Stripped Oil drain pan bolt

[DeutschRennfahrer]

The oil drain pan in my Z4 seems to be stripped; I can't completely tighten the bolt and it is leaking a little bit of oil.

The shop is telling me that I need to completely replace the drain pan, which apparently requires removing the front subframe and is estimated to cost $1500.

According to the mechanic, the drain pan is too thin to do a tap and die rethreading, and that this often fails.

Has anyone ever experienced this? Is full replacement really my only option? Any advice is appreciated.

[Reborn_]

I'm not an expert on the wall thickness or design of the Z4 oil pan, but if they have it threaded to begin with, I don't see how you couldn't bore it out slightly and tap it. I would make sure to use one of those quick release style drain bolts so that you don't have to thread it in and out any more. That price sounds a bit high - I would quote the job elsewhere to be sure.

[StickMon]

Now see here:
http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=453834

Near the bottom of page 2 is the good news from SCHMOUPE:
"For anyone interested in my saga, I finally got everything together and attempted the thread fix this morning. Excited to say it all went perfectly smooth. I managed to snap a few pics along the way. Maybe sometime next week I will sit down and do a proper DIY thread. I am also going to sell my time sert kit."

Then you might want to install a Fumoto F-109 Engine Oil Drain Valve. That's what I did.
Or use top-side oil extraction.

[mousitch]

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthre...4#post23276694

Here