Ugh! Oil drain plug is stuck!!

[doublevanosrc]

So I went to my local dealer to get a "between interval" oil change before the holiday weekend. After waiting for a while i was informed of a "problem". Feeling a bit nervous I was escorted to the service bay and shown that the oil drain plug is too tight and won't come out. Another BMW center did the last oil change so I guess they used an impact tool or something because after 2 turns it just won't budge. The service tech said he didn't want to risk damaging the oil pan threads so he recommended I contact the other dealer.

I plan to contact them but I'm assuming they won't play ball and deflect blame on something else. Anyone have any experience in successfully retracting the plug without damaging the oil pan?? Any help is highly appreciated.

[NorthernDancer]

"after 2 turns it just won't budge". I'm confused, can you elaborate. If it's turning but won't come out then threads are stripped already.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by NorthernDancer

"after 2 turns it just won't budge". I'm confused, can you elaborate. If it's turning but won't come out then threads are stripped already.

Maybe he meant after 2 tries?

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by NorthernDancer

"after 2 turns it just won't budge". I'm confused, can you elaborate. If it's turning but won't come out then threads are stripped already.

The tech showed me and he turned it about 2 times with his fingers and it stopped wouldn't go any further . Maybe he didn't put enough pep into it?? He tighten it back up and I was on my way.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Maybe he meant after 2 tries?

He loosen it with a socket wrench and it was loose. He was able to turn the plug twice before it stopped. The plug stuck out a little you could see some of the threads, washer and a little oil dripped out. He swore it wouldn't go any further without really overpowering it. To tighten it back up all he had to do was crank the socket wrench in the other direction twice you know crink crink?

[Ric in RVA]

Back it out and use a timesert repair.

https://www.amazon.com/TIME-SERT-1-5.../dp/B003SER3PA

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

Back it out and use a timesert repair.

https://www.amazon.com/TIME-SERT-1-5.../dp/B003SER3PA

Good find, however, using these tools is a bit above my skill set. I was planning on taking it to the original dealer and let them fix it but that worries me a bit. Gonna reach out to a local indy see if they have any experience with this.

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Good find, however, using these tools is a bit above my skill set. I was planning on taking it to the original dealer and let them fix it but that worries me a bit. Gonna reach out to a local indy see if they have any experience with this.

Common repair. Bet the dealer has the tools. Don't let them use a Helicoil.

[Mr Rooty Von Tooty]

The other shop cross threaded it. It came out a couple of turns because a couple of threads were stripped out already. The slight leak is the clue.

You'll have to see if there is a repair kit for the stripped threads:

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...0in%20aluminum

I don't think the dealer will do this kind of repair. They'll probably want to replace the pan!

[Esteban]

Since the other dealer did it they should be responsible for all costs if a repair/replacement is needed, yes?

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by Mr Rooty Von Tooty

I don't think the dealer will do this kind of repair. They'll probably want to replace the pan!

I bet so far they haven't returned my phone calls yet. I called a well know local indy and he has dealt with this issue many times citing it as a bad design by BMW. He can take care of it with the timesert repair or helicoil for $150. We spoke for like 15 minutes about this and some other BMW issues he really seems to know what he's talking about. I called the dealer again this morning and so far no call back. I will give them til Friday if not I will just go the indy shop.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Since the other dealer did it they should be responsible for all costs if a repair/replacement is needed, yes?

One would think but so far I can't even get a Service advisor on the phone.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

Common repair. Bet the dealer has the tools. Don't let them use a Helicoil.

Why not?

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

One would think but so far I can't even get a Service advisor on the phone.

You should aggressively pursue this and do whatever it takes to get this resolved. Contact the service manager, or contact BMWNA if he doesn't assume responsibility and authorize the work needed to correct this.

[Tommm]

How many people can pass the buck for something you didn't do. if you never went under the car, someone other than you screwed the pooch. Someone other than you should fix it. Now its up to you to decide if getting someone to fix it is worth $150 of your time, or if you eat the $150.

