Well it seemed easy enough. Oh well. So everything went smoothly right up to the point I tried to take out the drain plug. I have read that it is an 8mm hex for my car. So I put in in gave a little pull and then pulled harder and bam, stripped it out. I am thinking maybe it was supposed to be an 8mm torx bit? Anybody have any ideas please chime in because for now I am screwed. Changing the oil filter was really easy but unfortunately it didn't do me a lot of good.

You've a few choices, either a set of gator grips or weld a nut onto it, ive done both a few times, usually as im too ruff!! or bash a bigger sized spanner on it!!

http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/gatorgrip.html

Weld? :think: :nono: :cry: Can't he just buy a new screw.

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E60/Seda...evel_indicator/


#2

He will have to, but first he needs to remove the said plug!!!

Is the gator grip any good? I've wondered about getting one before now.

Yep, ive a full set of them, watch out for the cheap ones though as they just crumble under big pressure :D

if you remove the panel underneath, maybe you can put vicegrips on the bolt. there's not too much to grab though.
or you could just take it to the dealer and let them deal with it. they should be able to remove it easy.

How about gluing a nut on the screw with a strong bond glue?

I dont know of a bond that would be strong enough! a sharp chisel could also remove it without to much hassle!!

i um... would probably avoid welding anything on the oil pan. you could take another hex, slightly larger then strip, put a little locktite on there and hammer it in. wait a little while then unscrew it. i reccomend going to sears and getting a cheap hex bit/socket that you can attatch to a socket wrench. those L shaped Hex drivers are bad news and will get you anytime you are trying to unscrew something that it tight.