» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | 12-03-2014, 09:36 AM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: mbsc Posts: 570 | Thread repair for stripped drain plug (oilpan) I have searched and searched..nothing that i found here. My oil drain plug is stripped, and has been for months. It is so bad that i just have been topping off the oil as opposed to draining it and properly changing. Well, that will be different this weekend. I located and bought a Heli-Coil kit to drill out and tap and install new threads in the oil pan. At a cost of $60 I bought a 12x1.50mm kit, comes complete with the drill bit, tap and 10 of the thread inserts. I obviously only need one insert, so once the job is finished if anyone else is having this problem, I'll sell the kit complete for a little less than I paid and and pay it forward.. we can get a whole lot of cars fixed..lol I'll take lots of pics when I'm doing the job this weekend. This is WITHOUT removing the oil pan if at all possible, so I'll check clearances for the drill, tap..etc. I'm also redoing the bushing and gasket under the oil filter housing, and possibly the gasket in between the front upper and lower timing cover. This is on my 1995 318ti Active. | | | 12-03-2014, 05:13 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 373 | What is the outer diameter of the drill but used for the Heli-Coil? I've got the same issue. The previous owner already put in an oversized plug, a 1/2" plug. It doesn't hold oil well and I don't want to tighten it too much to strip it more. I was planning on getting a 12x1.75 kit, but if yours is big enough so I can tap new threads, I'd rather use your kit. __________________ 2000 M5 -> 1996 318ti -> 1997 328i Instagram: ndrewchow YouTube: MINIzguy | | | 12-03-2014, 09:26 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: mbsc Posts: 570 | The drill is a 12.30mm. The tap is 12x1.5 I looked and looked to find this kit | | | 12-04-2014, 08:53 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: mbsc Posts: 570 | | | | 12-04-2014, 11:43 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 595 | I don't use helicoil. I use timesert. It stays in place better than helicoil. http://www.timesert.com/ __________________ 1996 Ti 280k miles and still going.... 1993 964 - holding on to this one 2001 Burban, 240k miles 2018 Suburban Z71 | | | 12-04-2014, 08:37 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | Quote: Originally Posted by bazar01 | Like! I need to do this for my wife's 318ti. It already has a 1/2" drain plug in it so, I'll need to see if it already has a Helicoil in it. Since you replaced yours, no leaks? __________________ 1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top 1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52 1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior 1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it 1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP 1995 318ti Active - RIP 1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold 1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold 1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold 1985 635csi sold 1984 533i "Max" Sold 1984 318i sold BMWCCA #160411 SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 12-04-2014, 09:59 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 595 | No my oil pan drain plug is not stripped. I do my own oil changes for fear of those quickie oil change shops using impact wrenches to install and tighten drain plugs. I have used timesert on aluminum heads and engine blocks with great results. __________________ 1996 Ti 280k miles and still going.... 1993 964 - holding on to this one 2001 Burban, 240k miles 2018 Suburban Z71 | | | 12-04-2014, 10:09 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | Yes,I do my own too. In my case, it came already this way and needs a retrofit. Thanks for the info! __________________ 1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top 1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52 1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior 1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it 1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP 1995 318ti Active - RIP 1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold 1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold 1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold 1985 635csi sold 1984 533i "Max" Sold 1984 318i sold BMWCCA #160411 SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 12-04-2014, 11:47 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: mbsc Posts: 570 | I do all my own work as well. I have used heli coil with much success on the head manifold studs on my 2jzgte. The oem drain plug is 12x1.5. I ordered a new magnetic plug, so once that comes I will do this job and report back. | | | 12-05-2014, 03:12 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 373 | I'm going to pass on needing the tool. With my 1/2" OS drain plug, I don't think 12.3mm will be enough to bore out the threads. I was originally looking at a 12x1.75 as the drill bit is 12.5mm. __________________ 2000 M5 -> 1996 318ti -> 1997 328i Instagram: ndrewchow YouTube: MINIzguy | | | 12-07-2014, 08:24 AM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: mbsc Posts: 570 | Job is finished. Took about an hour of careful work and lots of cleaning out the thread shavings. Installed the magnetic drain plug from BimmerBum and it turned right in, all the way with my fingers. Torqued it and no more leaks. Unfortunately the oil filter housing bushing and gasket didn't show in time, so that is a job for another day. Anyone interested, I will post pics as soon as my photobucket stops screwing with me on this computer. The kit to do this job is now on sale.. buy it outright for $50.00 and sell it on when you are done, OR.. pay me $50, I send you the kit, you install one thread insert/fix one drain plug, ship it back to me in the same condition I sent it to you minus one insert, and I'll refund you $35.00..then pass onto the next DIY'er. Not making money on this deal, just covering the cost of the kit, and shipping is $5.25 in a small flat rate USPS box. FWIW.. I used this on a stock oil pan, no oversize drain plug used, just stripped stock threads. Now it uses a stock size drain plug again. | | | 12-09-2014, 12:05 AM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 373 | So how is the clearance under the car? Can you get an electric drill in there easily and parallel with the drain hole? __________________ 2000 M5 -> 1996 318ti -> 1997 328i Instagram: ndrewchow YouTube: MINIzguy | | | 12-09-2014, 04:18 AM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: mbsc Posts: 570 | this is for reference, the drain plug is still screwed in, before I started the repair. I put the car on 4 jack stands, level and had plenty of room to roll around under, especially with the wheels off to be rotated. I'm 5'10" 165lbs for example..plenty of room. Had to use a socket for the tap though, 3/8 double square 8pt. the tap handle wouldnt swing around. . | | | 12-09-2014, 04:22 AM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: mbsc Posts: 570 | | | | 12-09-2014, 02:49 PM | #15 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 595 | Good job. The grease will catch most of the metal bits from the tap. I am just wondering what stops the helicoil insert from spinning and winding down inside the oil pan? __________________ 1996 Ti 280k miles and still going.... 1993 964 - holding on to this one 2001 Burban, 240k miles 2018 Suburban Z71 | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |