Let’s see. Last update, I was taking the M3 into Bavarian Machine to figure out why I’m losing coolant. That was back in December.
It was a bad head gasket, like I had suspected. I had them R&R the head while it was off, which ended up including replacing 14 bad lifters (out of 24), regrinding each valve seat, and lots of other stuff. They also recommended replacing the timing chain and VANOS system, because the timing chain had stretched to the limit of the tensioner. The bottom end of the engine was fine, but the top end is pretty much now “as new”.
While it was in there (famous last words), I had them do some suspension work (fabricate adjustable sway bar end links), replace the cracked guibo, replace a cracked steering hardy disc, fix a bent wheel… the list went on and on. Once it was all done, they corner-weighted and aligned the car.
Almost 2 months later, I got the car back, and promptly took it to the track. Hey, that new engine had to be broken in, right? The car performed wonderfully, and the engine now pulls harder than ever. No more cooling loss, period.
More updates in the next post…
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