In two weeks I will have a 1997 Hellrot m3 in my drive way and I am going to need help replacing the head gasket. I am also going to purchase the water pump super kit from pelican parts as well as an m50 intake manifold. I do not know these cars in depth and was wondering if anyone was interested in helping out.

Where the eff is Oxford...

Where the eff is Oxford...

just south of Auburn. north of Webster.

What he said, it's in the Worcester county area.

Damn this board is going nuts with all the double posts lately.. seems like every thread now.

What do you have in the way of tools? The HG job requires a few specialty tools in addition to the common metric hand tools. Also, when you remove the head, you might find that the head is cracked at the combustion chamber, which is a common side effect of an overheat, in which case the entire head will have to be stripped to the casting for an effective repair. You'll need a few other things here as well.

I like that you've decided to take a bull by the horns. You will learn A LOT.

What do you have in the way of tools? The HG job requires a few specialty tools in addition to the common metric hand tools. Also, when you remove the head, you might find that the head is cracked at the combustion chamber, which is a common side effect of an overheat, in which case the entire head will have to be stripped to the casting for an effective repair. You'll need a few other things here as well.

I like that you've decided to take a bull by the horns. You will learn A LOT.


As far as BMW specialty tools, I have none. A buddy has a few though who lives up the street but his work schedule sucks.

I was told that the car did not over heat at all, but again to be safe the head will be checked. A 3 angle valve job will also most likely be done. Now as far as other things to do while I am in there I was thinking headers but can only afford the ebay ones haha.

And as far as taking the bull by the horns, it is the only way to be. Hell I already am looking for someone to trade me a set of racing seats for my vader front and rear seats.

PM Dan, Hamlerda here on the forums, to see if he will help. He is in your area and has tools and can do just about anything.

PM Dan, Hamlerda here on the forums, to see if he will help. He is in your area and has tools and can do just about anything.


Thanks! I will definitely be sending him a message within the next few days.

I hate asking for help because I feel as if I should be paying the people helping me, going out of there way to help someone they don't know.

im in oxford but I do not find any pleasure in doing another M50 conversion/headgasket on those cars lol.

thats alot of work man. Do you know M3saloon? he works on them alot but is normally busy.

im in oxford but I do not find any pleasure in doing another M50 conversion/headgasket on those cars lol.

thats alot of work man. Do you know M3saloon? he works on them alot but is normally busy.


Dave? Yeah I know him he was a grade above me in high school I was actually talking to him a lot about his car.

You live in oxford?

yes i do.

dave has helped me out on more then one occasion, hes a good guy.

He really is a cool kid I know a lot of his friends too. Hmmm thats weird I have never seen your white M3 around oxford but I guess it looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me.

You know Max or Chamille? Max has the Dakar yellow m3 in oxford, he's a really really good friend of mine.

Im fairly local and would be willing to lend a hand. I dont have any of the specialty tools for head work but I have worked on heads before. Shouldn't be too bad, let me know if your interested in any help.

Sure I will definitely let you know. Thanks!

I am very mechanically inclined and have rebuilt engines and done other numerous things with cars before but I want to learn the BMW from people who know about them just because I have too much respect for the M3 to half ass it.

what kind of incentive is there???

what kind of incentive is there???


You like George Killians Irish Red beer?

Drop a motor might be easier and less headaches....

ill try to help when business slows down a bit. I just finished the m50 swap and tune.

youve never seen either of my m's? i drive them everyday through oxford but im more on the north side of centerfolds 2k

I blew my engine probably a month ago, so im in the process now of swapping parts from the s50 to my used s52 i bought the other week. Taking the engine apart wasn't to bad at all, its the putting it back together and remembering where everything went thats gonna be tough. I hope the tape I used is still readable by the time I go to put the motor back in...

ill try to help when business slows down a bit. I just finished the m50 swap and tune.

youve never seen either of my m's? i drive them everyday through oxford but im more on the north side of centerfolds 2k

See I am more near the charlton line towards buffumville lake.

so you are looking to do just a head gasket? you might wana send out the head to get checked while you have it off...

Pretty much, I want to have a 3 angle valve job done , I also want to get the deck shaved down a little as well.

Pretty much, I want to have a 3 angle valve job done

No need.

No need.


I was told that it would help out with flow if I was going for bigger numbers later.

I was told that the car did not over heat at all, but again to be safe the head will be checked.


if the car didn't overheat how did the headgasket go ? does the car have 200k plus on it or was it boosted ??

just curious as it's not like headgaskets just blow .

Car has 177k miles , owner says it is not milkshaked or anything.

just curious.how much did you pay for this project

just curious.how much did you pay for this project

5k.