<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-06</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001041866</issuerCik><issuerName>BEI TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>BEIQ</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001193753</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>LABOSKEY JOHN</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>BEI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>ONE POST STREET, SUITE 2500</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>94104</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President &amp; CFO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-06</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>321</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>16.91</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>72551</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>200</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By trust</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>200</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By trust</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares are beneficially owned by John LaBoskey, Custodian UCAUTMA FBO Lacey M. LaBoskey</footnote><footnote id="F2">Shares are beneficially owned by John LaBoskey, Custodian UCAUTMA FBO Dalton LaBoskey</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>John LaBoskey</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

