broken bolt in oil pan

ram1boyz · 02-09-2023, 12:59 PM

Hello everyone,

So my vanos bolts broke, and there’s one bolt head I was unable to find. I replaced the bolts and put the top end all back together and I’m assuming that last bolt is in my oil pan. I’m planning to drive it to my buddies shop (about 1hr drive) to drop the oil pan and take that bolt head out. Do you guys think that would be fine?

I’m assuming the pick up tube has a net on it, but even if it doesn’t wouldn’t it just get caught in the oil filter?

Let me know what you guys think. Is this a bad idea?

aphael · 02-09-2023, 01:54 PM

Just get it towed, this will destroy your engine.

AAA membership is like 90$ a year and has 3 tows.

2sporty · 02-21-2023, 07:43 PM

It's totally fine. You could leave it in there forever and not have a problem. There are lots of people here that will claim that any little thing will blow up your car although they know very little about the car, mechanically. The oil pan is very deep and the oil pickup will not suck it up. Next time you do an oil change, you can try to get out out through the drain plug by using a large magnet and moving the bolt towards the drain plug hole. Here is a picture of the filter on the oil pickup.

u170who · 04-17-2023, 03:03 PM

I dropped a 7mm tap into one of the oil drain holes from the cylinder head. Do you think that would block the oil from circulating? I was able to try to stick the magnet about 18" down but i couldn't find anything. I have to do a oil pan gasket job, so do you think it would have gone into there?

02-09-2023, 12:59 PM	#1
ram1boyz Enlisted Member 32 Rep 45 Posts Drives: Bmw E90 328i Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: California iTrader: (0)	broken bolt in oil pan Hello everyone, So my vanos bolts broke, and there’s one bolt head I was unable to find. I replaced the bolts and put the top end all back together and I’m assuming that last bolt is in my oil pan. I’m planning to drive it to my buddies shop (about 1hr drive) to drop the oil pan and take that bolt head out. Do you guys think that would be fine? I’m assuming the pick up tube has a net on it, but even if it doesn’t wouldn’t it just get caught in the oil filter? Let me know what you guys think. Is this a bad idea?
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02-09-2023, 01:54 PM	#2
aphael Second Lieutenant 89 Rep 223 Posts Drives: E92 328i 6MT Join Date: May 2020 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW 328i [0.00]	Just get it towed, this will destroy your engine. AAA membership is like 90$ a year and has 3 tows. __________________ 2007 E92 328i 6MT \| KW V3 \| 3SI \| SSR Type-C 18x9.5/10.5 \| AA Headers
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02-21-2023, 07:43 PM	#3
2sporty First Lieutenant 244 Rep 356 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Munich iTrader: (0)	It's totally fine. You could leave it in there forever and not have a problem. There are lots of people here that will claim that any little thing will blow up your car although they know very little about the car, mechanically. The oil pan is very deep and the oil pickup will not suck it up. Next time you do an oil change, you can try to get out out through the drain plug by using a large magnet and moving the bolt towards the drain plug hole. Here is a picture of the filter on the oil pickup. Attached Images
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04-17-2023, 03:03 PM	#4
u170who Private 5 Rep 62 Posts Drives: e90 330I Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: New York City iTrader: (0)	I dropped a 7mm tap into one of the oil drain holes from the cylinder head. Do you think that would block the oil from circulating? I was able to try to stick the magnet about 18" down but i couldn't find anything. I have to do a oil pan gasket job, so do you think it would have gone into there?
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