Oil drain plug stripped.

Red335i · 10-28-2017, 09:38 AM

I did the first oil change after the dealer did the last five. Took out the drain plug ( very hard to wrench off) and it was covered with metal shavings/threads. I let the oil drain and took a look at the threads. They seemed fine, nothing out of the ordinary. Put the new drain plug in and now the plug keeps spinning. Does anyone have any ideas on a fix besides a new pan.

schnell325 · 10-28-2017, 10:32 AM

Would a tap and die set work on the oil pan threads?

Jaymax85 · 10-28-2017, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schnell325

Would a tap and die set work on the oil pan threads?

No the pans are very thin, u need to replace the pan unfortunately.. happened to me on my first f82..

Red335i · 10-28-2017, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HELLOimJ

No the pans are very thin, u need to replace the pan unfortunately.. happened to me on my first f82..

Can you disclose the cost. Parts & labor.

Jaymax85 · 10-28-2017, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red335i

Can you disclose the cost. Parts & labor.

parts were like 1300-1500 online
no labor as I had a buddy with a shop help me but its a lot of work, id expect 1000 for labor

pricey

Red335i · 10-28-2017, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HELLOimJ

parts were like 1300-1500 online
no labor as I had a buddy with a shop help me but its a lot of work, id expect 1000 for labor

pricey

Ok. Thanks.

Killed by Death · 10-28-2017, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HELLOimJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red335i

Can you disclose the cost. Parts & labor.

parts were like 1300-1500 online
no labor as I had a buddy with a shop help me but its a lot of work, id expect 1000 for labor

pricey

Wow, that is pricey

:

parabmw · 10-28-2017, 12:04 PM

I never had this problem on my 335.
Why? Is this a common problem on M?
Rethiking doing extra oil changes.

Fast4d · 10-28-2017, 12:21 PM

problem are the trained monkeys doing oil changes at the stealers.

MRV99 · 10-28-2017, 12:55 PM

I have change fluids in my cars so many times, I can do it in my sleep but for BMW's I always pay the dealer for all fluid changes except brake fluid(run SRF for track days and done yearly). Why??? specifically for issues like this and other warranty issues. The wife's x5 was burning a QT of oil every 500-600 miles. Bmw balked at the warranty valve guide seals at 51k miles at the 4year mark. Until they saw the 9 oil changes done on the X (which I paid for 5 if them) the gladly did it cause they know it was not due to neglect. So 625$ saved me 13k. If I did those outside the dealer, I don't think I would have been this lucky.

Jaymax85 · 10-28-2017, 02:00 PM

I think my dealer overtightened and stripped the bolt during the previous oil change.. when I did an extra oil change it did the same thing as OP. I was SOL as I couldn't prove the dealer did anything. The pan comes from Germany and takes a couple weeks. I think the aluminum on the pan is very weak

Red335i · 10-28-2017, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HELLOimJ

I think my dealer overtightened and stripped the bolt during the previous oil change.. when I did an extra oil change it did the same thing as OP. I was SOL as I couldn't prove the dealer did anything. The pan comes from Germany and takes a couple weeks. I think the aluminum on the pan is very weak

I agree! In my research I found a insert kit for this. I will try it out before I go the oil pan route.

chrisjguzman · 10-28-2017, 02:58 PM

Try these http://www.timesert.com/html/drainplug.html

Red335i · 10-28-2017, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjguzman

Try these http://www.timesert.com/html/drainplug.html

Yes...that is exactly what i found in my research. Thanks!

Draper · 10-28-2017, 04:04 PM

Are you over mileage, or why did you decide to DIY it this time?

Red335i · 10-28-2017, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draper

Are you over mileage, or why did you decide to DIY it this time?

58k, Last oil change was at about 48k.

logicalunit · 10-29-2017, 02:34 PM

Same here. At 30K km's, the 3rd 'official' oil change at a BMW dealership, they screwed it up. And they even charged me for the repair! They were able to tap a new thread tho. I really like my car, but I lost my trust in BMW dealerships since none was able to do the simplest of tasks properly.

jww///95 · 10-31-2017, 07:00 PM

The early year of so of the f8x cars had the magnesium oil pans with the non reusable drain plugs. The later cars have the steel pans with the normal steel drain plugs. If the latter seems that it's going to at least be a cheaper fix as the pan is way less $.

Forget the timeserts - it's a hack. The steel pans don't typically have enough material anyway to salvage if you want to cut new threads either for the timesert or a larger size drain plug.

FirstF80InSpace · 11-01-2017, 01:28 PM

If the dealership fucked up my oil pan threads and tried to charge me for it, I would go Planet of the Apes shit on them.

Jaymax85 · 11-01-2017, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstF80InSpace

If the dealership fucked up my oil pan threads and tried to charge me for it, I would go Planet of the Apes shit on them.

I bet u they said it was already like that when u took it in

Caliboy951 · 11-02-2017, 07:49 PM

I'm pretty sure the drain plug is stainless steel and the oil pan is cast aluminum and you must be extremely careful not to strip those soft aluminum threads!!!!

Take it from me...always have the dealer change your oil just for that exact reason!!! I know because I did it to my M5!

MbohrerM4 · 08-17-2020, 11:27 AM

I realize this is an older thread, but has anyone tried the Timesert thread repair system? I'm in the same situation now where they tried to fix the problem with an oversized plug, but it still leaks.

