I'm replacing the head gasket on my 05 MCS. The machine shop took off .14 mm when they resurfaced it. The stock gasket was .65 mm and there is a alternate that is .95 mm (.3 mm over)

Shoudl I go back with the stock .65 mm or use the .95 mm?

 

use the .95 itll be closer to spec

 

Checking prices at the local Mini dealer and the parts guy seem to think that until it the removal hit .3 mm, to use the .65. BUT he was making an assumption. Didn't sound like he really knew for sure.

Here is how I understand it: taking off .14mm and using the stock .65 mm gasket would raise the compression slightly. Since this car has 102,000 miles and I'm not rebuilding the head or the block, is slightly higher compression a bad thing or neutral?

 

I really don't think the rise in compression cased by .14mm is going to be noticed at all

 

Why did the machine shop skim it in the first place was it warped?
Its less than ideal to skim these heads, use the oem gasket. that is the best you can do.

 

Ok, making progress. Got the head back on and ready to torgue. Bentley says to torque to 40ft/lbs then 90 degrees with a torque angle meter. My question is, do I need to buy that tool or is there another way to acomplish that 2nd torque step?

 

They're apparently available and relatively cheap, but you should be able to easily
estimate 90 degrees by eye without the tool (or for that matter, 30, 45, 60, 75, etc).
Look at a watch dial and add 3 hours (or 15 minutes depending on which hand you're visualizing)
to the initial direction to get 90 degrees clockwise from that.
http://www.etoolcart.com/torqueanglemeterotc4554.aspx

 

Thanks, that makes sense. and I actually found one for $10 at my local Auto Zone so that was an easy solution!