Elring Upper Gasket Set, what is included?

[jeffnhiscars]

I purchased several OEM gasket directly from BMW USA, they all looked like the ones in the e30tech link. A lot of dealers will pass the aftermarket as OEM - locals have even gotten the Goetz gaskets as "OEM" as most dealers will carry the aftermarket brands.

You've done far more HG swaps than I have so i defer to your overview of different brands and their performance/ durability. I took a respected recommendation and so far so good. Now in 20k my opinion could change so note...I take my crow neat :D

I think it's also fair to say there is a subjective element to this since prep & instal effects results and frankly i rarely hear people say did their valve guides (i did) which makes no sense to me on a 100k+ head in which case it matters even less which HG you use.

Having said that, next time I will go OEM :)
Just my 2c

[digger]

I purchased several OEM gasket directly from BMW USA, they all looked like the ones in the e30tech link. A lot of dealers will pass the aftermarket as OEM - locals have even gotten the Goetz gaskets as "OEM" as most dealers will carry the aftermarket brands.

yes the HG i got about 6 or 7 years ago from the dealer was the same you can tell it is of superior quality. MM sell a slighty modified gasket and they use goetze brand

[ForcedFirebird]

yes the HG i got about 6 or 7 years ago from the dealer was the same you can tell it is of superior quality. MM sell a slighty modified gasket and they use goetze brand

Read back and realized you said exhaust gasket, not sure on exhaust gaskets.

rarely hear people say did their valve guides (i did) which makes no sense to me on a 100k+ head

We do guides when they are out of tolerance. In fact a good machine shop won't even to the valve job if the guides are too big, since the machine will lose concentricity as the seat cutters ride in the guides themselves. Generally the intake guides are fine, it's the exhaust that get loose - just like the backs of the intake valves generally look fresh and the exhaust will be pitted.

[digger]

pelican now sell goetze and genuine separately in 1.75 and 2.05 genuine seperate and now genuine head gasket set

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/SuperCat/0195/BMW_0195_ENGCYL_pg1.htm

[DesertBMW]

elring brand head gasket is same as victor reinz except it does have a copper ring on the main oil passage way. M20 with these gaskets tend to develop small bleed leak between cylinder 3 and 4 on the exhaust side. To eliminate the possibility of this, use goetze or original BMW gasket.

[ForcedFirebird]

elring brand head gasket is same as victor reinz except it does have a copper ring on the main oil passage way. M20 with these gaskets tend to develop small bleed leak between cylinder 3 and 4 on the exhaust side. To eliminate the possibility of this, use goetze or original BMW gasket.

As the pics I posted suggests, they are not the same. the Elring has much thicker silicone.

Have also had oil weep issues on the exhaust side of #1, right at the corner of the head.