BIG PROBLEM. Messed up oil drain plug/bolt

[De@nO]

:cursin:My paps and I decided to give the 320 an oil change, the drain plug bolt was extremely tight and half of the thread broke off of it and is stuck in the sump. :cursin: The bit that is still stuck in there is hollow! so all the oil obv drained out.

Got a bit of a problem on my hands now:mmm:

I want to take the sump off and try get that bit of bolt/plug out of there. Possibly drill it out.

How difficult is it to do this? If already removed the first black tray under the sump, there is a second one that needs to be removed.

I also noticed that there is a cross bar that runs directly under the sump, will i need to remove this too to get the sump out?

Will obv need a new sump gasket right?

 

[E36M3]

:cursin:My paps and I decided to give the 320 an oil change, the drain plug bolt was extremely tight and half of the thread broke off of it and is stuck in the sump. :cursin: The bit that is still stuck in there is hollow! so all the oil obv drained out.

Got a bit of a problem on my hands now:mmm:

I want to take the sump off and try get that bit of bolt/plug out of there. Possibly drill it out.

How difficult is it to do this? If already removed the first black tray under the sump, there is a second one that needs to be removed.

I also noticed that there is a cross bar that runs directly under the sump, will i need to remove this too to get the sump out?

Will obv need a new sump gasket right?

Howzitt - sounds like a baad problem... and no car cos its weekend! i do not know how to help,.. but found the following links on net... did a search for e46 sump bolt broke

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1337369

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1281885

Seems to be a common problem - however they say that the hollow bolt should make it easier to remove.... good luck...

 

[freerider]

deano, knock an allen key that is slightly bigger than the hole in the remaining thread into it, and then simply unscrew it.

Well, thats what i would do anyway

 

[biofreak]

Had a similar problem the other day...
Best bet is to take the sump off. You will need a new sump gasket but should be cheap.
Then drill out the remaining thread etc.

Measure the hole without the thread and go to builders or a specialist bolt company. Get a tap and die and a Bolt of the same size.
Re-tap the hole and fit bolt

Works like a charm

 

[De@nO]

Fixed! I managed to get a decent set of easy-out bolt extractors from builders this morning, they basically work like reversed screws. All you do is screw it in anti-clockwise, it latches onto the remaining bit of bolt/drain plug and as you turn anit-clockwise it unscrews the bolt! best invention ever. saved my ass! Will post pics soon.

Im so relieved, was getting ready to take sump off etc... good quick fix.

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[freerider]

:clap: lekker!

 

[Hellas]

:thumbsup: Glad you got it fixed!

 

[@ri]

Nice one man

 

[DonovanPorter]

:clap: congrats man saved yourself alot of work.

 

[lucian]

Fixed! I managed to get a decent set of easy-out bolt extractors from builders this morning, they basically work like reversed screws. All you do is screw it in anti-clockwise, it latches onto the remaining bit of bolt/drain plug and as you turn anit-clockwise it unscrews the bolt! best invention ever. saved my ass! Will post pics soon.

Im so relieved, was getting ready to take sump off etc... good quick fix.

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Sounds like some nifty tools. Where and how much do they cost?

 

[Hellas]

You can buy cheap sets for as little as R50 at Adendorfffffffs or similar shops.

Word of warning though: This is the best thing ever, but there is some degree of common sense to be applied when choosing the hole diameter and size of extractor to be used. This application is not to be used (eg. not recommended) on bolts for heads or manifolds, (though it might work...)

 

[gazza]

woooohooooo :clap::thumbsup:

 

[Laigo]

Good one, I'll remember that! :clap:

 

[lucian]

You can buy cheap sets for as little as R50 at Adendorfffffffs or similar shops.

Where in Cape Town? (shop, place)

 

[Hellas]

Next to Makro in Milnerton. The place was called Tooltime or something. Called Adendorfs now.