HD rocker arms ....lesson learned

[Northern]

Yeah the pad offset appears to be to accommodate a regrind cam, I assume the side profile difference of the pad vs the others should be consistent across the pad, but this would change the effective cam profile without a regrind cam wouldn't it?

[zinc]

FEBI HD and regular FEBI has the same geometry and similar rocker pad length. FEBI HD pad is of a horrible quality compared to regular FEBI rocker. A lot of voids on the side of the pad which affect the pad contour on edges. So basicaly should one use HD body rocker so it won't break and just have this rocker pad destroy the cam? I'm e little sceptical about those FEBI HD rocker pad quality. Regular FEBI rocker looks to be of a much better quality. I also confirm what digger said about pad surface, my finger nail was filed down on FEBI HD pad surface vs regular FEBI noticeably faster, indicating rougher finish of the pad surface. IE HD pad surface finish in that regard was more similar to regular FEBI.

Great info & pictures. Thanks.

I'm glad to see the Febi HD and regular Febi have a similar rocker geometry at least. I'm hoping the geometry would be more of a cam killer than the pad surface.

The head I'm building will have new Febi HD, new billet IE 272 cam, & new OEM valve springs so assuming things go well can check and report cam wear with that combination later.

Comparing what I assume are the original old OEM BMW rockers and the new HD Febi, from the one photo I have (attached) looks like the old OEM pad is longer and bit wider. Note this one rocker is particularly worn - llooks like it was running with a broken old-style head bolt near this valve for a while which has destroyed the valve/rocker/cam. Not sure on the side profile, will check in more detail when I get home. Might be a moot point because from what I'm reading those old style OEM are NLA and got replaced by the regular Febi and other variations at various points.

[zinc]

Nevermind. Looks like Febi HD pad and original old OEM BMW one is pretty much the exact same width/length. Profile also looks pretty close plus or minus some wear.

[zaq123]

Nevermind. Looks like Febi HD pad and original old OEM BMW one is pretty much the exact same width/length. Profile also looks pretty close plus or minus some wear.

i was able to source a set of OEM rockers for $40 each and their pad quality is best out off of all above mentioned. They come with eccentrics and new hardware as well. So $40 is not a bad deal. I ordered a spare set to keep around since they were 20% off so I hope I still get OEM and not china Febi again. Also just an observation, regular current FEBI china rockers have thinner area where eccentric ears are and the groove cut deeper towards the bushing.. which makes them weaker than OEM imo.

[digger]

Febi has never been the same as OE

[zaq123]

Febi has never been the same as OE

I've seen some claim OE is INA, Veico, Febi etc etc ...Even if it was the case, I bet all of them are using some different manufacturer now from when supplied BMW. There are so many different versions of Febi rockers now on the web for example. I have a feeling OEM wont' be available for much longer thought.

This old version of febi looks very close to OEM (just based on pics).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/397113306143?_trkparms=itmf%3D1%26aid%3D1110006%26rkt%3D4%26mech%3D1%26algv%3DSimplAMLv11PairwiseFitmentPromotionV2WithCassiniQueryEmbRecallKatReco%26pmt%3D1%26amclksrc%3DITM%26sd%3D276512882711%26sid%3DAQALAAAAEE90aNIGQDdekS18cFge6TI%3D%26itm%3D397113306143%26noa%3D0%26plcampt%3D0%3A151350879018%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26brand%3Dfebi+bilstein%26asc%3D20240415110138%26ao%3D1%26rk%3D3%26pid%3D101875%26b%3D1%26mehot%3Dnone%26lsid%3D100%26meid%3D1a8d3a73e3ef47b1b19dcd877206d5f0%26pg%3D2332490&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A3971133061431a8d3a73e3ef47b1b19dcd877206d5f0%7Cenc%3AAQALAAABMLEbzjJtCAHXl93GiP6lya8VtnC6nIYDjH8CAoo4Sg7LpfDR4q8hNNuUfYcgSZ%252BNrm6LQivvuzhzmUqu7dI96Rd7RAWTo94G4oPk7t9Hyn%252BKV1J%252BkHhltUFT4uKrU9GpS4w8f89P2HoUGD5i76%252B1UiH8MHmlZbqqOL0nUQj7ktSC6d243vzqdw2bq5qcRe%252FJHS5ZjnfGgfyhorCM0kNneg6J842oDLFbzbtw1bYLW88xP6Y7OGEU0wxHPn%252Fx4QJOOd9GbaMTp7smlvdJ5esMydZ2%252FQ3kEIZys39g51cuKq0WagOeUw9%252Fy9tgripFar5kjQBCL0RMIqaT5Cy8DvUg%252F3De3mrkzbdBlmzLSMGuLAEglbKcCLTe2MO5GWfMY48hOry0dKTWEuOnorER%252B%252BgQueg%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01KGYJ6VBXKTAYTZVMGPRVGG5B

[TobyB]

Febi has never been the same as OE

I've never seen the Febi- cast rockers in a BMW- assembled engine, either.

However, where this gets odd is that the Febi- cast rocker without
Febi's name on it (and usually a roundel instead) was sold by BMW as a replacement
part for decades- starting at least around 2000, when I started buying them.
Voids and all.

My guess from taking apart a lot of M10s is that BMW made their own rockers
until factory production of SOHC engines stopped. Then, once they made a supply
for spares, they dismantled their ability to make them.

Once that spares supply got used
up, then they 'outsourced' to a 3rd party. That's how almost all the 'mobile tradition'
and other 'we support our oldtimers' marketing went... and the quality of the
parts went downhill accordingly.

t
based on how the castings of the rockers looked compared to other
castings BMW was making at the time.

[digger]

I've never seen the Febi- cast rockers in a BMW- assembled engine, either.

However, where this gets odd is that the Febi- cast rocker without
Febi's name on it (and usually a roundel instead) was sold by BMW as a replacement
part for decades- starting at least around 2000, when I started buying them.
Voids and all.

My guess from taking apart a lot of M10s is that BMW made their own rockers
until factory production of SOHC engines stopped. Then, once they made a supply
for spares, they dismantled their ability to make them.

Once that spares supply got used
up, then they 'outsourced' to a 3rd party. That's how almost all the 'mobile tradition'
and other 'we support our oldtimers' marketing went... and the quality of the
parts went downhill accordingly.

t
based on how the castings of the rockers looked compared to other
castings BMW was making at the time.

Zaq got sold a febi from the dealer. To me this is dealer skull duggery, most the dealers are not actually "BMW group". i almost never buy OE parts from the dealer as there are plenty of places that sell OE parts via BMW group. When OE are not available they are stated as such and you need to willingly buy some aftermarket but atleast there is transparency