Broken Oil Drain Plug

[vegasX5]

Originally Posted by JCL

So the aftermarket oil drain plug turns out to be a downgrade rather than an upgrade. Might be a plan for anybody with one to take it out and throw it away, anecdotally that appears to be a pretty high failure rate.

Interestingly I just received mine from ECS a few weeks back when I ordered several things all at once, so it actually looks like it will not get installed when I do my next oil change! Glad I clicked on the thread!

[tonycajjo]

looks like yous guys are over tightening the plug. 10 Nm or 7.5 ft pounds of torque.

[HPIA4v2]

Originally Posted by tonycajjo

looks like yous guys are over tightening the plug. 10 Nm or 7.5 ft pounds of torque.

I have a feeling it's a combo fo both, weak plug and over-tightening. In any rate is that magnet thing works, I own so many cars over the years and none of them have any magnetic plug.

[jattdipasand]

Over tightening it definitely. Same thing happened to me once. Just use a flat head screwdriver & press it hard against the remaining part of the bolt & unscrew it. If required you can tap the flat head screw driver to make a small groove on the cast iron & then unscrew it. GL

[1stE53]

I would send this link to ECS as proof. I have never, in all my years, broken one of these.

[synct]

Guys, the OEM oil plug is hollow for a reason. If you use a solid metal plug and torque it too tight, you risk ruining your oil pan, which is about a $1,500 replacement. The OEM one should be replaced every 3 oil changes and will break if you do it for more than that. However, better to break an oil plug for $10 than a $1,500 oil pan!

Do yourself a favor and change your oil plug with a hollow one, which will break far before the oil pan socket will!!!!

[hunds02]

The ECS drain plug is crap. Its much lighter in weight and my guess is that it is Aluminum. I didn't even try to use it once I held it in my hand, it just didn't seem safe to use when comparing to the oem plug. Obviously you can't use the BMW recommended torque ratings on this bolt since it will snap off at 25N*m. My advice is to stick with the oem bolt and save yourself the trouble and cost.

[SlickGT1]

Ha, another aftermarket BS made in china lowest bidder part.

[bumere90]

over tightening an OEM bolt will NOT cause that
ECS bolts are crap

[mgbmwx5]

So where is ECS when you have an issue with their parts?