S54 Diaphragm Springs and Exhaust Hub

[Slideways]

Had a look, it’s not a night and day difference, if you look really closely the finish on the BMW gasket seems marginally better, but really marginally. The color of the rubber seems different, but to me they don’t feel all that different, neither can I find a real difference in shape that would cause a leak.

The BMW gasket says “BRUSS 650” on one of the rear half moons, the elring gasket is simply blank there.

With a bit of googling it seems this refers to https://www.bruss.de
So I suppose they make the valve cover gasket exclusively for BMW.

Nice find. It is unfortunate that Bruss does not sell the S54 VCG gasket outside of BMW. ECS does sell a Bruss VCG gasket for another BMW.

Edit: Found this on E46F - "OE is now ACM, not Viton (FKM). Still superior to the original formulation but not quite Viton." "the general consensus was that it was changed to viton and it was verified with a durometer test , but its actually acm , confirmed through mails with suppliers.I missed that detail cause I left the relevant thread in half(through its also confirmed that aftermarket gaskets have also the upgraded material)."

[bmwfnatic]

I have both elring and BMW in stock iirc, if I don’t forget I’ll see if I can compare them.

Had a look, it’s not a night and day difference, if you look really closely the finish on the BMW gasket seems marginally better, but really marginally. The color of the rubber seems different, but to me they don’t feel all that different, neither can I find a real difference in shape that would cause a leak.

The BMW gasket says “BRUSS 650” on one of the rear half moons, the elring gasket is simply blank there.

With a bit of googling it seems this refers to https://www.bruss.de
So I suppose they make the valve cover gasket exclusively for BMW.

[ATB88]

I've also never had to put RTV on the half moons of the OE BMW gasket, never any hint of a leak. I tend to put RTV at the head/vanos junction for good luck, but I bet I could get away without it.

[BMWfanz]

BMW looks different to ELRING, Elring has some white plaque and rubber feels completly different. OEM also came in box- Elring on carton with film

[bmwfnatic]

I tried Elring valve cover gasket and leaked no matter what I tried. I installed an original BMW one and even without ANY sealant at the joints is bone dry. So yes I did not use any sealant at either the half moons or vanos joint to the head.

I have both elring and BMW in stock iirc, if I don’t forget I’ll see if I can compare them.

[maupineda]

I tried Elring valve cover gasket and leaked no matter what I tried. I installed an original BMW one and even without ANY sealant at the joints is bone dry. So yes I did not use any sealant at either the half moons or vanos joint to the head.

[Slideways]

FCP! On the expensive side though... $75 per side :/ Things are getting out of hand there, OE BMW VANOS gasket used to be $15 and is now $75, lost $60 on my "lifetime warranty" replacement.

Elring makes the VANOS gasket for BMW, same with the front timing cover gaskets, oil pan gasket and the head gasket. All these metal style gaskets are made by Elring, even for other BMW engines like the S65, S85 etc. You don't have to make donations to BMW for repackaging these parts lol.

Here is a video comparing the BMW and Elring head gasket (identical and both stamped EK - elringklinger):

Luckily, I kept my S54 springs and plates. The fun part is going to be figuring out which one was on the intake or exhaust side, but it probably does not matter.

[sapote]

Interestingly BMW also wants you to install the new style S62 springs with the smaller side of the spring towards the hub, not towards the eared retaining plate like on the S54..

I always installed the stock S54 spring washer with the smaller hole toward the hub as it makes more sense than the other way around. Since the srping plate has 2 ears to lock to the hub, in theory if the plate is 100% locked to the hub then it's doesn't matter which way to install the spring. But the eared plate has rotational plays relative to the hub, so the spring does rotate against the hub and natually the bearing surface is the smaller hole and not the larger one due to less friction. You don't want to have the spring smaller hole rotates against the eared plate as its ID is about the same as the spring smaller hole.

[0-60motorsports]

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...ng-11367830684

Thanks. Yeah the price is crazy

[ATB88]

Woah that's crazy! Do you have the pn?

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-set-diaphragm-spring-11367830684

[0-60motorsports]

FCP! On the expensive side though... $75 per side :/ Things are getting out of hand there, OE BMW VANOS gasket used to be $15 and is now $75, lost $60 on my "lifetime warranty" replacement.

Woah that's crazy! Do you have the pn?

[ATB88]

Where did you get the S54 springs from? I'm going to buy a set for my next Vanos overhaul for someone.

FCP! On the expensive side though... $75 per side :/ Things are getting out of hand there, OE BMW VANOS gasket used to be $15 and is now $75, lost $60 on my "lifetime warranty" replacement.

[0-60motorsports]

Wait what? I actually just installed S54 springs (new) to replace the S62 springs that were installed years ago -- was a "while I'm in there" thing because I had to re-do my timing anyway. I installed the S54 springs the same way that Beisan instructs to install the S62 springs... does that mean I've got it backwards? Does it matter?? I swear to god if I have to time this engine one more time...

edit: phew, it looks like the Beisan diy says smaller side towards eared retaining plate. But then that means that Beisan is telling people to install the new S62 springs differently than BMW is? One other question: does the orientation of the eared retaining plate matter? The spring and plate come as a matched pair and a note insisting that springs and retaining plates not get mixed and matched. But the retaining plate looks identical on either side. I wasn't sure if I accidentally flipped one of the retaining plates from the orientation they came in the bag before installing... I doubt it matters but if anyone knows would like to hear!

Where did you get the S54 springs from? I'm going to buy a set for my next Vanos overhaul for someone.

[ATB88]

Your measurements are close to the BMW ones.

The official measurements are 0.85mm and 3.55mm.
And 1.25mm and 3.20mm.

Early (up to 09/2001) S62 came with the A (S54 style) springs, then BMW changed them for the later models to the B springs that we now refer to as S62 ones.

Interestingly BMW also wants you to install the new style S62 springs with the smaller side of the spring towards the hub, not towards the eared retaining plate like on the S54.

Wait what? I actually just installed S54 springs (new) to replace the S62 springs that were installed years ago -- was a "while I'm in there" thing because I had to re-do my timing anyway. I installed the S54 springs the same way that Beisan instructs to install the S62 springs... does that mean I've got it backwards? Does it matter?? I swear to god if I have to time this engine one more time...

edit: phew, it looks like the Beisan diy says smaller side towards eared retaining plate. But then that means that Beisan is telling people to install the new S62 springs differently than BMW is? One other question: does the orientation of the eared retaining plate matter? The spring and plate come as a matched pair and a note insisting that springs and retaining plates not get mixed and matched. But the retaining plate looks identical on either side. I wasn't sure if I accidentally flipped one of the retaining plates from the orientation they came in the bag before installing... I doubt it matters but if anyone knows would like to hear!

[chris719]

Thanks, appreciate the feedback. Will let you know what I find in a few weeks.