[ooshnoo]

Hey guys, so I was going to help a friend of a friend change the transmission fluid and put on a new pan on his F30 he recently bought. It has over 75k mikes and no warranty.

I've changed the pan and fluid on my car so it was no big deal and figured I'd make a quick 50 bucks.

However once we got the car up on jackstands, I noticed that the transmission fill plug was completely stripped. I tried a couple different variations of T50 sockets and even broke my torque wrench trying to get it out. It's seriously torqued down by whoever did this before.

Does anyone have any advice on how to get it out, given the very little clearance there is because of the exhaust pipe? Please see attached pic and thank you!!!!

[im_an_alien]

Try using a chisel on the edges at different points...it's not like you're gonna reuse that plug. Good luck..

[itsrichierich]

Funny, I too stripped mine when putting mine back on after doing my trans service. I got mine to tighten down to about 40ft/lbs because it stripped. No leaks. Was going to deal with it when I go back in there and service the trans again.

Best of luck. As stated, I would try to chisel it in and fit a flat head into it. I was thinking maybe there's enough room to grip it with channel locks or locking pliers.

[erickonphoenix]

That looks a lot like what happens when you use a Torx instead of the plug removal socket.

You can try welding a nut to the plug and rotating it off that way. Depending on the torque it rounded out at you might even be able to use JB weld.

I drew up a crude diagram of how that might work.

[ooshnoo]

Thanks guys. My neighbor is a welder. Will ask what he thinks later on today.

[340iGUY]

You didn't drain it first I hope.

[ooshnoo]

Originally Posted by 340iGUY

You didn't drain it first I hope.

No sir. Was about to, but then I noticed the stripped plug.

[ooshnoo]

Originally Posted by erickonphoenix

That looks a lot like what happens when you use a Torx instead of the plug removal socket.

You can try welding a nut to the plug and rotating it off that way. Depending on the torque it rounded out at you might even be able to use JB weld.

I drew up a crude diagram of how that might work.

Thank you for the advice. I got a carriage bolt welded on and it came off no problem.

[Rockyca]

all of these are too complex solutions. this has happened to me twice in two different e90s and i was easily able to remove the fill bolt with the following tool: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Pi...0111/309997715

it can be done at home with no special tools like welders, etc. For future reference if anyone else ever has this issue...

[ooshnoo]

Originally Posted by Rockyca

all of these are too complex solutions. this has happened to me twice in two different e90s and i was easily able to remove the fill bolt with the following tool: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Pi...0111/309997715

Good to know. Where were you a couple weeks ago!!!??!

[Rockyca]

I don’t frequent the forms much anymore and I’m usually on the b58 section. Hopefully this can help someone in the future.

[rparnel1]

Had a super tight fill plug one time. Wasn't stripped, but was so tight I was afraid it would strip. Used a propane torch to gently heat the pan are around the bolt; not the bolt itself. This did the trick

[njdangelo]

If you broke a torque wrench on it that's really tight! I wonder if they stripped it so much they couldn't tighten it to spec and squeezed epoxy on it to hold and seal it and maybe that's why you can't remove it?
Subscribed though, interested on how this turns out

[ooshnoo]

Originally Posted by njdangelo

If you broke a torque wrench on it that's really tight! I wonder if they stripped it so much they couldn't tighten it to spec and squeezed epoxy on it to hold and seal it and maybe that's why you can't remove it?
Subscribed though, interested on how this turns out

As mentioned above, we welded a carriage bolt and nut onto the fill plug and it came out fairly easy.