Broken drain plug

I searched this, so dont flame, i know there are alot of threads on this. But i dont have time to search through all of them to get on specific number. Its sunday and places are closing as i write this.


So i tor my ACL last week. So my roomate decides he is going to help change my oil.

Well he snapped the drain plug. F'n great.

So he is tracking down a m12x1.5 drain plug (prolly get it at the dealership tomorrow).

But now i have a hollow bolt in my drain plug hole.

What size extractor should i use?

I would rather not dick around buyin different sizes ect if someone on here knows the exact size.


Please help me, help my roomate, help me (before i kill him).

Yikes dude. I'm sorry. I've done it once. Never again....

Originally Posted by florida2002m3

I searched this, so dont flame, i know there are alot of threads on this. But i dont have time to search through all of them to get on specific number. Its sunday and places are closing as i write this.


So i tor my ACL last week. So my roomate decides he is going to help change my oil.

Well he snapped the drain plug. F'n great.

So he is tracking down a m12x1.5 drain plug (prolly get it at the dealership tomorrow).

But now i have a hollow bolt in my drain plug hole.

What size extractor should i use?

I would rather not dick around buyin different sizes ect if someone on here knows the exact size.


Please help me, help my roomate, help me (before i kill him).

Try search drain plug and extractor...I know I've seen the size mentioned here...but the odds of that guy reading this are smallish.

I know they have a range, so I'd guess the inside of an M12 bolt would be something from 1/4-3/8"...probably closer to 1/4.

It's a guess...just in case you need to go with that!

I just sized it up with a normal bit. its 1/4. now just gotta find a way to get a drill up to it.

Originally Posted by florida2002m3

I just sized it up with a normal bit. its 1/4. now just gotta find a way to get a drill up to it.

If you get an extractor like I have, you should be able to just turn it with ratchet, and that'd be safer too. You shouldn't need to drill it, I don't think...it's hollow on the non-M.

I wouldn't use a drill, as I'd be worried about nicking something by going out too fast. So it takes 3 mins. instead of 30 secs.

Good luck!

Plumbers moto - right-e tight-e left-e loose-e **** dont flow uphill it might help in the future

I want to use a socket one, but the ones at autozone are drill bit type.

Does anyone know where to get the socket type?



My roomate did toooo much righty tighty when putting it back on.

Originally Posted by florida2002m3

I want to use a socket one, but the ones at autozone are drill bit type.

Does anyone know where to get the socket type?



My roomate did toooo much righty tighty when putting it back on.

I got mine from local "ACE hardware" HD would certainly have them...if not in hardware, in plumbing.

Luckily the roomate got one that i could get a box wrench on. Came right out. So dealership in the AM then back on the road. Not that i can drive it with my knee in a brace. But the GF is a good driver.

BMW uses a breakaway bolt head because of the aluminum oil pan to prevent thread stripping.

I've done that. I had a faulty crush ring out of the package and I knew it was funny looking, figured it would crush down tight and I didn't exactly have a way to get to the store as i had all the oil out of my car by the time I figured this out. Put it on snug and had a little drip, gave it an extra 1/4" turn and the head fell right on the ground with 7 quarts of fresh mobile 1. The plug from BMW comes with a new crush ring BTW.