Reinforced head gasket BMW M3 E46 Z3M Z4M S54B32

We offer here several reinforced head gaskets for the S54B32 engine from ATHENA and COMETIC, the technical specifications of which you will find below.

Below (click on the image) you will find the cylinder head studs / bolts for the BMW S54B32 engine:

Technical specification of the OEM gasket

• Engine bore: 87mm
• Compressed thickness: 0.64mm

Technical specification

• Engine bore: up to 87.5 or 88mm
• Compressed thickness(es) available: 1.20mm
• Gasket type: O-ring
• References: 330037R, 330077R

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

• MLS: these gaskets are made of several layers of stainless steel 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 cylinder bore contours and water/oil passages are stamped/embossed. For the most extreme applications, 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 cylinder). A bead of silicone applied at critical points (water and oil passages) ensures maximum sealing of the head gasket. This type of gasket is mandatory for heavily turbocharged engines.

Technical specification

• Engine bore: up to 87.5mm
• Gasket type: MLS
• Number of layers: 3, then 5 for gaskets from 1.42mm thickness
• Compressed 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
• References: C4505, C4505-027, C4505-030, C4505-036, C4505-040, C4505-045, C4505-051, C4505-056, C4505-060, C4505-066, C4505-070, C4505-075, C4505-080, C4505-084, C4505-086, C4505-092, C4505-098, C4505-120, C4505-140

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 of several stamped stainless steel sheets held together by rivets. There are three types of Cometic head gasket:

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

• MLX: this gasket has an identical base to the MLS gasket but with an added reinforcement (folded sheet) around the cylinders and a special high-temperature coating.

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