Stripped oil drain plug!

[elim11]

Sucks big time. I was chugging along just laughing at myself at how easy our oil changes are. Was on world record pace to finish and the unthinkable happened. Went to tighten and it just spun.

I am not confident in my ability to fix it so I will most likely be towing it to MRF on Monday morning. Is this an easy, cheap fix. I was hoping to go to acs in Sept and hope this doesn't put a large dent in the wallet.

Is there any recommended upgrade while I'm getting this fixed? Maybe like a baffle etc?

[Kong Sheng Han]

I use this on my E46. You may be able to use it on the E9X as well. I like having the hex head as a backup, and I now replace the plug every oil change to reduce chances of stripping.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...g/11131742994/

[elim11]

Originally Posted by Kong Sheng Han

I use this on my E46. You may be able to use it on the E9X as well. I like having the hex head as a backup, and I now replace the plug every oil change to reduce chances of stripping.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...g/11131742994/

I should have clarified. Not the plug. But the oil pan I bought a new plug at the dealer to be sure and it's the pan

[ThunderMoose]

Originally Posted by elim11

Sucks big time. I was chugging along just laughing at myself at how easy our oil changes are. Was on world record pace to finish and the unthinkable happened. Went to tighten and it just spun.

I am not confident in my ability to fix it so I will most likely be towing it to MRF on Monday morning. Is this an easy, cheap fix. I was hoping to go to acs in Sept and hope this doesn't put a large dent in the wallet.

Is there any recommended upgrade while I'm getting this fixed? Maybe like a baffle etc?

while you have pan off, how about replacing rod bearings?

[1MOREMOD]

Is It leaking now? If you have finished oil change and it isn't wait until next oil change and take it in. I actually did 2 separate oil changes on e46 with a punch and hammer to get out oil and recap.

[///Mobbin]

Pretty sure you can re-tap it to a larger bolt size but not positive. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[///Mobbin]

Fwiw, this is my new drain plug of choice after stripping a few of the soft OEM BMW drain plugs, LINK. Remember to buy 2 at a time, I also like to keep spares around.

[UPSROD]

Time-Sert!

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by elim11

Sucks big time. I was chugging along just laughing at myself at how easy our oil changes are. Was on world record pace to finish and the unthinkable happened. Went to tighten and it just spun.

I am not confident in my ability to fix it so I will most likely be towing it to MRF on Monday morning. Is this an easy, cheap fix. I was hoping to go to acs in Sept and hope this doesn't put a large dent in the wallet.

Is there any recommended upgrade while I'm getting this fixed? Maybe like a baffle etc?

I did the same exact thing you did, stripped the oil pan. I managed to fix it myself with a Time-Sert. The oil pan was stripped so bad that about a quarter of the sidewall of the threading was missing - you could see all the way into he pan.

I'm not a clever man, but by watching videos and by having enough guts to give it a try, I tapped the stripped plug drain myself and installed it no problem. Used blue oil resistant loctite on the insert too.

It's cheap and easy. The expense comes if you don't have the required time sert kit to begin with ($100)

[elim11]

Got it all squared away by Malek @ MRF. Whew, was able to get it time-sert. He Time-sert both drains to prevent this from happening in the future.

[ayao]

Never knew such a thing existed!!