Handy Tip

[Ken in Australia]

Hey Bimmer nuts, try this little trick that I thought of when having a beer.

Next time you change your engine oil, have a look at the 17 millimetre sump plug and you will notice that it is drilled out in the centre to about 8 millimetres diameter (sorry, all you experts have already noticed this long ago). Go to a hardware shop or medical magnets store (there's one in almost every city it seems - for hypochondriacs and faith healers, I think) and buy a cylindrical magnet about 7 millimetres across and 4 centimetres long.

Get some electrical solder wire and place a length of it in the sump plug hole and place the lot on a hotplate or heat it up with a gas torch until the solder melts. Get the cylindrical magnet and place it in the hole - wipe away any excess solder that may flow out. Wait for it to cool and bingo you have a neat little metal filings trap - use solder and not two part expoxy glue, as this softens with the heat and may loosen the magnet.

You will be surprised with how much metal burr accumulates around the magnet when you next change the oil. I'm a bit of a freak and I even put a large flat magnet on the actual sump exterior right near the drain hole and remove it when I change the engine oil - all the metal wear sediment sits there until you drain out the old oil. Put it back when finished and you have a perfectionist's method of keeping the engine free of metal crud. If you are a perfectionist like me, you might like to do this double whammy bit as well. I figure every little bit helps.

Love that car and it loves you right back - sorry guys, this is my second post and I'm already getting the hang of it. Might bore you all with more useless information soon.

All the best from Australia - especially to all you American Bimmer Nuts - always had a great time in the States - been over many times - love the people and love the country.

[Dan in NZ]

I thought sump plugs were magnetic to begin with...

[Ken in Australia]

I thought sump plugs were magnetic to begin with...

Thanks Dan

love your replies - always read them. Not all plugs are magnetic - mine wasn't - try it and see. Anyway, I like a bit over of overkill on this one.

All the best.

[FWinNH]

Hey Bimmer nuts, try this little trick that I thought of when having a beer.

8<

I'm a bit of a freak and I even put a large flat magnet on the actual sump exterior right near the drain hole and remove it when I change the engine oil - all the metal wear sediment sits there until you drain out the old oil. Put it back when finished and you have a perfectionist's method of keeping the engine free of metal crud.

8<

Ken, How do you fasten the flat magnet to the sump? Are you sticking it to the drain plug (from the outside obviously) too? Just curious...

-Fred W

[zygoteer]

... Not all plugs are magnetic - mine wasn't ...

Hmmm ... You sure your magnet hasn't detached itself ?
... mine has a magnet fixed in it.

[632 Regal]

great idea but the magnet should hold into the hole...also...solder wont stick to a magnet, ask Juniors, he knows.

[Dave M]

I'm a bit of a freak and I even put a large flat magnet on the actual sump exterior right near the drain hole and remove it when I change the engine oil - all the metal wear sediment sits there until you drain out the old oil. Put it back when finished and you have a perfectionist's method of keeping the engine free of metal crud. If you are a perfectionist like me, you might like to do this double whammy bit as well. I figure every little bit helps.

Hey ken, looked to seee wheat type of e34 you have, to no avail (wouldn't put it past me to miss it though). Regarding the above, what oil pan are you sticking the magnet to? My M50 is aluminum so no luck with the magnet there. I suppose my question is: Does the M30, M20, M60s have a steel oil pan?

Thanks,

Dave M

[FWinNH]

Hey ken, looked to seee wheat type of e34 you have, to no avail (wouldn't put it past me to miss it though). Regarding the above, what oil pan are you sticking the magnet to? My M50 is aluminum so no luck with the magnet there. I suppose my question is: Does the M30, M20, M60s have a steel oil pan?

Thanks,

Dave M

M60 is alloy, so no go. Unless it is being stuck to the drainplug itself.

-Fred W

[grave77]

well gr8 idea .. I would get a small speaker magnet and place it in the filter and run the engine for few min. then remove it and I think this would filter everything if u have a new filter and new oil to change.

[Bill R.]

lower pan on most of them if i recall correctly. Yours may be different.
Any number of bmw parts houses sells drain plugs with a magnet on them already. But the filter will capture virtually anything that the magnet would, but if it makes you feel better then by all means go ahead.

M60 is alloy, so no go. Unless it is being stuck to the drainplug itself.

-Fred W