Head Gasket Kit

[mrgraphics]

I am going to do a new head gasket, so I'm just going to get a kit. I know to stay away from the Victor Reinz head gasket, but how is the rest of their kit? I'm thinking of getting the Reinz kit since it's cheap, and then buying either a Goetze or Felpro head gasket.

Opinions? Trying to save the most money possible, since the little woman is now watching every penny I put into this thing.

Car is a 325es, and no I'm not interested in a swap. Just want it running.

[SkiFree]

My opinion is to run the VR gasket and ignore "internet wisdom".

[AndrewBird]

I've ran several VR gaskets on other cars with no problems what so ever. In fact, it is the preferred gasket of choice on MGB engines.

Also, fairly certain VR and Felpro are made by the same company.

[e30trooper]

Ive only ran Goetze head gaskets with no issues and VR head bolts

[jeffnhiscars]

I was all set to buy a Genuine gasket when the machinist who had my head offered to get me one through his supplier. Since he has been doing heads for the local BMW dealer (and many other local dealers) for decades I was more than willing to accept his recommendation and wound up with an Elring.

[TobyB]

4 races, 3 or 4 test days, and a 200 mile 'play' test last Friday-

the Reintz gasket on my car apparently hasn't seen the internet, because
it's still holding just fine.

I've used VR Goetze and Elring interchangably for the last 10 years or so with no
headgasket failures that were the fault of the gasket. The driver, maybe not so much.

t

[bobthecouchguy]

installed my vr kit at the beginning of the summer, running just fine

[!kid]

I also have a VR kit,no problems at all. my cam seal leaks a tiny bit because of a grove worn onto the cam. I have read on R3v people complaining the VR head gasket leaking oil. they say the leak is at the front right where the head meets the block. my 2 cents on this,its coming from the cam seal not the head gasket.

[jaywood]

I have a VR headgasket but bought a new Goetze after reading reviews on VR over on the tech. VR headgasket + boost = not great

[Cabriolet]

on my eta the VR gasket was no issue. on my "i" the bolts stretched and the gasket started leaking after 50miles. on my dad's "i" had no issue for ~5k now it's a slight leak.

now im running the BMW gasket and ARP studs. no leaks no issues 10k on it. (bit over kill)
so i knew someone would ask this question so a few months back i took a pick of the 3 most common gaskets.
Left to right: VR, Elring, BMW


Personally it's BMW or nothing for me.

[Mr. Burns]

I was looking for an article I found some time ago online in which compares OEM BMW, VR, Elring, Goetze and Felpro...can't find it.

essentially OEM was the winner, followed by Goetze due to some imprinted channeling which maintained a constatly flow or lack thereof, which didn't create a weak spot, where our M20's typically blow HG's.
I do recall VR being the weakest of them all.

not sure if any of that made much sense, still on coffee #1, but perhaps someone can chime in to button that back together.

either way, i've gone Goetze with my boosted M20 with no issues to date.

[jeffnhiscars]

on my eta the VR gasket was no issue. on my "i" the bolts stretched and the gasket started leaking after 50miles. on my dad's "i" had no issue for ~5k now it's a slight leak.

now im running the BMW gasket and ARP studs. no leaks no issues 10k on it. (bit over kill)
so i knew someone would ask this question so a few months back i took a pick of the 3 most common gaskets.
Left to right: VR, Elring, BMW


Personally it's BMW or nothing for me.

I wont dispute the quality of a BMW gasket but the different in that opening being bridged does not strike me as being useful. Based on how the head is milled water will actually pass AROUND that bridging piece of the gasket since it doesnt seal anything. Makes more sense for it not to be there.

[Cabriolet]

Sorry, it is not the bridge that i care about. it's the thickness and quality of the bead of silicon. notice the VR has about 1/2 of the Elring and that is about 1/3 less than the BMW one.

[jeffnhiscars]

Sorry, it is not the bridge that i care about. it's the thickness and quality of the bead of silicon. notice the VR has about 1/2 of the Elring and that is about 1/3 less than the BMW one.

Understood. It's been a long time since I was up close and personal with a head gasket & I can honestly say I've never seen silicone on one until this. Maybe its because the last heads I did were cast iron :-)

Silicon is cheap so why would one mfg would use less than another if there was science that it made a difference. I'm not saying it doesnt matter, but that I've never seen it discussed.

[SkiFree]

Sorry, it is not the bridge that i care about. it's the thickness and quality of the bead of silicon. notice the VR has about 1/2 of the Elring and that is about 1/3 less than the BMW one.

And also understand, that this can vary out of any given batch of the same brand cylinder head.

This is the kind of internet wisdom I am referring to.