e46 Heater Valve Retrofit

[LarryM]

PM'd

[LarryM]

Received mine today, and they look great. The (rebuilt) heater valves on my bimmers are working fine so I'm storing these two plates away for if/when I ever need them. Thank you for a great product and such fast shipping, David!

[szacsi72]

You are very welcome! Happy to help keep E28s alive..

[robertodonnell]

Hi guys,

Can I ask everyone that's done this conversion, does the heater turn completely off when you turn the knob to cold after its been on heat? I rebuilt an OE valve, and it works fine on the bench, but still bleeds heat into the cabin if I've turned the heat up for a while. Thinking I was smart, I bought an Audi valve and fitted it today, and the brand new valve does the same thing!

I'm thinking that the Audi valve doesn't have
backflow protection, and although old E28 valve also seems to have anti backflow, it's well worn after 30 plus years of use.

So, in a nutshell if the E46 valve has anti backflow, I'll just buy one and swap it out.

Here's my post on the E28 FB page...https://m.facebook.com/groups/bmwe28/pe ... tid=Nif5oz

Cheers,

Robert

[szacsi72]

Rob,

I'm not sure how much of a rush this is for you, I can check this for you but I won't be in my shop for some time, so that will be at least one week.




Others:
Quite some people reached out to me needing some more brackets, so I ordered another batch for production. I had to raise the price by $5 due to increased material prices.
Shoot me a PM if you'd like one.

[MisterFixit]

Hi guys,

Can I ask everyone that's done this conversion, does the heater turn completely off when you turn the knob to cold after its been on heat? I rebuilt an OE valve, and it works fine on the bench, but still bleeds heat into the cabin if I've turned the heat up for a while. Thinking I was smart, I bought an Audi valve and fitted it today, and the brand new valve does the same thing!
...
Cheers,
Robert

Robert- it is my understanding that the heater valve opens and closes to admit hot water (coolant) into the heater core, so after heating for a while, the core is full of Hot Coolant.

Turning OFF the heat (closing the heater valve) will stop hot coolant from flowing into the core, but does NOT instantly cool anything... this takes time.

You don't 'turn off' a heater core that is filled with hot water, you stop water flowing through it. You can transfer more hot water into it; but after it's been heating, it remains hot for a bit. Thus, heat will continue to transfer to the air passing through the core... hence continued heating with the valve closed (knob turned all the way down).

Another car in our stable has a flapper door that shifts air flow from the heater core to the ducts - BYPASSING the core entirely. This results in a rapid cool air flow even after extended heating. It's a Japanese car, made in 1993, so I expect it to have more 'comfort features' than an E28. The air conditioner is similarly 'stupid;' as the temp control is moved off 'frigid' towards 'warm' the system gradually mixes Hot Air into the cold air stream, instead of the more efficient cycling of the A/C compressor on and off. But again, it's made in another country... not that there's anything wrong with that.

HTH

Andy

[robertodonnell]

It still should cool down within a reasonable time frame, once the valve is shut and the supply of hot water is stopped. In my E34, and my once owned E46, it will return to full cold in a not too long a time...within the time it takes for you to hod your hand there and feel the heat drop off...this stays full hot until the engine cools down!

[MisterFixit]

It still should cool down within a reasonable time frame, once the valve is shut and the supply of hot water is stopped. In my E34, and my once owned E46, it will return to full cold in a not too long a time...within the time it takes for you to hod your hand there and feel the heat drop off...this stays full hot until the engine cools down!

Well, that's different. you likely have a torn diaphragm or other defect in the valve - or a connector / electrical issue.

I long for the days when a bowden cable moved a lever on a manual valve under my 2002 hood... at least you could adjust the heat manually if needed.

[robertodonnell]

I'm not sure if you read through my post, but this is a new valve and I tested its operation before fitment. It worked perfectly.

[scottfoster72]

PM's not sending but if scazsi72 has additional HCV for sale, I would like one.

[szacsi72]

Hello guys,

I have 4 kits left, ready to ship. Unfortunately, I don't have much time nowadays (moving), so these are the last 4 I will be selling.
If you were thinking of the upgrade/repair, this is the time.
I have changed the FEBI valve to a VEMO unit, which is a better quality part.


Current pricing (23. 05. 2024)
Retrofit kit - 135€ / 145$ - GM stainless adapter plate + VEMO OEM heater valve + VEMO connector kit
Shipping to US - 30€ / 35$ - FedEx
Shipping to EU - 25€ / 30$ - DPD


Otherwise, if someone feels like that they want to continue selling the kit, they can send me a PM and we can work something out (I'm happy to sell the design for cheap to someone who can make them, or sell 10 pieces as a "group buy" that someone can distribute, etc...)

Regards,
David