I am going to be replacing my thermostat, both coolant temp sensor/senders and fuel filter soon.

I can get the Audi OEM parts from ECStuning for around $240. I checked RockAuto and they have the thermostat and both sensors by Beck and the fuel filter by Mahl. RockAuto has them for $120.

My question is this: are the Beck/Arnley and Mahle parts good quality (as good or better than OEM) or should I go with OEM for these parts?

 

30+ views and nobody has used Beck parts or know anything about them?

 

i have mahle and beck/arnley stuff on my 97. this is my first audi, i have done pads and rotors on all 4 corners which are mahle. beck tstat and water pump. continental timing belt and tensioner. FCP control arms. still have mahle trans filter and gasket to put in. so far so good. been about a month.
used a mann oil fitler too.

 

Just wanted to mention my experiences with a replacement Beck / Arnley thermostat on a D2 Audi S8 (2002).

The original thermostat was absolutely perfect, spot-on (with no variance at the 1/3 gauge mark, ever) for nearly twelve years and then when I changed the timing belt I also made the error of changing the water pump, pulleys and thermostat with one from a complete kit which included the timing belt and other accessories.

That replacement thermostat failed in less than 100 days resulting in overheating and the necessity to drive with the heater full-blast (which also resulted in melted shoe soles).

I purchased a "premium" replacement Beck / Arnley thermostat and followed the directions from: dognmonkey.com/audi/2000-a8-40v-thermostat-replacement-without-removing-t-belt.html

The Beck / Arnley replacement functioned fine for about twenty minutes (at 1/3 coolant temp gauge marking) then began varying upwards to 1/2 and 5/8 markings constantly.

I have a very bad feeling I'm going to be taking the front end of my D2 apart again in the near future...