Best Top End Gasket Set?

[tomstin]

I have a head gasket weeping oil. I'm getting tired of the oil leak and time to tackle the head gasket. Is there a top end gasket kit that is better than others?

And yes, for sure its the head gasket. Dry above the split between the head and the block.

[digger]

the OE one is the best....but you can buy one of the cheaper ones and just buy a OE head gasket

[GoochE30]

I did the Elring kit and I haven't had any problems with it. I've always heard OEM is best, but my engine is coming apart again soon for built bottom end so I kept the Elring head gasket on there in the meantime. No issues

[TobyB]

Personally, I've had no trouble with Elring or even (gasp) Reinz, but that shows you
that sometimes,

Ignorance IS bliss!


heh

t

[hasa]

Reinz and Elring are OEM quality

[TobyB]

Reinz head gaskets are sometimes marginal in the oil sealing department.
They tend to hold compression, but may leak externally.

"May" being the operant word.

There's a thread a good while back with pictures. It's pretty obvious, visually.

I used a Reinz before I saw that thread, and I guess that was the secret, as mine doesn't leak.

t

[nogapersnBMWs]

BMW head gasket ($100) or Goetze ($35) have worked well for me--many have said Goetze makes the BMW HG--then usually get cheap top end gaskets set like Victor Reinz and sell the head gasket.

[e30davie]

Im 30,000km in on an elring. Hasn't failed yet, doesn't mean it won't fail tomrrow. doesnt mean it wont last another 100,000km:)

Surface preparation is 100x more important than head gasket brand i reckon. I can make the best headgasket leak oil with poor surface prep:D

[MR 325]

We have a solution! With Goetze head gasket:

https://bimmerheads.com/collections/m20-engine/products/m20-ultimate-head-gasket-set

[tomstin]

We have a solution!

Mr 325, are the gasket sets the same for both the M20B27 and B25 engines? I have aB27. Thanks!

[nogapersnBMWs]

The HG in both m20b27 and m20b25 are the same far as 84mm bore (its the internal crank size, piston compression/dome shape and rod length that differs), the only thing to check is the HG thickness as they are made and sold in different thicknesses to account for block and head shaving or to adjust quench. Although an m20 comes with different heads (200, 885), the top end gasket set is same except the intake and TB gaskets IIRC

Talk to Bimmerheads (MR 325) or Blunt, they will get you what you need!

[ForcedFirebird]

VR and Elring gaskets leak oil at the head drain back holes. Just holding the gaskets in your hand along with OEM or Goetze, you can clearly see/feel the difference in quality. Biggest thing you will notice is the VR/Elring have an oval hole at the center oil drain - OE and Goetze have individual holes of the head bolt/drain. In a pinch, I have sprayed the VR/Elring gaskets with copper which seems to help, but only would do in a pinch.

We have a solution! With Goetze head gasket:

https://bimmerheads.com/collections/...ead-gasket-set

Nice! Price is reasonable too.



I never understood why the TB and vac plates were never included in the kits, yet they supply new rings for the coolant sensors, t-stat and injector o-rings.

[nogapersnBMWs]

VR and Elring gaskets leak oil at the head drain back holes. Just holding the gaskets in your hand along with OEM or Goetze, you can clearly see/feel the difference in quality. Biggest thing you will notice is the VR/Elring have an oval hole at the center oil drain - OE and Goetze have individual holes of the head bolt/drain.

Very informative as always John!:

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=314257

Maybe they kits don't include TB gasket as they are different sizes between m20b27 325e and m20b25 325i?

[THE DUDE ABIDES]

So I'll take the fall on this one. I was dumb enough to buy a Metric Mechanic HG on my brand new motor. Guess what, it's a VR head gasket that has been slightly modified, coated and marked up 500%! For about the first 300 miles, I saw light seeping of oil into cooling system. No coolant in oil. Did leak down and compression test of the engine and numbers were good. As of two days ago, I am now seeing just a little bit of coolant in the oil so I will be swapping the HG with a Goetze one in the next few days. My logic is that for a while there was a one-way, pressure dependent leak between oil and coolant passages on the HG. Oil pressure gets up to 80psi and cooling system shouldn't go over 15psi so you can see how it's possible for this to happen. It seems that it took about 300 miles for it to become a two way leak. Fully reconditioned and decked head and block, etc. I suppose it could be an issue somewhere else, but I think that is unlikely.

[digger]

The MM used to be Goetze brand gaskets.