This damn car...

[bmwlover0725]

I apologize for the vague thread name, but I don't know what else to say. I love this car, but theres a problem at every turn sometimes. I decided to do my own oil change simply since I've barely worked on cars in the last several years and figured I'd enjoy it for once.

I got the first drain plug off with a ton of force, but no problem (not sure who changed my oil last, but they sucked at tightening properly). I moved to the rearmost plug and stripped it almost immediately. I then tried going into it with another slightly larger socket which stripped it as well.

Obviously I don't want to damage it further and will send it to the dealer, but is this the classic oil pan hole damage that I've been hearing about? I really don't need to run into this nightmare if I can help it. For the record, the plug is still in rock solid. No dripping at the moment.

[m3_tristan]

So the hex stripped? The common problem is the actual threads on the pan strip.

[Wally1552]

This exact same thing happened to me. Here is what you can try. First try to lightly tap in a slightly larger hex socket to get the drain plug loose. If that doesn't work go to an auto parts store and get one of these https://www.amazon.com/Extractor-Str.../dp/B07GZ17QD9

Worked like a charm for me.
Then when I installed the new plug I made sure it was just hand tightened. Best of luck.

[bmwlover0725]

Originally Posted by Wally1552

This exact same thing happened to me. Here is what you can try. First try to lightly tap in a slightly larger hex socket to get the drain plug loose. If that doesn't work go to an auto parts store and get one of these https://www.amazon.com/Extractor-Str.../dp/B07GZ17QD9

Worked like a charm for me.
Then when I installed the new plug I made sure it was just hand tightened. Best of luck.

All of my screw extractors are stuck because we are in the middle of a move but I might give a new set a try before bringing it to the dealer. Thanks!

[SYT_Shadow]

There is no problem with the oil pan design of the car.

Complaining like it's the car's fault that some jackass overtightened the crap out of yours and broke it is like blaming a car for blowing a tire when you go over a pothole

[Mdriv3r]

Originally Posted by bmwlover0725

All of my screw extractors are stuck because we are in the middle of a move but I might give a new set a try before bringing it to the dealer. Thanks!

Use the extractor. Then when retightening your new bolts, use the proper torque spec, which is 25nm. Make sure you use the proper spec for everything on the car. Itll make services go easier and takes all guess work out. There is a common torque specs thread and that will be of great use on future projects as well. Go to the dealer as your last resort. But know that if nothing else works, they will get you sorted for sure.

[pbonsalb]

Be thankful the head is stripped rather than the threads. A new drain plug is cheap.

[BPMSport]

Probably another Jiffy Lube special. We had a 328 come in last year with a stripped pan that was then JBWelded shut. That was a fun one. No one ever pays attention to the torque specs, BMW has tightening torque specs on nearly everything. Yesterday a car came in pouring oil out of the oil filter housing. Had some Korean filter with a junk seal. The problem is there is a huge lack of work ethic and personal responsibility for a job performed these days. It's all about in and out as quickly as possible which just causes more problems and time wasted down in the end. Do it right or don't do it at all. Plus people always want to safe a few bucks and go with lower quality aftermarket parts. But yeah, a stripped head is a complete win compared to stripping the pan threads - you're actually lucky.

[bmwlover0725]

Originally Posted by BPMSport

Probably another Jiffy Lube special. We had a 328 come in last year with a stripped pan that was then JBWelded shut. That was a fun one. No one ever pays attention to the torque specs, BMW has tightening torque specs on nearly everything. Yesterday a car came in pouring oil out of the oil filter housing. Had some Korean filter with a junk seal. The problem is there is a huge lack of work ethic and personal responsibility for a job performed these days. It's all about in and out as quickly as possible which just causes more problems and time wasted down in the end. Do it right or don't do it at all. Plus people always want to safe a few bucks and go with lower quality aftermarket parts. But yeah, a stripped head is a complete win compared to stripping the pan threads - you're actually lucky.

