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      09-15-2018, 05:50 PM   #45
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StickMon View Post
Mine turns about 1/2 turn on the way in and out.
I don't argue with it. I let it turn whichever way it comes out/goes in easiest.
The o-ring on mine always swell or sticks to the tube that it takes quite a bit of force to break it loose - does yours do the same?
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      09-15-2018, 11:49 PM   #46
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Why yes, yes it does. I think it adheres to the sides of the tube. I have to press my thumb against the air box to get enough force.
Once I yank it out it goes in and out fairly easily for that oil check. A week later it's stuck again.
I've had limited success with Lithium or Silicone grease. Helps for a little while, but not for long.
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      09-20-2018, 05:10 PM   #47
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I’m a little bit worried the sticking dipstick is related to the tip breaking off.
I.e. its not the rubber o-rings sticking, its the tip.
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      09-21-2018, 09:33 AM   #48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by polar View Post
I’m a little bit worried the sticking dipstick is related to the tip breaking off.
I.e. its not the rubber o-rings sticking, its the tip.
I 99% sure this isn't the case. As StickMon said, once broken loose, it goes in and out fairly easily for that oil check. Then it's stuck again a week later. It wouldn't act this way if the tip was the culprit.
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      09-21-2018, 06:24 PM   #49
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Hmm, yes you may be right. But take a second close look at the tip in the last picture. The only place the plastic is damaged is at the very top end. The rest looks mint. This make me belive its catching an edge. Maybe its because rising engine temps expand the stick making it reach a ledge and get caught?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mainsoda View Post
I got my replacement dipstick today and the new one has the same issue.

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      09-22-2018, 10:30 AM   #50
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Quote:
Originally Posted by polar View Post
Hmm, yes you may be right. But take a second close look at the tip in the last picture. The only place the plastic is damaged is at the very top end. The rest looks mint. This make me belive its catching an edge. Maybe its because rising engine temps expand the stick making it reach a ledge and get caught?
This is also a possibility - hence my 99% confidence level on my previous comment But the fact that StickMon had limited success with Lithium or Silicone grease and that it did helped for a little while longer provides more proofs the sticking is due to the o-rings. With that said, I'm still more comfortable if I can find a stick that doesn't have an add-on tip at the end of it.
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      09-22-2018, 11:24 AM   #51
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Could the breaking of the tip be from not pulling the dipstick straight out for the entire length? If you pull the tip out with the rod at an angle, I can imagine that would put some undue stress on where the rod goes into the plastic tip.
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      09-22-2018, 12:23 PM   #52
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Two separate issues.
The O-ring sticking is just an annoyance.
The plastic tip gets stressed going around the bends in the tube.
It will eventually break off, especially as the plastic degrades from heat and age.
Mine seems to come out and go in easier with a half turn during the process.
Hopefully that puts less stress on the tip, but it will eventually break off.

You can see the crack in polar's last picture. Need to keep an eye out for that early sign.
If ECS ever gets their stick the right length, keep in mind that their tip is crimped to the cable.
Hopefully they do a good job of that. Word around is that the magnet in their oil drain plug falls out.
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      09-27-2018, 07:28 AM   #53
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Before my tip broke off it showed no signs of weakness. I did, however, take it out for a while and left the short ESC dipstick in. Then when I went to check the stock dipstick that's when the tip broke off inside. Maybe keeping the stock dipstick in the engine helps and taking it out for any extended duration hurts? All I know is I'm not ever putting that plastic bit back in. ESC says "Your estimated delivery date is: October 29 - 31" and while this has taken so long I've bought a house in the interim, I'm holding out for their dipstick.


