Oil pan woes

JV · #1 10-31-2005, 09:42 PM

Window regulator went out over the weekend, and I was close to the edit on the green service lights, so I told the dealer to go ahead and take care of the oil service. I get a call tonight saying that the oil drain plug hole is stripped out. Needs a new oil pan. Cost? Only $190 for the part and 3 hours labor. That's about $500 bones. Yeesh.

Maybe one of you guys here can answer this:

If I was underneath a car, doing the oil change and noticed that the drain plug hole was stripped, and the car had less than 100K on the odometer, I'd drill a larger hole and tap it and get a larger plug. Cost about $5. Why would that not be a good idea?

JV

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X5Ghost · #2 10-31-2005, 09:48 PM

If you've always had the stealer change your oil, then they are the only ones who touch the screw and the only ones that could have striped it!! wouldn't you think? A screw doesn't strip by itself !! the only other thing is it came like this from the factroy! Either way, the Stealer needs to eat the cost IMO ...

JV · #3 10-31-2005, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X5Ghost

If you've always had the stealer change your oil, then they are the only ones who touch the screw and the only ones that could have striped it!! wouldn't you think? A screw doesn't strip by itself !! the only other thing is it came like this from the factroy! Either way, the Stealer needs to eat the cost IMO ...

Unfortunately, I changed the oil last time, the first time since I bought it (i'm the 2nd owner), but I torqued it to BMW spec. I am going to ask to see the oil pan if they replace it. Just wondering why it can't be re-tapped with a slightly larger plug?

JV

SANguru · #4 10-31-2005, 10:27 PM

Sears make specific bits for loosening stripped bolts.. might wanna try that route.

drex · #5 10-31-2005, 10:33 PM

yes

use a rethreader and larger bolt or a helicoil.

http://www.toolsource.com/ost/result...googlehelicoil

i wouldn't replace the oil pan just for that.

drex · #6 10-31-2005, 10:37 PM

http://faq.f650.com/FAQs/Sump_Plug_FAQ.htm

from the bmw bike side of things.

its a DIY.

Rob_ · #7 10-31-2005, 10:47 PM

JV,

I have used a time-sert on stripped oil drain plugs. Save the customer from having to buy a new oil pan. $30 for the time-sert insert and new BMW drain plug plus 1hr labor. I would ask if they have time-serts but Im sure the answer is no since they are quoting you a new oil pan.

Rob_

JV · #8 10-31-2005, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob_

JV,

I have used a time-sert on stripped oil drain plugs. Save the customer from having to buy a new oil pan. $30 for the time-sert insert and new BMW drain plug plus 1hr labor. I would ask if they have time-serts but Im sure the answer is no since they are quoting you a new oil pan.

Rob_

I had a stripped oil plug once on my Malibu, and I re-holed and retapped it. I can't think of why, with a relatively decent oil pan on a 4 year old vehicle, they'd immediately go for a new oil pan as the only fix

Maybe it's the old techs vs. mechanics thing, but I ain't even gonna get into that.

I am gonna try to get them to do as you suggested, maybe they'll be more amenable to that.

JV

Rob_ · #9 10-31-2005, 11:13 PM

Here is some info on the time sert http://www.timesert.com/html/mtrcsert.html

Rob_

Tomaz · #10 11-01-2005, 12:20 AM

I'm not sure I'd trust my engine to an insert. I agree with X5Ghost, if the dealer broke it, he should fix it. Properly torqued drain plugs do not strip, unless they cross threaded it. I've changed oil on aluminum oil pans on a few 250K BMW engines without ever stripping one.

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