timing chain tensioner
 

Can anyone tell me the best brand to buy for the timing chain tensioner on the M62TU ?

Most seem to be Febi Bilstein, are these any good?

This is for a 2003 4.4i

Febi/bilstein is the supplier for BMW on that part believe so you should be good.

People are saying there is an "upgraded" version of the tensioner, is this correct?

Yes but i forget what improvement was made. Longer spring or something

is there a different part number for it?

I would buy OEM from fcpeuro. I recently helped somebody replace their chain tensioner when the chain was rattling at start and before it killed the chain guides.

We bought two different tensioners and wow were they totally different designs. Stick with OEM and replace every few years maybe 50-60,000 miles at most.

Do they deliver to the UK ?

I believe so, but you can also just use them as reference to confirm which brands are OEM then search for those brands via Amazon etc.

When installing the new tensioner, does it matter which way the small holes face?

Photo will help but in e thinking you are talking about the piston part which is radially symmetrical and will turn at random during use and does not matter which direction the oil pressure ports are.