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Thread: STUDS + HEAD GARKET for M52tu b28

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
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    Pereira-Colombia
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    1998 BMW 328i e46

    STUDS + HEAD GARKET for M52tu b28

    Greetings, at this moment I have a bmw e46 328I m52tub28 with turbo holset hx30 and stock internals with stock Head Gasket (10.2:1 CR). I am interested in a safe build, but I have not found in ARP catalog a suitable configuration for m52TU engine (Aluminium block.). I'm also interested in thicker MLS Head Gasket. I am looking for a safe build, assuming that the fuel in my country is not of the best quality (90oct). What studs and Head Gasket do you recommend me? (Head gasket thickness and ARP stud reference)

    Thank you so much, have a nice day.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
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    Brunswick Georgia
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    Bmw E36, Lincoln LS,
    Have you looked a ces cutring combo spacer kit with arp hardware by chance


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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
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    New England
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    F90 M5; E36 M3 Turbo
    Does CES sell one for the newer motor?

  4. #4
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    1998 BMW 328i e46
    Hi, I was looking at the CESmotorsport website and only found kits for E36, I'm worried about the aluminium block of m52tu (e46). are the M52 kits compatible with the M52tu?

  5. #5
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    F90 M5; E36 M3 Turbo
    I don’t think so. Cometic might make a thicker MLS gasket to lower CR.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
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    Australia
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    My Cars
    e30 318i, 135i
    use the Athena cutring gasket and spacer, and use raceware studs for M54

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    Bmw E36, Lincoln LS,
    Didn't think about that but as already stated Athena cutring ex.

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  8. #8
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    1998 BMW 328i e46
    Thank you for your reply. I apreciate if you share me the link with the studs.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
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    Netherlands
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    e36 328i turbo

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    philadelphia PA
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    My Cars
    1993 325is
    You can use ARP 350z main studs as m52tu/m54 head studs if you are looking to save some money over the racewares.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
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    Australia
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    e30 318i, 135i
    Quote Originally Posted by et89 View Post
    Thats them.
    I have run them in 2 cars now. Good product. Requires much less torque than arps to achieve the required clamping force

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
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    Brunswick Georgia
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    My Cars
    Bmw E36, Lincoln LS,
    Will they work on m50tu motor, would like to pinch penny's if the option is available. I didn't know that there were other companies that offer hardware other than arp.

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  13. #13
    Join Date
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    e30 318i, 135i
    They are too long to use on m50tu unless you cut them down (I did)

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gmfwd View Post
    You can use ARP 350z main studs as m52tu/m54 head studs if you are looking to save some money over the racewares.
    I have read this somewhere to, but that thread never received a follow up. who used this? and how long was it ok?
    found one thread from an english bloke somewhere who was using it. but his last post was him installing the head studs.. that doesn't give me that much confidence

  15. #15
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by et89 View Post
    I have read this somewhere to, but that thread never received a follow up. who used this? and how long was it ok?
    found one thread from an english bloke somewhere who was using it. but his last post was him installing the head studs.. that doesn't give me that much confidence
    My friend put them in his m54b30. I am helping him tune the car. Right now the transmission is broken, but when fixed we will have it on the dyno. Shooting for 500whp on pump gas. Nothing super amazing. So far so good though

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
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    S. Florida
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    1
    My Cars
    1987 325i M52TU
    The 350z part number

  17. #17
    Join Date
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    e36 328i turbo
    https://arp-bolts.com/kits/ARPkit-de...?RecordID=1129

    this would be it, but I am saving up for the raceware kit (if still available). if BA114 says something is good, I believe him
    also, I have received numerous times that using the stock headbolts shouldn't be an issue for less then 1.0 bar on my HX35.
    so I'm good for now.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gmfwd View Post
    My friend put them in his m54b30. I am helping him tune the car. Right now the transmission is broken, but when fixed we will have it on the dyno. Shooting for 500whp on pump gas. Nothing super amazing. So far so good though
    Did you ever get this running? and how are the ARP 350z studs?

  19. #19
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    1993 325is
    Quote Originally Posted by et89 View Post
    Did you ever get this running? and how are the ARP 350z studs?
    Car runs great. Makes mid 400's on 93 I would assume, but I haven't had it on the dyno yet. Other parts in the drivetrain keep breaking.

