Athena Cut Ring Head Gasket, BMW M50/M52/S50/S52

This gasket replaces BMW part # 11121726619, 1112172622, and 11121405106 and is specifically designed for M50, M52, S50, and S52 iron block inline 6-cylinder engines found in E34/E36 chassis.

Factory OEM & MLS head gaskets are only engineered to handle a limited amount of cylinder pressures before they start to leak, causing a range of issues, including engine overheating, loss of power, misfires, and in severe cases, catastrophic engine failure.

Athena-SCE Cut Ring Head Gaskets are uniquely designed to handle increased cylinder pressure caused by power modifications, making them the recommended choice for applications making 16+ psi.

Design:

Athena-SCE's gasket body is composed of Motorgasket, a reinforced material developed by Athena's R&D department. This consists of a steel core covered with two layers of asbestos-free aramid fibre and offers excellent thermal and mechanical resistance without compromising its ability to adapt to mating surfaces.

To ensure maximum sealing under all conditions, a silicone bead is also applied to critical sealing areas, such as oil and coolant passages. 

The AISI 304 stainless steel cooper rings bite into the aluminum head, providing maximum sealing around the cylinder bore and optimizing engine performance, even on engines with nitrous and/or turbo applications that exceed 2 bar boost.

Please be aware that the gasket should be 0.5mm to 1mm larger than the piston. For example, if the piston measures 84mm, then the gasket should be the next size up, either 84.5mm or 85mm.

Before installation, it is crucial to have the mating surfaces of the cylinder head and block professionally cleaned and resurfaced to ensure they are completely flat.

Installation instructions:

1. Make sure that the engine block and cylinder head surfaces are clean, flat, and free from any debris, oil, or coolant.

2. Install the Cut Ring gasket on the engine block and ensure that it is properly aligned. Avoid twisting or bending the gasket during installation.

3. Place the cylinder head on top of the gasket and install the head bolts or studs in their correct positions.

4. Follow the manufacturer's recommended torque specifications and tighten the bolts or studs in the proper sequence to ensure even clamping force across the gasket.

5. After the initial tightening, re-torque the head bolts or studs after the engine has been started and then allowed to cool to room temperature. This will ensure that the gasket is properly seated and compressed.

6. It is recommended to not use any additional sealant on the MLS gasket, as it is already coated with a Viton rubber sealant. Using additional sealant can hinder the performance of the gasket.

BMW M50 Applications:

3 Series

1990-1995     E36     320i / 325i / 325is
1994-1996     E35/E36     318ti

5 Series

1990-1996     E34     520i / 525i
1991-1996     E34 Touring     520i / 525i

Z Series

1995     E36/E37     Z3 2.0i / 2.5i

BMW M52 Applications:

3 Series

1994-1999     E36     320i / 323i / 323is / 328i / 328is
1997-2000     E35/E36     318ti / 323ti

5 Series

1996-1998     E39     520i / 523i / 528i

7 Series

1996-1998     E38     728i / 728iL

Z Series

1996-1999     E36/E37/E38     Z3 2.0i / 2.2i / 2.8i

BMW S50 US Applications:

3 Series

1994-1995     E36     M3

BMW S52 Applications:

3 Series

1996-1999     E36     M3

Z Series

1998-2000     E36/E37/E38     Z3M