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by Tommm

How many people can pass the buck for something you didn't do. if you never went under the car, someone other than you screwed the pooch. Someone other than you should fix it. Now its up to you to decide if getting someone to fix it is worth $150 of your time, or if you eat the $150.

Well that's something I'm thinking about, the dealer that screwed it up is an hour away. Just called for the 3rd time and was promised again that a manager would call back. A quick search on yelp reveals very bad customer reviews I guess it all makes sense now. I hate to drive an hour only to have them deflect blame and refuse to fix their mistake.

[KNS]

Sorry for your troubles. First off - stop going to dealers. Your warranty won't be affected one bit as long as you follow the prescribed maintenance until the warranty period is over (either you do the maintenance or have an indy do it). Keep a record and receipts.

Find a good BMW indy, many of them have a much broader experience base than your typical dealer. I prefer to do all the work myself to avoid problems like you're having.

If I were in your shoes I would chalk it up to a learning experience, forget the dealer and have a good mechanic fix the pan. He doesn't even have to be a BMW tech, a race shop would be an excellent choice and an easy fix for them.

I purchased a new BMW once and never let the dealer lay a hand on it, did it all myself. I just don't trust them.

[JimD]

I think you are following the right path. Try to get the dealer to address their mistake and, if they won't, don't pay them to fix it, take it elsewhere.

Helicoil type repairs are not without risk. When you cut the threads for the insert you risk getting metal shavings into the oil pan. So I would not do it unless it is stripped, but it sounds like it is. The only way to find out that I know of is to remove it. It should come out, even if more force is required than normal, but there may be not enough threads to seal once the old plug is out.

I've changed a lot of cars oil. I used to participate in a free oil change event for single women at the church we used to belong to. I would do 30-40 in a day. It wasn't unusual for cars to have threads which bound up during removal somewhat. It means they had damaged threads but they often sealed OK. Based upon that experience, I think it is also possible the dealer who did the damage will tell you that nothing is wrong. Or that nothing is wrong enough that a repair is necessary. If it doesn't leak, I would probably concur. I wouldn't put a helicoil in unless it can't be torqued to BMW's specs or leaks.

[The Wind Breezes]

You need a new oil pan tell the dealer that fucked it up to do it and raise a fuss if necessary.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

I bet so far they haven't returned my phone calls yet. I called a well know local indy and he has dealt with this issue many times citing it as a bad design by BMW. He can take care of it with the timesert repair or helicoil for $150. We spoke for like 15 minutes about this and some other BMW issues he really seems to know what he's talking about. I called the dealer again this morning and so far no call back. I will give them til Friday if not I will just go the indy shop.

Sounds like you have found yourself a new mechanic. I would have him repair the car. Then send the repair bill registered mail to the Service manager and that's dealer's GM, Hopefully that will get their attention. Perhaps also give them a review on Yelp and the BBB for that area.

I really don't understand why the dealer you went to for the oil change couldn't fix the car with a timesert and/or a tap. I guess most mechanic's these days can't seem to fix a car unless they have a "code". The good old-school mechanics are a fading away. Worse case scenario is you will need a new oil pan. But a new drain plug and a tap/time-sert will probably fix your oil pan.

Dack

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Why not?

All the fluid retaining Heli coils I have run across leak.

HC is a spring. Time Sert is a solid insert that is swaged into place.

HC is great for stripped threads that don't hold back fluid in my opinion/ experience.

[Mr Rooty Von Tooty]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

I bet so far they haven't returned my phone calls yet. I called a well know local indy and he has dealt with this issue many times citing it as a bad design by BMW. He can take care of it with the timesert repair or helicoil for $150. We spoke for like 15 minutes about this and some other BMW issues he really seems to know what he's talking about. I called the dealer again this morning and so far no call back. I will give them til Friday if not I will just go the indy shop.

I wouldn't go to this Indy! It isn't a bad design. One has to use some patience and carefully hand thread the plug in. The shop was in a hurry and cross threaded it.

Nearly all engines have aluminum pans today to save weight and dissipate heat better. Some shops use the dumb guys for this routine work a bad idea!