Reinforced Head Gasket BMW M3 E36 Z3M S50B30 S50B32

We offer here several reinforced head gaskets for S50B30 and S50B32 engines from brand ATHENA and COMETIC, whose technical specifications you will find below.

Find below (click on the image) the head studs / head bolts for BMW S50B30 S50B32 engine:

Technical specifications of the original gasket

• Engine bore: 86mm (S50B30) / 86.4mm (S50B32)
• Compressed thickness: 1.74mm

Technical specifications

• Engine bore: up to 87 or 87.1mm
• Thickness(es) available: 1.80mm
• Gasket type: MLS or O-ring
• Part numbers: 330020R, 338081R

Designed and manufactured in Italy, Athena reinforced head gaskets are available in two types:

• MLS: these gaskets are made up of several layers of stainless steel sheets stacked and riveted together. The stainless steel sheets are laser-cut for increased precision and receive an elastomer-based surface treatment (NBR or FKM). To achieve optimal sealing, the contours of the cylinders and water/oil passages are stamped/embossed. For the most extreme applications, additional reinforcement is added around the cylinders.
• O-ring: these gaskets consist of a steel sheet covered with asbestos-free aramid fibre and a stainless steel AISI 304 ring (around the cylinders). A silicone bead applied at critical points (water and oil passages) guarantees maximum sealing of the head gasket. This type of gasket is mandatory for heavily turbocharged engines.

Technical specifications

• Engine bore: up to 87mm
• Gasket type: MLS
• Number of layers: 3, then 5 for gaskets from 1.42mm thickness
• Thickness(es) available: 0.69, 0.76, 0.91, 1.02, 1.14, 1.30, 1.42, 1.52, 1.68, 1.78, 1.91, 2.03, 2.13, 2.18, 2.34, 2.49, 3.05, 3.56mm
• Part numbers: C4508, C4508-027, C4508-030, C4508-036, C4508-040, C4508-045, C4508-051, C4508-056, C4508-060, C4508-066, C4508-070, C4508-075, C4508-080, C4508-084, C4508-086, C4508-092, C4508-098, C4508-120, C4508-140

Founded by Bob Gorman in 1989, the Cometic brand is recognised worldwide as a leader in the design and manufacture of reinforced head gaskets. Like all of the brand's products, these are manufactured in the United States. Cometic reinforced head gaskets are made up of several stamped stainless steel layers held together by rivets. There are three types of Cometic head gaskets:

• MLS: equivalent to Athena MLS gaskets, these multi-layer gaskets (between 3 and 5 stainless steel layers depending on gasket thickness) feature embossments around the cylinders and fluid passages.

• MLX: this gasket has the same base as the MLS gasket, but with added reinforcement (folded layer) around the cylinders and a special high-temperature coating.

• HP: this is an MLX gasket to which an additional layer has been added, designed to reinforce the sealing of the cylinders (see below).