[robnhod]

A little backround to get started. I bought a 97 ti a few months ago with 140K on it. I ran it for about 6k miles and one day it died coming back from lunch. Coasted it to a parking lot and noticed the temp gauge pegged. Towed the car home and started to diagnose the problem. This is my second ti and I had blown the plastic coolant hose on the first one. I figured there was a good chance that this was my problem again. When I filled the radiator to try and find the leak, I got a check engine light for cylinder #2. Pulled the plug and noticed coolant in the cylinder. Blown head gasket! Read up on it I decided I was gonna attempt to replace the head gasket on my own. After finding some work arounds for not having BMW special tools (ask me if you have any questions about these) I got the head and cams off. First thing next morning, I take the head to the machine shop for pressure test and resurface. As I head to the machine shop, I have one nagging question......there's no rear coolant hose on the back of the head! After a little research, I realize someone has put an M42 head on my M44 block. By the time i realize this, the machinist is already working on my head. I've already purchased head gasket kit, coolant hoses, thermostat, ect. My question is what are my best options. I've seen a lot of people asking about M42 heads on M44 blocks, but no one who has done it. Is it worth putting it back together, do i try and find a M44 head and sell this one, is this the reason my head gasket blew? I'm a new member of this forum, but have viewed the website in the past because of all the great information you guys provide. Any help/suggestions are welcome. Rich