10-28-2017, 09:38 AM	#1
Red335i Second Lieutenant 420 Rep 206 Posts Drives: 16 f82 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New york iTrader: (0)	Oil drain plug stripped. I did the first oil change after the dealer did the last five. Took out the drain plug ( very hard to wrench off) and it was covered with metal shavings/threads. I let the oil drain and took a look at the threads. They seemed fine, nothing out of the ordinary. Put the new drain plug in and now the plug keeps spinning. Does anyone have any ideas on a fix besides a new pan.
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10-28-2017, 10:32 AM	#2
schnell325 Bored at work.... 1143 Rep 5,657 Posts Drives: 2016 F82 M4 GTS Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Comox Valley iTrader: (8)	Would a tap and die set work on the oil pan threads? __________________ Grey Matter:2008 E92 M3:608/425. SOLD! Dark Matter:2015 F80 M3:495/505. SOLD! Anti Matter:2016 F82 M4 GTS Light Grey Matter:2025 G20 M340i xDrive
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10-28-2017, 12:04 PM	#8
parabmw Major 186 Rep 1,038 Posts Drives: 2018 m4 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: canada iTrader: (0)	I never had this problem on my 335. Why? Is this a common problem on M? Rethiking doing extra oil changes.
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10-28-2017, 12:21 PM	#9
Fast4d Captain 272 Rep 884 Posts Drives: 325 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: So cal iTrader: (0)	problem are the trained monkeys doing oil changes at the stealers.
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10-28-2017, 12:55 PM	#10
MRV99 Major 257 Rep 1,067 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 ZCP / 2017 RRS SC Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Illinois iTrader: (1) Garage List 2017 BMW M3 ZCP [0.00]	I have change fluids in my cars so many times, I can do it in my sleep but for BMW's I always pay the dealer for all fluid changes except brake fluid(run SRF for track days and done yearly). Why??? specifically for issues like this and other warranty issues. The wife's x5 was burning a QT of oil every 500-600 miles. Bmw balked at the warranty valve guide seals at 51k miles at the 4year mark. Until they saw the 9 oil changes done on the X (which I paid for 5 if them) the gladly did it cause they know it was not due to neglect. So 625$ saved me 13k. If I did those outside the dealer, I don't think I would have been this lucky. __________________ 17 M3 ZCP -- 2017 Range Rover Sport SC --RIP-- 12 X5 50i Sport -- 11 M3 DCT -- 2011 X5 50i(Lemon) -- 2008 550 Msport -- 2007 x5 4.8 sport -- 2004 545 sport -- 2002 x5 4.4 sport -- 2001 540i Msport 2000 SL500 -- 1997 SL500
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10-28-2017, 02:00 PM	#11
Jaymax85 Addicted to Speed. 719 Rep 2,375 Posts Drives: m3 zcp, macan GTS, f15 x5 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: 'Murica iTrader: (5)	I think my dealer overtightened and stripped the bolt during the previous oil change.. when I did an extra oil change it did the same thing as OP. I was SOL as I couldn't prove the dealer did anything. The pan comes from Germany and takes a couple weeks. I think the aluminum on the pan is very weak __________________ 2017 991.2s 2015 F15 35i 2017 Macan gts
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10-28-2017, 02:58 PM	#13
chrisjguzman Corner Hunter 114 Rep 126 Posts Drives: 2016 YMB F80 ,04 Vw turbo R32, Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Santa Clara Ca./ Las Vegas Nv. iTrader: (0)	Try these http://www.timesert.com/html/drainplug.html __________________ 2016 YMB F80 FatCat Motorsports Elite 2004 Vw Turbo.:R32 Streetwerke GT620+ 1999 K2500 Suburban 2001 YZF R1
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10-28-2017, 04:04 PM	#15
Draper Brigadier General 3566 Rep 3,981 Posts Drives: Frozen Dark Grey M4 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Denver iTrader: (39)	Are you over mileage, or why did you decide to DIY it this time?
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10-29-2017, 02:34 PM	#17
logicalunit Private First Class 59 Rep 140 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Overseas iTrader: (0)	Same here. At 30K km's, the 3rd 'official' oil change at a BMW dealership, they screwed it up. And they even charged me for the repair! They were able to tap a new thread tho. I really like my car, but I lost my trust in BMW dealerships since none was able to do the simplest of tasks properly.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-31-2017, 07:00 PM	#18
jww///95 Lieutenant 72 Rep 444 Posts Drives: f31xd \| f80m3 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: TX iTrader: (5)	The early year of so of the f8x cars had the magnesium oil pans with the non reusable drain plugs. The later cars have the steel pans with the normal steel drain plugs. If the latter seems that it's going to at least be a cheaper fix as the pan is way less $. Forget the timeserts - it's a hack. The steel pans don't typically have enough material anyway to salvage if you want to cut new threads either for the timesert or a larger size drain plug.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-01-2017, 01:28 PM	#19
FirstF80InSpace ///M You 347 Rep 619 Posts Drives: 2019 Porsche 718 Cayman S Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	If the dealership fucked up my oil pan threads and tried to charge me for it, I would go Planet of the Apes shit on them.
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11-02-2017, 07:49 PM	#21
Caliboy951 Second Lieutenant 214 Rep 297 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: So Cal iTrader: (1)	I'm pretty sure the drain plug is stainless steel and the oil pan is cast aluminum and you must be extremely careful not to strip those soft aluminum threads!!!! Take it from me...always have the dealer change your oil just for that exact reason!!! I know because I did it to my M5!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-17-2020, 11:27 AM	#22
MbohrerM4 New Member 6 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2016 black F83 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (0)	I realize this is an older thread, but has anyone tried the Timesert thread repair system? I'm in the same situation now where they tried to fix the problem with an oversized plug, but it still leaks.
	Appreciate 1 Pzudnut4.50 Quote