Problems Sourcing Piston Rings

Talk and Tech about turbocharged 924/944/968 cars
Post Reply
SirLapsalot
Posts: 108
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2021 11:15 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 19 times
I have a new old stock set of Mahle Motorsport / Andial 104.5mm 951 Pistons [P/N: MAH 103 099 50 ] which came with rings intended to be used for OE bore material. My bores are refinished in Nikasil so I need to source new rings.
2025-05-24_10-37-44.png
2025-05-24_10-37-44.png (585.33 KiB) Viewed 282 times
Ring Dimensions are:
Top Ring = 1.75mm x 5.2mm
2nd Ring = 2.0mm x 4.8mm
Oil Control = 3.0mm x 2.8mm
My finished bore size = 104.564mm

Total Seal basically said they can't help. Said they do not have any base material to make something in the Top Ring size.
Mahle US and Mahle Aftermarket both said they have no idea what that part number is and have been not so helpful.

Do any of the experts have ideas for alternate sources for rings? I assume if I approach a Mahle competitor like Wossner or CP they wouldn't be interested in sourcing or making custom rings for pistons that aren't theirs?

I'm considering sourcing all new pistons and rings at this point, but if there's a way to get rings for the set I have I'd rather do so. Millennium Technologies finished my bore to these pistons exact dimensions so it would be nice to just get a set of rings and put my engine together without worrying about custom piston dimensions being correct, etc.

#1

Top
michaelmount123
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2021 7:51 am
Has thanked: 24 times
Been thanked: 176 times
Call TotalSeal Piston Rings. They'll have what you need. Specify file fit (if you're prepared), or ready to assemble.
https://www.totalseal.com/

Oops. Just read you've been there. These are Mahle manufactured pistons, have you talked to them? Just give them the ring sizes and see if they can help.
https://www.us.mahle.com/

#2

Top
SirLapsalot
Posts: 108
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2021 11:15 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 19 times
I'm in talks with Mahle right now but just via email.

I was forwarded a couple times between Mahle US and Mahle aftermarket. Basically both trying to pass me off on the other since they weren't familiar with the part number. I have a phone number now for someone (supposedly from another department at Mahle, unclear from the email...) that I'll be reaching out to.

#3

Top
Bergerac
Posts: 297
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2023 3:00 pm
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 108 times
Maybe try Mahle Motorsport, as far as I'm aware they still sell a version of this piston

#4

Top
SirLapsalot
Posts: 108
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2021 11:15 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 19 times
Mahle Motorsport is who I originally reached out to. I’m not sure Mahle Motorsport is actually a company anyway. Their website only has a generic call center number and 3 different emails (customer service, sales, tech support) which all get forwarded to US customer service.

Finally their tech support told me they don’t actually know what these pistons are but that no longer supply ring sets in this size, and also confirmed that the set that came with the pistons are chrome faced so not compatible with Nikasil.

#5

Top
User avatar
blade7
Posts: 185
Joined: Mon May 23, 2022 4:17 pm
Has thanked: 10 times
Been thanked: 19 times
As the pistons you have are unobtanium now, you'd could probably sell them for at least what suitable pistons and rings for your engine would cost.

#6

Top
Post Reply