Athena Cut Ring Head Gasket, BMW N52/N54

This Athena Cut Ring Head Gasket is specifically engineered to replace BMW part numbers 11127557265 and 11127557266 for the N52 and N54.

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 N52 Applications:

1 Series

2006-2011     E81/E82/E87/E88     125i / 135i

3 Series

2005-2011     E90/E91/E92/E93     325i / 325xi
2006-2013     E90/E91/E92/E93     328i / 328xi / 330i / 330xi

5 Series

2005-2010     E60/E61     525i / 525xi / 528i / 528xi / 530i / 530xi
2010-2011     F10/F11     528i

6 Series

2004-2007     E63/E64     630i

7 Series

2005-2008     E65/E66     730i / 730Li

X1 Series

2009-2015     E84     X1 xDrive25i / sDrive25i
2009-2015     E84     X1 xDrive28i / sDrive28i [Non-Turbo]

X3 Series

2006-2010     E83     X3 2.5si / 3.0i
2010-2012     F25     X3 xDrive28i [Non-Turbo]

X5 Series

2007-2010     E70     X5 xDrive30i

Z4 Series

2004-2008     E85/E86     Z4 2.5si / 3.0i / 3.0si
2009-2011     E89     Z4 sDrive23i / sDrive30i

BMW N54 Applications:

1 Series

2007-2010     E82/E88     135i
2011-2012     E82     1M

3 Series

2006-2010     E90/E91/E92/E93     335i
2011-2013     E92/E93     335is

5 Series

2008-2010     E60/E61     535i

7 Series

2009-2012     F01/F02     740i / 740Li

X6 Series

2008-2010     E71     X6 xDrive35i

Z4 Series

2009-2016     E89     Z4 sDrive35i
2010-2016     E89     Z4 sDrive35is

Alpina B3 Series

2007-2013     E90/E91/E92/E93     B3 Bi-Turbo

Alpina B3 S Series

2010-2013     E90/E91/E92/E93     B3 S Bi-Turbo

Alpina D3 Series

2008-2013     E90/E91/E92/E93     D3 Bi-Turbo