Door Handle Carrier (Are Off-Brands ok?)

[Bayerische E53]

Hi, Gang.

My driver's door handle is in the dreaded "stuck out" position indicating that my carrier is a goner.

ECS wants $100 for an OEM replacement (which I assume is a fair price because ECS basically gives us wholesale prices).

ECS also has an off-brand ("MTC") for under $50. Home Page > Search > 51218243615 > ES#2091846 Door Handle Carrier - Left - 51218243615

I generally NEVER buy non-OEM parts, but since this X5 is my "beater" I figured I could be a bit more lenient so long as the part is of decent quality. What does everyone think? Should I just get the MTC carrier? Anyone had any experience with it?

Thanks in advance.

B E53

[mrbmwx5]

Why not? To me it is not worth to pay top dollars for parts, for 10+years car.I never did with my ex x5.lol

[Naz24]

I heard the aftermarket door handle carrier was a tough fit. But then again, it's only 100 bucks at the dealer.

[X5SND]

When it comes to door carriers, save yourself the trouble and get OE units from the get go. The aftermarket units are plagued with reliability/fitment/feel issues. Tons of info out there on this subject.

[Quicksilver]

Originally Posted by X5SND

When it comes to door carriers, save yourself the trouble and get OE units from the get go. The aftermarket units are plagued with reliability/fitment/feel issues. Tons of info out there on this subject.

[KGNash]

My non-OEM replacement door handle carrier lasted a little over a year on the drivers door. Hamman from Import Parts Depot ($46.85).I pulled up hard on it yesterday and the door was frozen shut from the weather. Bad results. The passenger side was frozen also but came loose with a good yank (OEM). I just ordered the BMW part and the 2 plastic pieces that snap in the door. Non-OEM saved me $60 up front...bad investment.

[StephenVA]

Thanks for posting your actual results. Sorry to hear of the pain part. Good news is you have been there and done that so the replacement part will only be 1 hr.

[itscoo2pyopants]

Originally Posted by X5SND

When it comes to door carriers, save yourself the trouble and get OE units from the get go. The aftermarket units are plagued with reliability/fitment/feel issues. Tons of info out there on this subject.

i had some "feel issues" with an aftermarket unit. takes a solid pull to open the door. buttery smooth on the other doors that still have OE units.

[Bayerische E53]

^Thanks for that. That's exactly what I wanted to know. Looks like OE is the way to go all the time; even for the beater.

Thanks!

[upallnight]

Just replaced the windshield washer pump with a non oem pump. Next time when the pump fail, I'm going to replace wit with an OEM, or swap the rear window pump which is still OEM with the windshield. The non OEM pump does not produce the same kind of water pressure that the OEM pump did.

Had the same problem with wheel sensor. The non OEM sensor didn't plug correctly into the car harness, end up buying an OEM wheel sensor to fix the trinity of lights on the dash.