Last edited by mainsoda; 09-27-2018 at 07:33 AM..
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      11-09-2018, 02:48 PM   #54
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Any updates on this issue?
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      11-12-2018, 01:15 AM   #55
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I have a crack in the top of the plastic bit of my OE stick. Not gonna last much longer.
Really interested in this, if ECS can get the length sorted, and make sure the tip won't fall off.
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      11-12-2018, 09:53 AM   #56
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StickMon View Post
I have a crack in the top of the plastic bit of my OE stick. Not gonna last much longer.
Really interested in this, if ECS can get the length sorted, and make sure the tip won't fall off.
Yeah...I'm somewhat concerned about mine (OE stick) as well. Does anyone knows how that ECS bullet tip is being held on? I'm also concerned how that tip will last on there, especially if the braided line is made out of a different material than that tip.
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      11-12-2018, 10:39 AM   #57
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I think it's safe to bet that it's crimped on.
And not safe to bet that it'll stay on, but maybe the lesser of two evils.
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      11-12-2018, 12:35 PM   #58
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After all of this time and a couple of "your shipment was delayed" emails I got one last week that says my dipstick should arrive by end of day on Friday.

If this happens I will update as soon as I can.

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      11-12-2018, 01:19 PM   #59
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I saw the ones for S54's were now available and on sale. Hoping that these are suitable ones, not trying to clear out the bad stock. I guess I will find out, as I just ordered one. This purchase will let me know if I will keep shopping ECS or not.
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      11-12-2018, 05:11 PM   #60
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Just a couple more data points on ECS Tuning:

Last year I ordered new wiper blades from ECS which were supposed to fit an E85 Z4 M Roadster. The only way the new blades would go on was upside down! i sent them back and ordered elsewhere.

Last month I ordered a charge pipe for my wife's '11 335is Coupe. I hadn't taken the old one off when I ordered but the description said that it would this particular model. The 335is has the N54 engine and there's only one charge pipe that will fit this engine. I took off the cracked charge pipe while I was waiting for the new one to arrive and as soon as I unboxed the new one it was obvious that it was the wrong one. I double-checked it on the ECS website and the one I got was supposed to fit. I sent it back (paid for return postage), got the part number from the cracked charge pipe and ordered a new one from getbmwparts.com. That one was correct.

I'm already done with ECS Tuning. Used to order from them a lot. Do a Google search on ECS Tuning customer service and you'll see that they have had some real issues. Now under new management they claim that they're turning things around. Not in my experience.
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      11-15-2018, 01:46 AM   #61
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I’ve been ordering from ECS Tuning for about a decade. Never had any issues with them. In fact, there’s been times that I miss out on a special deal or need help placing an order online. I call them up and they help me out taking care of the order and hook me up with the deal I missed. Just last week though, when placing the rod bearings kit order, I called ECS to find out why there was 12 hex bolts in the kit and asked them exactly where those bolts bolted onto. The guy over the phone said he couldn’t help me without the part number. I told him the website didn’t provide the part number for the bolts and I couldn’t look it up on realoem because it didn’t specify which bolts they were. He got frustrated and said “sir, if you don’t have the part number then there’s nothing I can do for you”. He was looking at the kit on his computer when he verified all the parts included, he just didn’t know the part number and placed the blame on me for not knowing it either. Other than that, no issues.
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      11-17-2018, 05:31 PM   #62
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Good news boys, it seems like they got it right. The polished part on top of my dipstick had a nice gouge on the edge, but at this point I am cutting my losses and consider this a win. Also I am pleased to learn that after all this time my S54 burns no oil.

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      11-20-2018, 03:54 PM   #63
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I just got mine in the mail. Looks to match up with the old dipstick just fine (sigh of relief). Got it on sale, so that also helps. The finish on mine was fine. A little smutz on it, but it rubbed off.

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      11-20-2018, 04:10 PM   #64
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I'll be ordering one shortly.
Anybody do a pull test on the tip?
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      11-20-2018, 04:24 PM   #65
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StickMon View Post
I'll be ordering one shortly.
Anybody do a pull test on the tip?
I tugged and twisted the tip and it had no looseness to it.
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      11-21-2018, 05:11 AM   #66
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It's currently sold out, in case anyone's planning to buy one.
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