2.5 tdi Quality Camshaft?

**rob1976** · 13-12-2012,05:28 PM

Going to help a friend replace his cam shafts, he has a 1999 A6 2.5 tdi v6.

We have found a set of camshafts made by a company called AMC, made in Spain, all the lifters and spacers are of a German spec.

Are the cams made by a reputable company? or just soft metal cheapies, that wont last 20,000 miles! But that said even some of the parts from the dealer are now made in Spain.

Obviously they are half the price than a dealer, and in this penny pinching climate saving a few will help if they are as good as they claim.

Any one used these?

Cheers.

**Crasher** · 13-12-2012,07:43 PM

AMC make very good cylinder heads but I have never used their cams, I suspect they are re-boxed FAI. We now use the Febi cam full kit with lifters and followers as well but it is not on either of our sites yet, you have to call us about some Febi parts but there is no stock in the UK at the moment although that changes daily. I will pass the part info over to John just in case you are interested.

Take the extra time to replace the cylinder head oil pressure retaining valves that are in the V of the block, failure of these contributes to cam wear as does cheap oil and long intervals.

**rob1976** · 13-12-2012,09:56 PM

Thanks Crasher, you are always on hand

I will inform him about the oil retaining valves, I have done these before on my own motor, may as well change them.

oil is Fuchs 5/30 semi-synthetic, which he has being using for the last 8 years,

FAI ? poor or adequate?

Milage = 235,000 not bad for a set of cams that are prone to wear.

**Crasher** · 13-12-2012,11:54 PM

I have never used FAI but my mobile air con engineer put some in his car so far without any issues. I have used Febi cams for years and never had a failure, I have just bought some VR6 ones for a couple of rebuilds I have planned.

**adamss24** · 14-12-2012,09:15 PM

Use the kobelsmidt forged cam kit from germany, i have a few rebuilt with them and 60k on my car with no wear whatsoever. Lifters and rockrt arms are made by INA and are DLC coated so they dont wear...Here's a ebay number:
321002612690

**Crasher** · 14-12-2012,10:10 PM

That is a great kit at a great price.

**rob1976** · 16-12-2012,10:03 PM

Great kit, there is also a kit for the same price (and a UK dealer) but its all FEBI BILSTEIN, this can be here by this Wednesday, the German supplier could be Jan, real need to get this done this weekend, but the kobelsmidt looks better! difficult choice to make, both work out at £730ish..... Hate having to make these kind of decisions.

**adamss24** · 16-12-2012,11:28 PM

Trust me mate, for what you get for your money i would stress to use the one i linked, you wont be sorry ! In the process of rebuilding a 51 reg allroad for a friend, he paid 3.5k to rebuild his engine 2 years ago, they used cheaper cams and lifters. 2 days ago he called me to say he can hear metallic noise from the to p of the heads. took rocker covers off to find a few dropped rocker arms, they used cheap lifters hence they popping out ! Needless to say that i have a full cam kit on it's way from Germany on the way !!!

**rob1976** · 17-12-2012,01:49 PM

We went for the German, should be here for Friday, I got mine from them earlier in the year.

Thought the cheaper option would be best,

Too many cheaper alternatives available on Eba... you have got to ask about for the best, last thing I would have wanted is to be doing them again in 3 years, or worst camshafts breaking.

Thanks guys, your knowledge is greatly appreciated.

**Crasher** · 18-12-2012,01:05 AM

FEBI is German, they probably both come from the same supplier, certainly Febi use INA parts as that is what is stamped on the parts, you can buy from a German supplier and still get Chinky ****! Genuine Audi fuel filters from the DEALER are made in China! Mind you, so are factory fit Veyron wheels...