Broken Oil Drain Plug
 

Greetings all,

Found myself in a kinda bad situation. So I went through the usual steps in doing an oil change when after all oil was drained, filter canister cleaned, new filter ready when I go to re-install the plug and boom:
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...10514-1937.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...10514-1937.jpg

There goes the head of the drain plug. Has this ever happen so anyone? If so, what steps did you take to retrieve the other half?

I did.. Using flat head screw driver to turn/ get the other half out.. Head to autozone.. Tell them you need new oil plug.

Thanks Tom. I managed to get it out by drilling a hole to the screw and using an extractor bit. Pain in the ass shit to go through. The oil kit I ordered from ECS brought a new screw and crush washer.

:iagree:
Same thing happened to me when I tried to install the Fumoto drain valve adapter. I used the similar method to get the other half out (I used a hex bit as the flat head didn't provide enough grab for me). I went straight back to the OEM plug after that mishap. Aftermarket plugs appears to use a lower standard (quality) material :(

:iagree: I have nothing against ECS but compared to the OEM plug, theirs is much lighter in weight, also look at the first pic, plug looks to be hollow and possibly could be the reason why it deteriorated faster.

Incredible. The exact same thing happened to my magnetic ECS drain plug a couple of days ago.

I got the oil changed at a quick lube. They were taking forever so I leaned out the window to ask what the problem is. "Uh your drain plug broke, so we are trying to find a new one."

Lucky for them (and myself) I had the OE one in my garage.

My ECS plug broke identically to yours.

The OEM plug is also hollow as well, but have not hear of issues like this with it.

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.

I was so sure that the quick lube guys overtightened the plug or something. But, it just might be that the ECS drain plug was no good. One of the employees had to drive me home to retrieve the OE one.

The magnetic ECS plug might have issues because the magnet appears to run all the way through the plug, but then falls just short at the very end of the head. This leaves only a small hollow chamber at the most vulnerable area of the plug.

Either Way, I do not know why I go to the quick lube places, they charge the same as the dealer, and I brace myself every time I go in for an oil change.

A quick google turned up some other forums mentioning bad aftermarket magnetic plugs too.

my ecs plug also broke after oil change a few mouths back. i called ecs and they said they never heard of any complaints. maybe we should start so maybe they will remake there bolts out of harder metal or something.. what you guys think.....

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!

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.

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

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

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!!!!

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.

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

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

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

lol they obviously don't care

This is not so much directed at ECS, but aftermarket suppliers in general, why not buy an OE drain plug? You can't possibly save that much money over OE and the fact that it is magnetic is all but completely useless in this application. I just don't get it.

I always thought it was hilarious that people with engines that were largely aluminum alloy construction were buying magnetic drain plugs. Sure, the crankshaft is steel, but how many people have had to buy a crankshaft due to chunks falling off of it?

Although BMW engines are largely aluminum alloy construction you still have steel parts within that wear i.e piston rings and steel wall linings, bearings, etc. The point is ECS is as guilty as the manufacturers of cheap Chinese parts, because they knowingly buy cheap stuff that ultimately fail. An aluminum drain plug is not BMW OEM quality IMO.

Makes sense if it is a diff or a transmission or a Briggs and Stratton. Or you could use an oil filter and a pressure lubrication system. Like a modern engine has.