BMW Oil Pan Thread Repair – Aluminum Drain Plug Thread Repair Kit

Summary: Best recommendation for aluminum oil pan thread repair kit. Aluminum oil pans are used on most BMW’s (as well as many other brands) today to reduce the over-all vehicle weight. However, drain plug threads on BMW aluminum pans are weaker than steel threads. The threads are more likely to wear from oil changes over time. When drain plug threads are stretched, stripped or otherwise worn – over-sized drain plugs or piggy-back plugs can be used as a temporary fix. One problem with using over-sized drain plugs, is that it’s hard to get the right size and then installing them perfectly straight is required to get the gasket or washer to seal properly. Rubber expandable drain plugs are makeshift at best. Wise Auto Tools, offers TIME-SERT oil pan (for drain plug) repair kits for BMW cars that use solid steel inserts which accept the original size drain plug. Time Sert’s steel insert offers a much stronger set of threads that exceeds the strength of the original aluminum threads.

Question - Is there a less expensive option that is similar to Time Sert that I can use on my BMW? I only need to do one repair.

Answer - We have a limited quantity of a less expensive version of the Time Sert type kit. It works on all M12 size plugs and includes new drain plugs. See the product listing for more details - Win Tools M12-UNIV.

Question – Time-Sert 1215c oil pan thread repair kit. Hi I have a 2006 BMW M3 . The oil pan is stripped where the drain bolt (drain plug) goes. It measures as M12x1.5 and I want to repair mine using this kit. My question is do I need to drill a new hole at the oil pain or do I just re-drill the existing oil pan hole that was stripped then use this kit Time-Sert 1215c oil pan thread repair kit?

Answer – You would fix the existing hole. It’s important that the hole size has not been already enlarged with an oversized drain plug or repair previous to using the Time Sert 1215C. The correct size is the 1215C which is M12x1.5. This is the ideal repair because the original drain plug would be used. Make sure the drain threads are in good shape so they don’t damage the new threads. If the old drain plug threads are rough, purchase a replacement drain plug at the local parts store.

If the hole is bigger because of a previous repair it’s possible to step up to the next size Time Sert thread repair kit which would be an M14x1.5 pn 1415C. You would have to make sure there’s enough material in the pan to accept the larger size. And that there’s enough of a flat area where the drain plug washer can seat. But in most cases there is. You would also need to purchase a new drain plug at the local parts store, because the 12mm original drain plug would obviously, will no longer work.

Once the repair has been made, you will have stronger threads than original. Steel is much stronger than aluminum.

Application Help

For anyone that wants to save money and have stronger threads by fixing their aluminum oil pan rather than replacing it; the first step is to determine the size of the drain plug. This can easily be done by checking with a parts store or dealer for the size of the original drain plug. Of course if it’s been replaced at some time it could be different, but in most cases it will be the factory size. Here are some more BMW cars that use the M12x1.5 drain plug. Use this as guide, however, check yours to verify correct size.

BMW 128i 2008. 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 – 2013
BMW 135i 08, 09, 10, 11, 12 and 13
BMW 135is 2013 – 2013
BMW 1600 1968 – 1971
BMW 1800 1968 – 1971
BMW 1802 1971 – 1971
BMW 1M 2011 – 2011
BMW 2000 1968 – 1972
BMW 2000C 1968 – 1969
BMW 2000CS 1968 – 1969
BMW 2000ti 1968 – 1968
BMW 2000ti 1970 – 1970
BMW 2000tii 1969 – 1972
BMW 2002 1968 – 1976
BMW 2002ti 1968 – 1971
BMW 2002tii 1971 – 1974
BMW 2800 1968 – 1974
BMW 2800cs 1968 – 1971
BMW 2.8 Bavaria 1971 – 1971
BMW 3.0 Bavaria 1972 – 1974
BMW 3.0cs 1971 – 1974
BMW 3.0csi 1971 – 1974
BMW 3.0s 1971 – 1974
BMW 3.0si 1971 – 1971
BMW 3.0si 1975 – 1976
BMW 318i 1984 – 1985
BMW 318i 1991 – 1999
BMW 318is 1991 – 1999
BMW 318ti 1995 – 1999
BMW 320i 1977 – 1983
BMW 320i 1993 – 1995
BMW 320i 2001 – 2005
BMW 323ci 2000 – 2000
BMW 323i 1998 – 2000
BMW 323i 2006 – 2011
BMW 323is 1998 – 1999
BMW 325 1986 – 1988
BMW 325ci 2001 – 2006
BMW 325e 1984 – 1987
BMW 325es 1986 – 1987
BMW 325i 1987 – 1995
BMW 325i 2001 – 2006
BMW 325is 1987 – 1990
BMW 325is 1992 – 1995
BMW 325iX 1988 – 1991
BMW 325xi 2001 – 2006
BMW 328ci 2000 – 2000
BMW 328i 1996 – 2000
BMW 328i 2007 – 2013
BMW 328is 1996 – 1999
BMW 328xi 2007 – 2008
BMW 330ci 2001 – 2006
BMW 330i 2001 – 2006
BMW 330xi 2001 – 2006
BMW 335d 2009 – 2011
BMW 335i 2007 – 2013
BMW 335is 2011 – 2013
BMW 335xi 2007 – 2008
BMW 524td 1985 – 1986
BMW 525i 1989 – 1995
BMW 525i 2001 – 2007
BMW 525it 1993 – 1993
BMW 525xi 2006 – 2007
BMW 528e 1982 – 1988
BMW 528i 1979 – 1981
BMW 528i 1996 – 2000
BMW 528i 2008 – 2011
BMW 528xi 2008 – 2008
BMW 530i 1975 – 1978
BMW 530i 1994 – 1995
BMW 530i 2001 – 2007
BMW 530xi 2006 – 2007
BMW 533i 1983 – 1984

BMW 535i GT 2010 - 2017
BMW 535i 1985 – 1993
BMW 535i 2008 – 2016
BMW 535is 1988 – 1988
BMW 535xi 2008 – 2008
BMW 540i 1994 – 1995
BMW 540i 1997 – 2003
BMW 630csi 1977 – 1978
BMW 633csi 1978 – 1984
BMW 635csi 1985 – 1989
BMW 640i 2012 – 2013
BMW 733i 1978 – 1984
BMW 735i 1985 – 1992
BMW 735il 1988 – 1992
BMW 740i 1993 – 1995
BMW 740i 1997 – 2001
BMW 740i 2011 – 2013
BMW 740il 1993 – 2001
BMW 740Li 2011 – 2013
BMW 750il 1988 – 2001
BMW 840ci 1994 – 1997
BMW 850ci 1993 – 1997
BMW 850csi 1994 – 1995
BMW 850i 1991 – 1992
BMW ActiveHybrid 3 2013 – 2013
BMW ActiveHybrid 5 2012 – 2013
BMW L6 1987 – 1987
BMW L7 1986 – 1987
BMW M3 1988 – 1991
BMW M3 1994 – 1999
BMW M3 2001 – 2006
BMW M3 2008 – 2013
BMW M5 1988 – 1988
BMW M5 1991 – 1993
BMW M5 2000 – 2003
BMW M5 2006 – 2010
BMW M5 2013 – 2013
BMW M6 1987 – 1988
BMW M6 2006 – 2010
BMW M6 2012 – 2013
BMW X1 2013 – 2013
BMW X3 2004 – 2013
BMW X5 2000 – 2013
BMW X6 2008 – 2013
BMW Z3 1996 – 2002
BMW Z4 2003 – 2013
BMW Z8 2000 – 2003