2010 E70 X5 3.0d - Oil Sump Plug Leak

[Sm[]key]

Hi

Has anyone sorted a cross threaded oil sump thread on this M57 engine?

Attempted a M12 x 1.5 helicoil repair but can't get the tap to engage and run through the hole. I think this is because its a partial hole, as part of it is missing to allow oil to drain from bottom of sump:

OIl Sump Plug.JPG (24.33 KiB) Viewed 3267 times

Just watched a video on sump replacement and its a big job, so looking now at a time-sert repair but still costly.

Thanks

[Leslie]

Are you sure it didn't have a helicoil already ? , bit of a weird looking setup that would be prone to failure, if it didn't have a helicoil before it would need drilled bigger first with the correct drill before tapping or the tap will likely split the sump as its too big for the hole.

[Sm[]key]

That photo is not mine, taking the sump off is a monster job which would lead to car scraping for me.

No helicoil was installed, I posted the picture to show the incomplete hole.

I've ordered a TIME-SERT tonight, wish me luck....

[Sm[]key]

Its a really bad design in my option as the sump pan is aluminium alloy, i.e. softer than the sump plug.

A carbon steel interference fit plug should have been fitted for the sump plug thread.

[Leslie]

Goodluck, I always vaccum it out the top saves touching the sump plug at all
Remember if it wasn't alloy it would probably be rotten by now nstead lol and alloy sumps tend to seal better imo as they don't tend to distort as easy.

[X5Sport]

I’ve just had a look at the sump replacement procedure and WOW! There’s a ton of stuff to remove, a hardware store level of fixings and even a straight edge required!! Whatever happened to ‘simple’? I mean half-a-dozen screws and a gasket. 15 minutes and done.

I also use a suction system now.

[Greydog]

I have come across the issue of keeping the helicoil tap square and central while repairing a cross threaded sump plug
I used a piece of 3/4 flat 2" wide by 6" long at one end I drilled and tapped it using the helicoil taps, then place the plate against the sump and use a small jack to hold it there locate the helicoil tap through the plate and just enough to start into the sump tighten the plate in place using the jack then tap the sump through the plate. The tap should stay square to the as it is guided by the plate (it has worked for me twice) once done remove the tap and plate and insert the helicoil

[Sm[]key]

I think the thread cut out which allows the bottom of the sump to drain out is the issue with cross threading this type of sump.

I eventually tried a Time-Sert insert after the Helicoil abortion, problem was the hole drilled for the Helicoil was too large for the Time-SERT.

Plan C was then enacted, high temp metal epoxy was used to plug up the sump plug. Over 600 miles driven for lengthy 5 hour runs with no issues so far.....

[Sm[]key]

I have come across the issue of keeping the helicoil tap square and central while repairing a cross threaded sump plug
I used a piece of 3/4 flat 2" wide by 6" long at one end I drilled and tapped it using the helicoil taps, then place the plate against the sump and use a small jack to hold it there locate the helicoil tap through the plate and just enough to start into the sump tighten the plate in place using the jack then tap the sump through the plate. The tap should stay square to the as it is guided by the plate (it has worked for me twice) once done remove the tap and plate and insert the helicoil

Very good advice for anyone attempting this repair.