victor reinz head gasket set from bav auto

[Kozworth]

Hey there,

I read a lot about how people say 'the leak sealed better before the vr gaskets' and such. However, I tried using the search and cannot find any solid threads really complaining about these.

The reason why I ask is I ordered the headgasket set for my boosted oring'ed m20 off bavauto. The site says nothing about it being VR, but I recieved VR. They have no options, and GPS didn't have a headgasket set. From my experiences Bavauto has pretty decent stuff at a higher price then other places (sorry) but if these gaskets were garbage why would they only stock Victor Reinz?

Is this something I should return immediately, and if so what brand/where should i get an upper headgasket set? Or is the failure of VR gasket often due to user failure?

[jeffnhiscars]

BavAuto is generally higher priced and they are notorious for not advertising brands. Fortunately, their customer service is great abd they are good about refunds if you dont like what you got... so yes, Id return them if it were me. The general order of preference for head gaskets is OE, Goetze or Elring (which is what I used).

[jlevie]

Some folks have problems with the VR gaskets, but lots of others don't. I've used a number of them and never had a problem. The most common problem seems to be an oil leak. It could be that I've never seen that since I always use copper sealant spray on a head gasket.

[603Racing]

I used a VR gaket set with a freshly decked head and it leaks oil between cylinders 3 and 4 on the exhaust side. Very frustrating.

[Kozworth]

Ok I found a thread where a kid said to ditch the hg but the rest of the other gaskets are ok.. I think I'm just getting an elring since a kid mentioned they have wide rings and works good for ringed blocks.

[Cabriolet]

Ok I found a thread where a kid said to ditch the hg but the rest of the other gaskets are ok.. I think I'm just getting an elring since a kid mentioned they have wide rings and works good for ringed blocks.

it is a good choice. the rest of their gaskets are good and the VR exhaust gaskets are great and better than Erling. but you are right, use all the VR gaskets and then get an Erling HG separately.
the cam guide-cover o-ring does not come in that kit 11121265087 order it separately

[jeffnhiscars]

it is a good choice. the rest of their gaskets are good and the VR exhaust gaskets are great and better than Erling. but you are right, use all the VR gaskets and then get an Erling HG separately.
the cam guide-cover o-ring does not come in that kit 11121265087 order it separately

This whole topic is hit and miss. I had VR manifold to down pipe gaskets (the triangle jobs) and there is no way they would slide over the studs...I mean no way whatsoever...so I got Elrings which fit perfectly.

[Cabriolet]

This whole topic is hit and miss. I had VR manifold to down pipe gaskets (the triangle jobs) and there is no way they would slide over the studs...I mean no way whatsoever...so I got Elrings which fit perfectly.

they never fit. i drill out the holes on every single one.

[SkiFree]

Some folks have problems with the VR gaskets, but lots of others don't.

x2.

The biggest issue at the moment is availability, there are simply no other options for upper gasket kits other than OEM and VR at the moment, no matter WHO YOU ORDER FROM (unless they have it on the shelf and aren't ordering from a wharehouse, I've got one Elring set left, it is not known when/if more will be made).

Oh and taking advice as gospel from an online message board is like playing russian-roulette.

EDIT: Never mind, one wharehouse has a good dozen of the elrings set left at this moment.

[digger]

i always use the best gasket i can find so goetze or from dealer. i dont like the look of the ones that look like they are made from black cardboard

[MR 325]

I've also never had problems with the VR stuff. I am running the plus size OEM BMW gasket on my boosted M20 though.

[CHIF8008]

my VR HG is leaking in now 4 spots on the exhaust side. going with elring this time around + copper spray

[603Racing]

My VR gasket it leaking quite a bit of oil now. I'm going to order Elring or OE if available. Just replaced this bitch 7 months ago. As stated the rest of the gaskets are good.

One upside, good excuse to get a better cam.

[Kozworth]

update:

got elring klinger upper gasket set. I was stupid and took the car for a rip on fresh rebuild. Blew the gasket even with o ringed block and no boost. I am pretty sure the cause was as follows: Coolant not 100% bled and or the head not 100% flat (looked it with a ruler, but getting it skimmed now). Either way, I am kinda dissapointed that this gasket blew so early without the car really being anywhere near the state it would normally be running. I was stupid, but I am going with goetze.

Might as well get goetze from gps, its 52 shipped you really cannot go wrong for a price like that for the best oem gasket. You do not want to redue the job solely because of a manufactoring fault.