99 or 200O, 323, 2.5 (M52TUB25) or 2.8 (M52TUB28) motor

DEAR FELLOW ROUNDEL FOLLOWERS,

FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, I’VEHAD MY 2000 323IT, 5M, SPORT PKG, (NOW WITH 121K). EVERY DAY I DRIVE IT, IT ALTERNATELY MAKES ME SMILE FOR ITS NO BS DESIGN, HANDLING, PERFORMANCE, OR PRACTICALITY. SO FAR THIS YEAR, I HAVE HAD A BAD COMBINATION OF SEVERE BACK PAIN (DIMINISHED ATTENTIVE POWERS) AND 3 DIFFERENT OVERHEATING PROBLEMS.

I JUST LEARNED MY HEADGASKET IS NOW TOAST!

SOME OF YOU ALREADY KNOW, THE TERRAIN IS A LITTLE STEEP AND THE ODDS ARE A LITTLE LONG, AS I NEED A GOOD 6 CYL MOTOR FROM JUST A 1999 OR 2000, 323I, T, OR C, 2.5 = M52TUB25. I MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE A MOTOR FROM A 328 = M52TUB28 IF THE CA SMOG GODS CAN BE APPEASED.

LIKE THE REST OF US, I HAVE SPENT A BUNCH OF TIME AND MONEY ON THE UPKEEP OF THIS PLUCKY AND ADORABLE SPECIAL NEEDS KID, AND NOW S/HE IS LOST IN THE WOODS. CAN YOU HELP WITH THE SEARCH?

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION LEADING TO THE RECOVERY OF AN ENGINE FOR MY TITANIUM SILVER METALLIC ADOPTED RELATIVE, I WILL PAY A REWARD.

THANKS FOR READING,

GARY, Ph.D, ret.