MLS or O-Ring?

[Paradox]

Dropped off my 325i head yesterday at the machine shop

They quoted $200 to weld the water channels & $250 to do the O-ring

Since the MLS gasket is $210 from Ireland Engineering would it make sense to skip the O-ring and just get the MLS?

This is for 15psi max build

[StereoInstaller1]

O ring IMO.

[nando]

if you want it to seal, o-ring and buy a gasket directly from BMW

[einstein57]

I'm no expert but that seems like overkill for 15psi.

[Paradox]

Do you think so?

I thought it would be a good foundation to build on, but if you think I'm wrong please point me in the right direction

[einstein57]

Assuming your tune is good a stock headgasket can handle 15psi no problem. But if you get some major pinging you'll pop the headgasket. A o-ringed head will hold the headgasket in place destroying your engine. Hell even without the o-ring you can cause some nasty ping damage.

[Paradox]

cool thanks for the info - real world experience just can't beat it!

[einstein57]

All that being said once I'm 100% comfortable with my tune I plan on doing a o-ringed head and boosting 20+ psi. Boost is super addictive. Lol