THE M3 IS GETTING THE ANRI BUILD TREATMENT - Blown headgasket to build thread

[sapote]

sapote - Sorry not following you on that one, in the photo I'm holding it horizontally, what are you inferring?

Pic shows a vertical stick. Is it me only see it vertical with the texts in normal horizontal?

No noticeable oil consumption after 1700 miles is a very good news, and Anri had done a very nice job on the engine.

[ChapterM3]

Also one more photo for today as I just got my 35mm film developed and just love this shot of the car

[ChapterM3]

sapote - Sorry not following you on that one, in the photo I'm holding it horizontally, what are you inferring?

[sapote]

Well, you get more oil in the pan holding the stick upside down.

[ChapterM3]

What's up everyone!! Here's an update with about 3500 miles on the motor -

Took the car on a road trip from LA to Sedona, AZ and let me just say that if you've never taken your car on a proper roadtrip, go and do it. These cars are meant to be driven and enjoyed like this, and when you're behind the wheel for 3-5 hours a day, the smile on your face only gets bigger and bigger as you love the car more and more. I was incredibly surprised how the stock seats leave you feeling fresh even after 5 hours of driving - my fiancé agreed and loved being in the car for the entire trip, it really made our trip that much more fun! I also got the windows ceramic tinted 50% all around even the windshield (Done by Unique Auto Films in Tarzana, CA, who did an incredible job - they're THE BEST at anything detailing, PPF, tint related, etc.) and man, I love the look but even more so love the fact that we were not baking in the sun like I would previously without the tint. What a difference that made on this trip.






After about 1700 miles the oil is spot on where we filled it last and hasn't lost any oil in the meantime - this was before the road trip. I checked it mid-road trip and it was the same but didn't get a photo of it. When I take the car out in the next days I'll grab another shot now after it's got 3500 miles on it now. I always hear that rebuilt engines start losing oil pretty quickly after being rebuilt but hey mine hasn't moved at all since it was done, super happy about that - it never lost oil from the factory, and it's not losing any now


The M3 also turned 20 this past weekend so I got it a cupcake haha - 06.01.2004 was when it was born and it's going to live for as long as I do as this will get passed to our kids one day that's for sure! Here's to another 40 years!

[ChapterM3]

Awesome! Looks great.

Thank you!!

Is that ACH? If so I haven't been up there in a year, did they open the main path to Newcombs? Last time i went both paths were closed.

This is off Angeles Forrest Highway, so that left turn on ACH at the fire station. I haven't been up to Newcombs since the land slide (why it was closed), but I think it might be open now as I saw some photos of a meet there that could have been last week but I can't confirm that. When I continued on this road to Upper Big Tahjunga, that was still closed to local traffic only so I assume that section is still closed.

[elrichmeister]

Went out in the canyons last week, such a blast. This thing rips!

Is that ACH? If so I haven't been up there in a year, did they open the main path to Newcombs? Last time i went both paths were closed.

[0-60motorsports]

Went out in the canyons last week, such a blast. This thing rips!

Awesome! Looks great.

[ChapterM3]

Went out in the canyons last week, such a blast. This thing rips!

[ChapterM3]

Beautiful write-up and review. I think I found my engine builder when I'm ready to redo mine as well!

Glad it was helpful! If you have any questions on the whole process feel free to send me a DM

[eXpensiveGears]

Beautiful write-up and review. I think I found my engine builder when I'm ready to redo mine as well!

[ChapterM3]

Glad to hear you had a good experience - the amount he has shared and contributed to his forum is outstanding and he will be the one I go to if I need engine work. Curious out of the shops you looked at, was Carbahn in Norcal one of them?

No, Carbahn was not one of them - didn't span my search out that far!

[Slideways]

Glad to hear you had a good experience - the amount he has shared and contributed to his forum is outstanding and he will be the one I go to if I need engine work. Curious out of the shops you looked at, was Carbahn in Norcal one of them?

Carbahn will still do S54 work, but they specialize mainly in newer German cars. They used to list the 3.3L S54 build on their website and based on the 2002 M roadster that sold recently, the work is expensive (images of the receipts were included in the auction). For someone who is looking for a standard refresh, it is not a great option and probably not worth their time.

[dreamdrivedrift]

Glad to hear you had a good experience - the amount he has shared and contributed to his forum is outstanding and he will be the one I go to if I need engine work. Curious out of the shops you looked at, was Carbahn in Norcal one of them?

[Cubieman]

Awesome man, great to hear all of this worked out and you now have yourself a new mechanic you feel good about.

If I ever need a full on engine rebuild I'll likely crate it up and off to him it goes.