Oil Sump Plug

[Deepseaskateboard]

I was speaking with my mechanic last week.

He mentioned the plastic sump plug on the E89 should ideally be changed after each oil service.

I have been looking at the parts online, I am surprised to see that such an important part is a bit of plastic…

Questions:

1: Does anyone change these themselves?

2: Can they leak or weep oil?

3: Has anyone upgraded this to a metal version with the copper washer or equivalent?

4: If Yes to above, which part did you use?

Thanks all!

 

[enuff_zed]

Yup, have done mine.
Always fit a new plastic plug, though to be honest it possibly doesn't need one that often.
Never had one leak and never considered any other options.
If it ain't broke..................

 

[mcbutler]

Is this all E89 engines? Pretty sure the 6 pots are metal plugs....

 

[enuff_zed]

Is this all E89 engines? Pretty sure the 6 pots are metal plugs....

Ah, well I'm talking N20. Can't help with the others, sorry.

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Is this all E89 engines? Pretty sure the 6 pots are metal plugs....

Not sure, apparently X-Drive cars use metal plugs.

Not sure about the Z4 though…

 

[Timmyboybunter]

My 30i E89 was metal (both existing and replacement) when I serviced it a few weeks back.

 

[Anonymous]

N20 rear wheel drive have plastic sump so plastic plug..N20 x drive have alloy sump to support x drive gubbins..

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

N20 rear wheel drive have plastic sump so plastic plug..N20 x drive have alloy sump to support x drive gubbins..

A plastic sump!!

That sounds like it’s asking for problems.

Replacement sump plugs for the N20 cost a whopping 88p from BMW.

I have ordered some in.

 

[Anonymous]

N20 rear wheel drive have plastic sump so plastic plug..N20 x drive have alloy sump to support x drive gubbins..

A plastic sump!!

That sounds like it’s asking for problems.

Replacement sump plugs for the N20 cost a whopping 88p from BMW.

I have ordered some in.

well you can add it the plastic sump on the ZF box, the plastic cam cover, the plastic oil filter assembly and the plastic water /oil cooler on earlier models..

Logically that's why its a plastic plug in a plastic sump..a metal plug would only be a matter of time before it stripped the sump..

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

N20 rear wheel drive have plastic sump so plastic plug..N20 x drive have alloy sump to support x drive gubbins..

A plastic sump!!

That sounds like it’s asking for problems.

Replacement sump plugs for the N20 cost a whopping 88p from BMW.

I have ordered some in.

well you can add it the plastic sump on the ZF box, the plastic cam cover, the plastic oil filter assembly and the plastic water /oil cooler on earlier models..

Logically that's why its a plastic plug in a plastic sump..a metal plug would only be a matter of time before it stripped the sump..

Yeah, makes sense. I had no idea such important components were made from plastic.

 

[Anonymous]

A plastic sump!!

That sounds like it’s asking for problems.

Replacement sump plugs for the N20 cost a whopping 88p from BMW.

I have ordered some in.

well you can add it the plastic sump on the ZF box, the plastic cam cover, the plastic oil filter assembly and the plastic water /oil cooler on earlier models..

Logically that's why its a plastic plug in a plastic sump..a metal plug would only be a matter of time before it stripped the sump..

Yeah, makes sense. I had no idea such important components were made from plastic.

Disappointing but true….the cam cover is problematic on many BMWs as they age..

 

[Smartbear]

N20 rear wheel drive have plastic sump so plastic plug..N20 x drive have alloy sump to support x drive gubbins..

A plastic sump!!

That sounds like it’s asking for problems.

Replacement sump plugs for the N20 cost a whopping 88p from BMW.

I have ordered some in.

It’s not a bad idea actually, this is only going to become more common as the cars age https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=128683&p=1830812&hilit=Sump#p1830812
Rob

 

[SV8Predator]

A plastic sump!!

That sounds like it’s asking for problems.

Why do you think that? Now you're going to have people thinking that plastic sumps with plastic sump plugs are a bad thing. The power of the internet.

If you buy a BMW oil filter you get the plastic sump plug with it.

But as you leave all that to the dealer anyway, it's nothing for you to get concerned about.

 

[mcbutler]

N20 rear wheel drive have plastic sump so plastic plug..N20 x drive have alloy sump to support x drive gubbins..

A plastic sump!!

That sounds like it’s asking for problems.

Replacement sump plugs for the N20 cost a whopping 88p from BMW.

I have ordered some in.

well you can add it the plastic sump on the ZF box, the plastic cam cover, the plastic oil filter assembly and the plastic water /oil cooler on earlier models..

Logically that's why its a plastic plug in a plastic sump..a metal plug would only be a matter of time before it stripped the sump..

But a plastic sump would be very expensive to buy Im sure and also quite expensive to fit. Not to mention the instant catastrophic engine damage if its broken and all the oil drops at speed.
Recently had the plastic pan on my DCT changed, that was expensive enough (thanks warranty direct xx)

 

[Smartbear]

A plastic sump!!

That sounds like it’s asking for problems.

Replacement sump plugs for the N20 cost a whopping 88p from BMW.

I have ordered some in.

well you can add it the plastic sump on the ZF box, the plastic cam cover, the plastic oil filter assembly and the plastic water /oil cooler on earlier models..

Logically that's why its a plastic plug in a plastic sump..a metal plug would only be a matter of time before it stripped the sump..

But a plastic sump would be very expensive to buy Im sure and also quite expensive to fit. Not to mention the instant catastrophic engine damage if its broken and all the oil drops at speed.
Recently had the plastic pan on my DCT changed, that was expensive enough (thanks warranty direct xx)

I’ve heard of several members on here suffering from rusted through metal sumps but never from someone who’s plastic sump has suffered damage & lost all the oil, have you heard of this happening? :?
Rob

 

[flybobbie]

British car sumps never rusted through, leaking oil stopped that.
Friend ripped the sump off a car on road that was being resurfaced, hit a raised man hole cover.

 

[Nictrix]

My old Honda Accord had 185,000 miles on it and the only engine work done was a replacement sump as it developed a hole due to rust.

 

[mcbutler]

well you can add it the plastic sump on the ZF box, the plastic cam cover, the plastic oil filter assembly and the plastic water /oil cooler on earlier models..

Logically that's why its a plastic plug in a plastic sump..a metal plug would only be a matter of time before it stripped the sump..

But a plastic sump would be very expensive to buy Im sure and also quite expensive to fit. Not to mention the instant catastrophic engine damage if its broken and all the oil drops at speed.
Recently had the plastic pan on my DCT changed, that was expensive enough (thanks warranty direct xx)

I’ve heard of several members on here suffering from rusted through metal sumps but never from someone who’s plastic sump has suffered damage & lost all the oil, have you heard of this happening? :?
Rob

Nope not in either. or ever on any car to be honest.
I just had a look at mine, you could polish the paint on it, not a tiny mote of rust anywhere!!!!

 

[Mr Tidy]

A plastic sump may not be such a bad thing!

I've read of at least two E85 owners who have had oil leaks from rusty sumps, although one said he thought not having the plastic undertray in place may have been a factor.