Protection Tube Alternatives? (shock dust cover/boot)

[React]

I just had a shock destroy itself and I'm debating on adding a protection boot because they're so expensive. It would run me around $30 a set, not including stop buffers. This is after I've got done paying $130 for 2 SACHS shocks. Not including 2x RSM, reinforcement plates, and other stuff that I need to get.

I currently don't have any protection tube/cover what-so-ever on my shocks. The shocks have been replaced by the original owner before, but they didn't add/replace the old protection tube/cover. So it's just a bare shock w/ a washer+stop buffer+RSM stuff. It's been like this for years. So I'm not too concerned about adding the protection tube since they've went this long, but I would like things to be complete if I could.
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QUESTION: Are there any alternatives to this part?

The part is #4: "Protection tube" #33521129263 $17.89
PART DIAGRAM: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=33_1967


The reason I ask is because there's a member here that has a protection tube that isn't flared.
Shown here: http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=44538 (also has a different bump stop)

The "Protection tube" part in the diagram above also isn't flared at the top, but the part# matches with "Protection tubes" that are flared at the top.
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...h/33521129263/ & https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...pa-33521129263

Here's the thing though, if you search that part# within FCPEURO, it shows that it doesn't fit the 1998 318ti, but on ECSTUNING it does.


There's also a company/part called: "VAICO V20-0725"
Shown here: https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/vaico/2216514 & an ebay listing here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/384722634180 (2x $10.06)

On that site it shows that this fits the 1998 318ti, but the same style on other sites doesn't fit. It doesn't seem to fit though in the ebay listing.


So this is causing me a bunch of confusion. I'm going to email these companies as well and hope they get back with me. I just thought I would post here in case anyone could guide me.

From the looks of it, as long as it clears the shock and sits on the bump stop, then it should work just fine?

Thanks for any feedback.