Stripped Oil Pan Drain Hole!!!
 

I found out that after all my oil changes the oil pan drain hole is stripped, the plug is still good. any suggestions for repair?????? Thanks!!

I don't know what might be your BEST option but I bet they make replacement plugs (self-tapping) just for these situations.

I'll ask the Indy I use and see what they say.

If you are speaking of the drain plug in the oil filter canister... I would just buy a whole new canister w/plug from BMW. They are not very expensive.

Pretty sure he is talking about the threads in the oil pan (bottom of engine) where you drain the oil. Not the oil filter housing in the engine bay. The filter housing is not cheap by the way. Expect to pay over $300 for the part alone. A new oil pan should be cheaper than that.

May have to Helicoil it.

:iagree:

Or Timesert. Link here: Time-Sert Stripped Drain Plug Repair Kit


Don't bother using a modified/expanded drain plug, fix it properly. And then use a torque wrench to tighten it in future.

The thicher aluminum part of the pan where the plug goes might have enough room to drill/tap for a bigger plug, but your best bet other than replacing the pan might still be the time-sert repair. It is essentially the same concept as heilicoil, but a little better design.

I went to perform the first oil change on my M3 the other day and and found out the previous owner over tightened the drain plug which in turn stripped my oil pan. I can say that I was completely off the mark in my prior post where I said the oil pan should be cheaper than the filter housing. I was quoted from about $500-$650 for the pan itself and $1,200-$1,700 for parts and labor! Needless to say I am going to have my shop try the Timesert first. At $175, it seems like a no-brainer. FWIW, all of the indy-BMW shops I spoke with recommend the Timesert over the Helicoil.

JCL & Seth are right on: for pans, Time-Sert is the deal, imo.

Wow that's insane! It almost makes me want to add that to the checklist of stuff you look at before buying a car!