welcome aboard!!! nice ride

Nice car!

I like the LTW wheels on your E36, too. Nice choice!

Finally, some pictures worth viewing!

Welcome, Alan!

Hey Jared!

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone,

I changed the oil tonight only to find a stripped drain plug! Thanks PO :mad:

I'm now searching for a replacement lower oil pan :(

Also, in an effort to find any other leaks, I took the skid plate off, is it ok to drive like this? I'm assuming the plate only offers some rigidity, but isn't structurally critical... :dunno:

not bad, most people are scared of buying an X after 100k because of the 100k expensive service to refresh the drive line. good luck.

I don't think you NEED the skid plate on there. You need oil, though! Did you tap new threads in?

Hey crisscross, you didnt happen to buy that x5 in Sparks NV did you?

Instead of buying a new pan, see if you can fix the thread with a helicoil or timesert. Second option is to go to a welder, and weld on an new nut.

The metal skidplate holds your swaybars in place at the same time. It is a structural component to the car. Not only that, but when you put it on, you need to use new bolts. They are one time use, and torque to yield.

No, it holds tight enough that I won't worry until I replace it. I should have a replacement part within a week or so.

Yeah I did...Why, did you look at it too?

I don't think it holds anything on the v8's, there were no sway bar links attached to it. I will look into the bolts too, thanks

You see the V8 that I have, look in my cig. I am sure it holds the sway bar.