Plug spins freely but will not come out...

Slow.135i · 03-14-2021, 11:25 AM

Hey all!
Changed the plugs on my 135i n55 the other day. Five of the six came out pretty easily. The 6th made me work for it.

At first the plug would not turn more than a full rotation. Put it back together, ran the motor for a few to heat it up, and was able to spin it out about half way but it kept binding up. Sprayed PB Blaster down the chamber and let it sit over 24 hours.

After that I was able to work the plug back and forth and got it freed up. Now the plug is stuck down in the chamber and will not come out. Plug spins freely but no matter what I do I cannot get it to come out. The plug socket I have is magnetic but releases before the plug let’s go. Took a pair of needle nose pliers and try to give it a good tug and no luck. Like I said it spins freely and moves like nothing is holding it in but no luck.

Been working at this for days... Any tips!?

drwillb · 03-14-2021, 01:18 PM

Sounds like the threads got galled/stripped. Ouch.

Slow.135i · 03-14-2021, 01:54 PM

Would you still think that if I said the plug tightens back up like normal?

drwillb · 03-14-2021, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slow.135i

Would you still think that if I said the plug tightens back up like normal?

Probably. You said the plug backed out about halfway before getting tight. This was on the second attempt. On the first attempt it didn’t go very far before getting tight.

Whatever happened didn’t occur when you tried to remove the plug. This goes back to the last time it was put in.

Slow.135i · 03-15-2021, 08:04 PM

Thanks! Sending the car to the shop to have the head removed and fixed properly.

tracer bullet · 03-16-2021, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slow.135i

Thanks! Sending the car to the shop to have the head removed and fixed properly.

Well, at least to be removed and investigated. Hopefully it's not stripped but I agree it sounds like it is. Stripped threads act funny, they can indeed re-tighten up to a point and make a torque wrench click but of course aren't to be trusted (the threads, that is). Good luck.

dtla1 · 03-17-2021, 11:51 AM

I was going to suggest trying to pull it out with something like this https://www.amazon.com/RAM-PRO-Flexi.../dp/B01LM2L50I

But maybe too late, or maybe already tried that.

Slow.135i · 03-17-2021, 04:57 PM

Real tight grip with needle nose hasn’t worked... Can’t imagine that has a better grip.

03-14-2021, 11:25 AM	#1
Slow.135i Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Plug spins freely but will not come out... Hey all! Changed the plugs on my 135i n55 the other day. Five of the six came out pretty easily. The 6th made me work for it. At first the plug would not turn more than a full rotation. Put it back together, ran the motor for a few to heat it up, and was able to spin it out about half way but it kept binding up. Sprayed PB Blaster down the chamber and let it sit over 24 hours. After that I was able to work the plug back and forth and got it freed up. Now the plug is stuck down in the chamber and will not come out. Plug spins freely but no matter what I do I cannot get it to come out. The plug socket I have is magnetic but releases before the plug let’s go. Took a pair of needle nose pliers and try to give it a good tug and no luck. Like I said it spins freely and moves like nothing is holding it in but no luck. Been working at this for days... Any tips!?
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03-14-2021, 01:18 PM	#2
drwillb BMW Fan 290 Rep 838 Posts Drives: e30 M3, e30 M3, e46 M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: northern NJ iTrader: (4)	Sounds like the threads got galled/stripped. Ouch.
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03-14-2021, 01:54 PM	#3
Slow.135i Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Would you still think that if I said the plug tightens back up like normal?
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03-15-2021, 08:04 PM	#5
Slow.135i Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Thanks! Sending the car to the shop to have the head removed and fixed properly.
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03-17-2021, 11:51 AM	#7
dtla1 Colonel 828 Rep 2,232 Posts Drives: 2011 135i, Space Grey Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Silicon Valley iTrader: (2)	I was going to suggest trying to pull it out with something like this https://www.amazon.com/RAM-PRO-Flexi.../dp/B01LM2L50I But maybe too late, or maybe already tried that.
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03-17-2021, 04:57 PM	#8
Slow.135i Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Real tight grip with needle nose hasn’t worked... Can’t imagine that has a better grip.
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