Yeah I'd definitely consider myself lucky here. I'll be bringing it to a shop who I partner with for work who I know has some of the best tech's in the area. They're an hour away, but I have to be there Monday anyway. I'll bring my oil and everything and just have them do it for me. Better safe than sorry and I've already made a mess of the hole so I'm worried that it may have to be drilled which isn't ideal. I'll post an update once I have one. Thanks everyone for your input!

[Ngilbe36]

Just another reason to do your own oil changes.

[bmwlover0725]

Originally Posted by Ngilbe36

Just another reason to do your own oil changes.

Very true. This is why I always did my own work on everything, but I got lazy once I had my rod bearings done. It felt great to just pick my car up and have it ready to drive without cuts all over my hands and being filthy when I have to shake peoples hands on a Monday after my long weekend of grease work.

Just made my appointment. If anyone has a time sert, it's these guys. I know I may not need it, but I did it to be on the safe side. This isn't a job I want done at Joe Smith's Garage.

[ATLIEN]

Sorry to hear that. I went down that path with another car and that experience alone as well as what to do with the old oil just makes me take it to the dealer. With my BMW CCA discount and dealer coupons, i'm out the door for $195. Not bad for a once a year oil change.

[CSL V8]

try a similarly sized torx headed bit. I did that on my car and it worked fine.

[bmwlover0725]

Originally Posted by CSL V8

try a similarly sized torx headed bit. I did that on my car and it worked fine.

Tried that as well. Even tried jamming an 7mm torx bit in which worked but that stripped too. It's like seized. I think they're going to need a torch for it. The other one was super tight, but it broke free easily. I'm pretty sure this was the guy at BMW who did my rod bearings

[doogee]

A lot of the time, stripping fasteners has a lot to do with using shitty tools that have poor tolerances and fit too loosely.

[Ngilbe36]

This wouldn't happen if BMW would just use a cast iron oil pan. Jeesh. Who cares about weight anyway. /s

18ft/lbs is basically nothing. People need to stop cranking on these things.

[MechEngineer408]

Hit the drain plug with some PB Blaster and let it sit overnight. Might make it easer to get out for whoever ends up doing it.

[Evo13]

Similar thing happened to me when I did my first oil change on my new to me M3, the drain bolt wouldn't tighten, it kept spinning but it held. I was too paranoid I would hit a bump and oil would pour out so I ultimately decided to take it in to get my rod bearings changed and have a new pan swapped in since they are dropping it.

Timesert looks a great option if you can extract the seized bolt. Saw few guides on the forum and I feel confident enough to try it out on my old oil pan when I get the time to do it.

[0_to_60]

I had the same thing happen to mine. I hammered in a torx45 and it stripped more. So i did it again by hammering it in harder, this time it got it off.. The trick is to hammer it in good, use a short stubby ratchet and by holding the torx socket with ur hand pushed against the plug then slowly loosing it..

[bmwlover0725]

Originally Posted by 0_to_60

I had the same thing happen to mine. I hammered in a torx45 and it stripped more. So i did it again by hammering it in harder, this time it got it off.. The trick is to hammer it in good, use a short stubby ratchet and by holding the torx socket with ur hand pushed against the plug then slowly loosing it..

This is literally exactly what happened. I jacked the car up more and drove it in harder after stripping it once and it came out! No need for my appointment tomorrow now.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by bmwlover0725

This is literally exactly what happened. I jacked the car up more and drove it in harder after stripping it once and it came out! No need for my appointment tomorrow now.

Jeez that must have been a nice feeling! And the plug thread was still ok?

Changed the oil myself first time last Autumn. Been too lazy till now but will start do things myself just to make sure no crap hidden. .....just to find out the bloody shop has been too cheap to replace plugs... a new plug os $3, wtf?? Insert close to stripped but came out, puh.

[bmwlover0725]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Jeez that must have been a nice feeling! And the plug thread was still ok?

Changed the oil myself first time last Autumn. Been too lazy till now but will start do things myself just to make sure no crap hidden. .....just to find out the bloody shop has been too cheap to replace plugs... a new plug os $3, wtf?? Insert close to stripped but came out, puh.

Plug thread was completely fine. Surprisingly NAPA had a brass plug so I got two of them.