Cam Chain Tensioner Replacements

[K_RedLazer_24]

This is post is more so for your thoughts and reviews of aftermarket Cam Chain tensioners for the b5 world. As these cars have gotten old the amount of parts become increasingly harder to find and the Genuine Audi/VW parts left get horded or have a substantial mark up. So many aftermarket companies begin to make "O.E" or "O.E.M" parts. I am apprehensive when it come to buy certain aftermarket parts, particularly very important parts that if they fail could cause catastrophic damage. That being said anyone have experience with the brands out there making the cam chain tensioners for the 2.7 engine I see the main companies seem to be Hudson, O.E.S, and Bremmen. If there are other feel free to list them and give a review

[PwrWgn]

There are probably 50 different brands of chain tensioners for these cars...yet there can't be more than 2-3 factories actually out there making them lol.

Most chain tensioners I see as advertised as "OEM" are branded Bapmic. I had never heard of Bapmic before talking with FCP. FCP insisted they were the OEM, but I can't believe that.

Brands I've actually seen: Bapmic, Vika, Vaico. Vaico seems to list for a higher price, but I don't have any evidence to suggest they are better or worse. I bought a Vika tensioner (it was listed as Hudson thru ECS) and ended up with a tensioner code after installing it. The engine ran fine, but I took it apart not long after that and ended up replacing the tensioner with an OE unit that I found on eBay for a good price.

To make matters even more complicated is that there are now OE replicas out on the market.

So, obviously buyer beware. It seems like a popular option is also to find good used lower mileage units and put new pads on them.

[PoVolks]

To toss my 2¢, I have not seen a "3rd party, aftermarket" chain tensioner fail or fault on a 2.7t personally. Only original, ultra high mileage units. Its always a wonder if a part or a install error is at fault when reading, hearing about someone's horror story online. I however, have seen one unknown branded CCT cause running issues on a built 1.8t, brand new. He swapped to oe and it was fixed. FCP has the claim that they will not sell something they wouldn't install on their personal vehicles... I was debating what route to take with my build recently and decided to roll the dice on only replacing the pads or guides, due to a tight budget.

I'm not a fan of Vaico by other parts and I do not think their produced in Europe. Check other reputable parts suppliers to see what they carry as well. ECS, AutohausAZ, both carry Bapmic so maybe they are decent. It is unfortunate that parts "options" are dwindling for our cars.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Audizine Forum mobile app

[Bluedoggiant]

Just wanted to jump in and say I am sympathize with the subject here. I have a belt 40v 4.2 and the chain tensioner situation is untenable. It seems that all the after market options are junk and the OE options are prohibitively expensive with presumably a dwindling supply.

Honestly, these chain tensioners are the bane of my existence, there’s no other component that stresses me out more on the entire vehicle.

I have identified almost 10 aftermarket options and I am considering buying them all in addition to a genuine tensioner and comparing to see if there is anything that can be observed, though that might be a fools errand.

I hope that someone can create a chain tensioner with the exact same specifications as the genuine unit, I don’t understand what is so hard that it cannot be copied. It doesn’t seem like anyone has ever identified who the supplier was for these in the first place

PoVolks, I see that you’re local. I wonder if we’ve ever crossed paths at events or fb groups.

Some links from my research for the 4.2 on all the options available:
https://www.europaparts.com/cam-chai...9087p-oem.html
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/clo...ine-077109087p
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/vw-...vaico-v10-4409
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...-8/077109087p/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-hamburg-...77109087p~ham/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-hudson-p...77109087p~hud/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bremmen-...77109087p~brp/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-holstein...77109087c~hol/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-oe-after...77109087e~oea/