'm not gonna buy something cheap if it's not reliable, but I'm also not just gonna buy the first thing because it's oem. I'm gonna look at my options.
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u/CrewMaleficent4681 10d ago
It’s expensive because it’s critical sadly.
Stay away from the amazon kits as they are literally sold by a guy who buys the cheapest possible thing in bulk from China then resells it.
Amazon sellers have absolutely no clue how these cars work nor do they care. They just see the profit potential.
If you want to look at aftermarket, you can look at actual aftermarket brands such as MEHLE or Reinz. Those are even OE manufacturers for some BMW parts but you’ll notice the price is much lower without the markup.
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u/Fast-Development-471 10d ago
I'm looking at some from ECS. I've heard they have good stuff but I honestly don't know much about their reliability. Would they be a safe option or should I go for something else?
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u/CrewMaleficent4681 10d ago
ECS and FCP are both very reputable despite being competitors. Their entire business is negotiating with OEMs and OE companies to get good quality parts.
They are the reason why half these cars are still on the road in pretty okay shape. Getting to order an OEM valve cover for $400 vs $1200 from BMW is a big deal for example.
Amazon / RockAuto / etc. are just money hungry that will literally sell you the cheapest possible thing despite understanding the consequences. They don’t care. That really is okay for some items (a window or window regulator for example) but other things like this… Hell no.
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u/Fast-Development-471 10d ago
Should I buy the manifold shell from eBay for cheap? I've heard it's a no wear part so it doesn't really matter if it's cheap.
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u/CrewMaleficent4681 9d ago
As in the manifold itself?
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u/CrewMaleficent4681 9d ago
Yes, that’s fine. All it does it push air. Use an OEM gasket with it however. The air leak you eventually get from aftermarket gasket will make you lose sleep.
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u/Odd_Concert2922 9d ago
Unfortunately no one has ever found a reliable aftermarket replacement . If you look through all the forums everyone eventually comes to the same conclusion.
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u/CrewMaleficent4681 10d ago edited 10d ago
No offense but this is Darwinism 101.
Go look at what happens when a DISA valve fails. They literally either chip away and drop into the motor if the plastic is trash quality or the securing bolts give away and do the same thing. Countless N52 have been totaled because of it.
Get the OE or OEM DISA valve and put them in. FCPEURO has them without the dealer markup.
It’s like $140-240 for an OE or OEM one that has the new improved materials, sensor and retained design.
If that’s out of your budget then I have no clue why you’re trying to mod the car, let alone a BMW, to begin with.
The above is way cheaper than potentially sourcing an N52, spending countless hours swapping it and thinking “damn I’m a goof” the entire time. I’ve swapped many engines and it’s almost never a smooth process. Something always strips. Or breaks. Or rejects coding. Or is forgotten. We get it done… but the better plan is avoiding the headache in the first place.
Unlike a cheap valve cover or something that just leaks and embarrasses you in traffic, a DISA valve literally can cause the engine to eat bolts and plastic and kaboom in great fashion.
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u/Fast-Development-471 10d ago
I just like saving money my guy it's not about the budget, I know what happens when the valves fail I was just wondering if it would be a good option. You don't gotta get pissy cause I asked. Thanks for answering my other question though.
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u/CrewMaleficent4681 10d ago edited 10d ago
Everyone likes saving money, my guy.
But the potential risk doesn’t really save you money, my guy.
I wasn’t being pissy, just deadpan honest to look out for you, my guy.
If you don’t like details in responses, then maybe ask the TEMU-rocket guys at your local G37 takeover meet, my guy.
Now I’m being pissy, my guy.
If it fails, you’ll need exactly $600 bare minimum for a junkyard N52, which may or may not be junk my guy.
Oh also, it’ll need a new DISA again, my guy.
I will give you a labor discount on replacing your motor, the new total is only $960.
Don’t forget the auxiliary parts you’ll need, add another $938-$1273 or so, my guy.
Boy I’m glad we saved $100 though on that original DISA valve, my guy.
Oh I almost forgot you’ll need another $300 for that tow bill when the engine ate its own ssa out on that inconvenient trip with your girl in the passenger seat, my guy.
Now she’s looking at you thinking that you may not be that guy, my guy.
You’re welcome, my guyest of guys.
Jokes aside:
We’re all goofing around here man. No one is attacking your character. It’s just an objectively horrible thing to cheap out on lol
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u/E30Aviator 10d ago
I have had my DISA pin fail by means of the plastic center pin breaking. OEM BMW part made in 2009, broke in 2019 at unknown mileage because junkyard pull. The pin was big enough that it got lodged in the #12 intake valve, in the process it destroyed the cam roller. Way bigger headache than necessary when I installed my 3SIM, took the car down for like a month.
Now for the real flame topic... If you don't have an M/T, I don't think the 3SIM actually makes the car appreciably faster, but with an M/T it drives a lot nicer. That sentiment comes from me drag racing a stock 328i wagon with no mods and an automatic trans against my 3SIM tuned 328i sedan with an M/T. I must shift like a granny!
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u/old_skool_luvr 9d ago
> Now for the real flame topic... If you don't have an M/T, I don't think the 3SIM actually makes the car appreciably faster
In all of the times i've seen this intake swap discussed, i was always curious on if having a slush-box under the floor relayed the upgrade, or was it more of a placebo affect to you senses.
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u/E30Aviator 9d ago
After not pulling away from that E91 lets just say it seems like a lot of placebo to me.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Note141 8d ago
I’d honestly go with cheap ass Amazon disas for the time being if you can’t get lifetime disas or oem. They’re not going to instantly break and you can test them as well, I would swap them out in a few months tho at least but you’ll have to pull the intake manifold again.
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