TIME-SERTM12 X 1.50 Metric Drain Plug Repair Kit

As with others here my CPO BMW with a documented history of only dealer service was due for it's first oil change after I purchased it, which I do myself as I build and race my own cars. As soon as I started to pull the drain plug out I could tell it was stripped. I don't know how it wasn't leaking. Picked up this kit on the recommendation of another racer. VERY nice kit, but you will need some additional tools. Neither my small or larger tap handle would fit the drill bit so I used a 7/16 12 point socket and a wrench. Instructions say to use drilling oil but I dipped the end of the drill in synthetic grease and started turning. Every 1 1/2 complete turns I backed the drill out, cleaned off the grease with the shavings, re-dipped it and started again. This got all the shavings. To make sure I dipped a q-tip in grease, bent it 90 degrees, and ran it around the inside lip of the drain hole. No metal came out. Then came the counter bore. I measured the cutting edge of the tool and the thickness of the insert and it seemed like it would cut too deep not allowing for the drain plug washer to seal tight, but I followed the instructions. After counterboring, I cleaned up and switched to the tap. The tap fit my large tap handle. I dipped the tap into the grease, set the guide flush with the base of the oil pan, and slowly started to cut the threads. After every 1 1/2 turns I backed the tap out, cleaned off the grease full of metal chips, re-dipped in grease, and continued on until the tap was run through. After backing it out for the final time I took another q-tip dipped in grease and ran it along the inside lip of the drain plug hole to once again try and pick up any shavings. Nothing there. I cleaned and de-greased the threads (no more oil coming out as it sat overnight while I waited for the kit), then put red locktite on the outside of the insert and threaded it in as far as it would go by hand, It wasn't all the way seated. I dipped the insert tool in the oil I had drained out, and it drove the insert tool in until the insert was seated, then I kept the insert tool going after it started getting tight while it locked the insert into place, then another inch for good measure. The job was easy to do and the insert ended up flush with the base of the pan. I did insert the drain plug with a new washer, attempting to torque to the 18 ft lbs (25 nm) recommendation, but it just felt like the wrench wasn't clicking so I stopped and tested my wrench on the oil filter cap (same torque specs). Wrench worked fine. I'll leave the drain bolt very snug but short of the torque spec and will try again to see what happens after a few engine run cycles. Great kit. A little pricey for the tools, but they're made in USA (at least the kit is assembled here) and it's still cheaper than having a pro do the repair. Only recommendation would be to make all the tools fit the same size tap handle, but using the 12 point socket wasn't an issue.

Worked perfectly and saved me from have to buy and install a new oil pan.

This is a high quality precision tool. It oozes quality.Its the usual M12x1.5 Timesert Kit with 9.2mm inserts instead of 16mm and a tap guide (usually sold separately) included.I carefully considered my options before going with Timesert.I read the reviews and watched the online videos.Many have gone into the details of this type of set, I'll just focus on those aspects that I found little to no information on before committing.Descriptions of usage always give aluminum applications as an example, yet nowhere does it say that the Timesert set is not to be used on steel. Which is exactly what I needed it for.This is all understandable as stripped steel threads are not that common. However, they are not unheard of either.Anyone will tell you that tapping straight is the trickiest part of such a job.With the included tap and tap guide I found it to be a breeze. I really would not hesitate to encourage even a novice to attempt the job (after watching videos on how its done). The tap cut through steel like butter.Counterboring through steel with the included bit was easy, effortless and done in seconds.The insert driver, a marvelous piece of precision equipment, also did its job perfectly.However, drilling the stripped thread clean was a headache, of monumental proportions. The Included drill bit is of the same quality as the rest of the kit. Nevertheless, it was long hard work getting the job done. The bit just does not bite, it tappers of too abruptly and after the initial progress you end up with a polished "ledge" that the bit can't bite into.If you need to work on steel using a Timesert kit I suggest getting an additional, slightly smaller, drill bit, start the job with the smaller bit and then follow it through with the one included in the kit. This is only a suggestion however, as I managed the job with the included bit in the end.Finally a note on the merchant (Mechanics tools and bits). This is not the place, but I just had to mention this:I ordered the kit on a Saturday and it arrived in the mail on Monday. Amazon Prime orders I placed that Saturday arrived two days later on Wednesday.Thanks to Mechanics-tools-and-bits and good old USPS.

This absolutely works. This will not only fix stripped threads on an aluminum oil pan but it will make it better. The process took me about 30 minutes. That is only because i kept stopping to wash the metal shavings off my hands.I used this on a 2008 X5 3.0. The oil pan is cheap, only about $70 but you have to take apart the front suspension in order to swap it. Using this kit i was able to avoid that and again not only fix the threads but make it better. There is no oil leakage at all and the steal inserts are solid. The install went exactly as the instructions said they would at every step. This product and company is an amazing fix and improvement. The tap is self aligning but with the guide it goes in true.I thought i was screwed and looking at two days of frustrating work. If you have worn out threads or some jackass who did the oil change before you mucked the threads up then use this kit.