    Ill be using these studs with timeserts in a 2.8 M52/54 this winter. I expect no problems. We know the studs are pretty good and support 500whp on a stock gasket in the iron block motors.

  20. #20
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    Do you know to what spec he torqued them? or to how much will you?

  21. #21
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    are slow.
    .140 MLS is not a great solution, failure rates are pretty high even with good prep work. Cut ring gasket and spacer is a far better solution. Or do you have E85 or any kind of ethanol gas stations? You can run the stock head gasket and just change the studs and make quite a bit of power on an ethanol mix.

    Please don't spend 433 Euro on Raceware hardware, ARP will do the exact same thing. Your limiting factor isn't the clamping load due to the material on the stud, but the aluminum in the threads in the block.
    "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
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  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hova View Post
    .140 MLS is not a great solution, failure rates are pretty high even with good prep work. Cut ring gasket and spacer is a far better solution. Or do you have E85 or any kind of ethanol gas stations? You can run the stock head gasket and just change the studs and make quite a bit of power on an ethanol mix.

    Please don't spend 433 Euro on Raceware hardware, ARP will do the exact same thing. Your limiting factor isn't the clamping load due to the material on the stud, but the aluminum in the threads in the block.
    true, However, i did some measurements (guesswork based on PEI330CI M54 dissection) and I came up with the following numbers:

    I use a 0.140inch MLS gasket (which is holding up now for approx. 15k km without issues)
    the measurements i did:

    mm inch
    head ~77mm 3,031496063
    headgasket 3,556mm 0,14
    block ~6mm empty space 0,236220472
    ~40mm of threaded hole 1,57480315
    total length approx. 126,5mm 4,982519685

    The raceware studs are 127mm (5inch) long. and will therefor have ~(40mm-the nut and washer) of thread engagement in the block (205.000psi tensile strength). - Edit: (~27mm thread engagement)
    The ARP #201-4302 are 114,5mm(4,515inch) and will have ~(28mm-nut and washer assembly) of thread engagement in the block. (not enough, will strip the threads in the block).- Edit: (~15mm thread engagement)
    The VQ35 ARP #202-5801 are 130,8mm (5,15 inch) will have ~(44mm-nut and washer assembly) of thread engagement in the block (190.000psi tensile strenght).-Edit: (~31mm thread engagement)

    OEM headbolts with this headgasket has ~23mm thread engagement

    All are M10x1.5

    If had some mail conversation with ARP about this, but they do not sent an of the shelf solution for this. that is the reaction that i get.

    i took these "measurements" from a picture loaded into my cad system and scaled it to sizes that I know,
    It would be really helpful if someone could tell me what the actual sizes are.

    Edit: ARP replied that the nut+washer assembly of their kits is approx. 0,525inch (13,3mm)
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by et89; 10-05-2019 at 05:57 PM.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Montreal QC Canada
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    BMW x3 m54 3.0l
    I just did some measurements on my M54B30
    head + washer ~73mm

    block ~ 7mm empty space (big-serted)
    25mm threaded (big-serted)
    ~ 47 mm to the bottom




  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by teufeld View Post
    I just did some measurements on my M54B30
    head + washer ~73mm

    block ~ 7mm empty space (big-serted)
    25mm threaded (big-serted)
    ~ 47 mm to the bottom



    Just a little feedback.
    I did install those VQ35 ARP, everything went good. But since the nuts are 12mm 12pans I couldn't use the special tool for bmw head bolt and had to remove the camshaft.
    Also becarfull because one of my big-sert was only at 6mm flush from the block (instead of 7-8mm) and I had only 1 mm left for the nut to be stop by the none threaded part of the stud.

  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by teufeld View Post
    Just a little feedback.
    I did install those VQ35 ARP, everything went good. But since the nuts are 12mm 12pans I couldn't use the special tool for bmw head bolt and had to remove the camshaft.
    Also becarfull because one of my big-sert was only at 6mm flush from the block (instead of 7-8mm) and I had only 1 mm left for the nut to be stop by the none threaded part of the stud.
    Great! too what spec did you torque it? and do you have some pictures?
    I believen the M50 ARP's use 12mm 12points as well. this means you will need a different tool than the BMW tool, but you should be able to do it without removing the camshaft.

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