BMW M52TU M54 Head Gasket & Head Stud Kit

Seal your BMW M52TU / M54 engines with the BMW M52TU M54 Head Gasket & Head Stud Kit, engineered to hold a reliable seal under high cylinder pressure. Engineered by 5150 AutoSport, this head gasket is built to the standards demanded by high-performance and motorsport BMW builds.

Key Features

• Designed for BMW M52TU / M54 engines
• Engineered to seal reliably under high cylinder pressure
• A superior solution for forced-induction builds
• Precision-manufactured for consistent fitment
• Designed to outperform factory sealing in high-power applications
• Available in multiple head gasket type - bore - thickness options to suit your build
• Supplied by 5150 AutoSport, trusted by BMW enthusiasts worldwide

Product Details

Performance Head Gasket & Head Stud Kit for BMW M52TU / M54

This Performance Head Gasket & Head Stud Kit is specifically designed for BMW M52TU and M54 aluminum block engines, offering a choice between Cometic MLS or Athena-SCE Cut-Ring head gaskets for superior sealing in high-performance applications.

Head Gasket Options

• Cometic MLS Head Gasket (Replaces BMW #11127501304, #11127501305)
  • Multi-layer stainless steel construction resists corrosion and withstands extreme heat and pressure.
  • Ideal for turbocharged and supercharged builds, providing superior sealing without the need for additional sealants.
  • Not suitable for use with O-ringed or grooved engine blocks; requires smooth, flat sealing surfaces.
  • Don't see the head gasket you're looking for? More bore and thickness variations available here.
• Athena-SCE Cut-Ring Head Gasket (Replaces BMW #11127501304, #11127501305)
  • Designed for applications running 16+ psi, with AISI 304 stainless steel cut rings that seal the aluminum head for maximum performance.
  • Made from premium M0115 asbestos-free material, ensuring durability for high-boost and nitrous setups exceeding 2 bar.
  • Requires professionally cleaned and resurfaced mating surfaces.
  • Gasket bore should be 0.5mm to 1mm larger than the piston bore (e.g., 84mm piston → 84.5mm or 85mm gasket).

Head Gasket Installation Instructions

1. Clean and resurface the engine block and cylinder head to ensure they are flat and free from debris, oil, or coolant.
2. Install the head gasket on the engine block, ensuring proper alignment. Avoid twisting or bending the gasket during installation.
3. Place the cylinder head on top of the gasket and install the head studs in their correct positions.
4. Follow ARP's recommended torque specifications and tighten the studs in the correct sequence to ensure even clamping force.
5. After the initial tightening, re-torque the head studs after the engine has been run and cooled to room temperature to ensure proper gasket seating.
6. Avoid using any additional sealants, as they can hinder the performance of the gasket.

Head Stud Kit

• BMW M54 Engine Pro-Series 18.8 Cylinder Head Stud Set

  • Designed to replace OEM cylinder head screws, the Pro-Series 18.8 studs provide higher tensile strength (1850 N/mm²), preventing cylinder head lift during high-performance operation.

  • The special steel construction and rolled threads offer increased strength, ensuring the studs can be reused after disassembly.

  • The kit includes:

    • (14) M10 Stud Bolts
    • (14) M10 Nuts
    • (14) Washers
    • Assembly Paste
    • Assembly Instructions

  • Pro-Series stud bolts feature a hexagon socket drive for easier installation and a cone-shaped base to protect the threads in the engine block when nuts are tightened. This design minimizes damage to threads during frequent rebuilds.

  • The included nuts and washers also have a tensile strength of 1850 N/mm² for added reliability.

Installation Instructions:

1. After unpacking ProSeries stud bolts, inspect all hardware prior to installation. Look for obvious defects or shipping damage. Contact our sales team immediately with any questions or issues. 2. Before mounting, compare the supplied bolts with the stock screws, paying particular attention to the thread type and length of the bolts. Check existing threads inside engine block for damage. To ensure proper thread engagement and accurate torque readings, make sure that all threads are free from remnant sealer, lubricant, and debris. Check the flatness and surface finish of the engine block and cylinder head deck to avoid gasket failure. 3. Insert stud bolts into the engine block and tighten with a 5mm hexagon socket on the drive provided at the head of the stud bolt with a torque of 15Nm. 4. If the stud bolts are to remain permanently installed in the engine block, they can be used with screw lock (not included) 5. Attention! Before final mounting of Pro-Series nuts and washers, all contact surfaces must be completely wetted with the supplied special ProSeries lubricant. If this will not be considered the applied tightening torque is falsified and the resulting clamping force is reduced. Under certain circumstances, this can also inevitably lead to the bolts breaking / shearing off.

6. Tighten nuts in three equal steps in the factory sequence. For the last pass, refer to the table shown below:

7. ProSeries studs and nuts can always be reused. When re-tightening or reassembling, please always ensure that all contact surfaces are wetted with special ProSeries lubricant. Please contact our sales team if you have any further questions.

Head Gasket Type - Bore - Thickness Options

• CR - 84.5 mm - 0.079"
• CR - 86 mm - 0.060"
• MLS - 81 mm - 0.030"
• MLS - 85mm - 0.030"
• MLS - 85 mm - 0.040"

Compatibility

BMW M52TU Models

• BMW E46 323i / 328i
• BMW E39 528i
• BMW Z3 2.5 / 2.8

BMW M54 Models

• BMW E46 325i / 330i
• BMW E39 525i / 530i
• BMW E60 525i / 530i
• BMW E83 X3
• BMW Z4 2.5i / 3.0i

Why Choose 5150 AutoSport?

• Purpose-built BMW performance engineering
• Components developed for high-power, real-world durability
• Trusted by serious BMW engine builders
• Specialist knowledge of forced-induction and high-RPM builds

Why Buy from R44 Performance?

R44 Performance supplies premium BMW performance and engine-building components trusted by enthusiasts worldwide.

• BMW specialists
• Genuine 5150 AutoSport products
• Fast UK & worldwide shipping
• Expert product support

Upgrade your BMW M52TU / M54 build with the BMW M52TU M54 Head Gasket & Head Stud Kit — available now from R44 Performance.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all products sold by R44 Performance Limited are designated RACE ONLY and are solely for competition or off-road use limited to racing formally sanctioned by a recognized racing organization. Any other use, including recreational off-road use, may violate local, state, and Federal laws. R44 Performance Limited does not implicitly or explicitly confirm the legality of using any products it sells on public roads; that is entirely the responsibility of the consumer.

It is the responsibility of the customer to check with all federal, state local and environmental laws before ordering and installing a product. R44 Performance Limited is not responsible for any fees, fines or costs that a customer may incur as a result of failing to check with federal, state, local or environmental laws before ordering and installing a product.

We get a large number of custom orders and requests everyday, so as a result it is not always possible for us to keep every item in stock at all times in our warehouse. If you require the item urgently please contact our sales team here to check the stock before you make your purchase.

We totally understand if you're not certain a part will be compatible with your car, so we highly recommend contacting us here with your query. Our friendly sales team will then be in touch to confirm if this part is the correct part you are looking for.

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For out of stock items we will contact you with an estimated wait time if not otherwise specified above.

We offer worldwide shipping on all products. If upon receiving your product you wish to return; we offer a 30-day returns policy. For our in-depth returns information please follow the link. "R44 Returns Policy

All of our products come with a standard warranty of 1-3 years. This is dependant on the type of product however. For more details please see our warranty page here.