UPDATE: Oil drain plug is no longer aluminum on US F82s starting Sep. '14

[sh55]

BMW has changed the oil drain plug on US spec F82s starting in the September 2014 production month.

• If your US spec F82 was built in September 2014 or later, you have a steel 17mm socket drain plug (11137535106) and you only need to replace the copper gasket (07119963132) when you perform an oil change.

• For US spec F82s produced before September 2014, you will need to replace your aluminum drain plug (11117849396) every time you perform an oil change, this plug requires a hex/allen key (not sure of size).

Disclaimer: I did not confirm the above for cars spec'd outside of the US, and I did not confirm for other F8X variants (F80/F83).


Original post:

I was under the impression from other posts (namely the 1200 mile service guide that is sticky in this sub) that the oil drain plug on the F8X is aluminum and would be replaced with every oil change.

However, after doing my in between oil change this past weekend, I noticed that my car has the steel style drain plug with the replaceable copper washer (same as the F32).

My car: USA spec F82 M4 production week 37 (9/8/14 - 9/14/14)

Part number for aluminum oil drain plug I thought was correct: 11117849396. This plug uses an allen key, the steel plug that I have is much thinner and is 17mm socket.

I should also mention that there is no way the above mentioned drain plug will fit, it is much wider than the hole in the oil pan (I thought maybe the dealership that did my 1200 mile service changed it).

So, for an oil change for cars similar to mine (all USA F8X?) one only needs the oil filter part number: 11427566327 which comes with the copper washer/o-rings and the oil itself.

Has anyone in the USA confirmed they have an aluminum oil drain plug?

[rubber_ducky]

I'm no metals expert, but i wonder if the oil pan material determined what plug was used. Don't our cars have a magnesium oil pan or am I'm thinking of another model?

[sh55]

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

I'm no metals expert, but i wonder if the oil pan material determined what plug was used. Don't our cars have a magnesium oil pan or am I'm thinking of another model?

Correct, the oil pan is magnesium and I expected the drain plug to be different in the F82 than my F32 for this reason, and per the sticky in this sub.

[mul1gan]

just had my service done, SA stated that the plug was not replaced. I didnt get the chance to go into the bay and physically inspect and verify the composite of the plug. Can I assume that since they didnt replace the plug that it's steel and not aluminum.

[sh55]

Originally Posted by mul1gan

just had my service done, SA stated that the plug was not replaced. I didnt get the chance to go into the bay and physically inspect and verify the composite of the plug. Can I assume that since they didnt replace the plug that it's steel and not aluminum.

Yep, i looked at the diagrams on realoem and it appears to be the steel bolt with a copper washer.

Therefore the service should only replace the copper washer which comes with the oil filter.

[goneloco]

Originally Posted by sh55

So, for an oil change for cars similar to mine (all USA F8X?) one only needs the oil filter part number: 11427566327 which comes with the copper washer/o-rings and the oil itself.

Has anyone in the USA confirmed they have an aluminum oil drain plug?

When I had my 1200 mile service done it took an extra hour because the my SA said the washer did not come with the filter and they had to send someone out to get one. Perhaps it was a packaging problem, but I would have thought they would have opened another filter to see if the washer was there.

[Gearhead999s]

I just had an intermediate oil change done this AM and they changed the drain plug part #11-11-7-849-396.They tell me it must be changed every time according to BMW.

[sh55]

Originally Posted by Gearhead999s

I just had an intermediate oil change done this AM and they changed the drain plug part #11-11-7-849-396.They tell me it must be changed every time according to BMW.

That is the part number I was expecting to use fopr my oil change (I bought one) and per realoem here it is for the F82.

However, that drain plug is too large for my oil pan, and I was confronted with a steel plug when I was doing the change, so it may have something to do with the mfg. date.

Can you please post your production week for reference?

My F82 was produced week 37 in 2014 (9/8/14 - 9/14/14) and this is the drain plug type that I have on my car here which is the same steel plug with copper gasket used on pretty much every BMW model.

[sh55]

Originally Posted by goneloco

When I had my 1200 mile service done it took an extra hour because the my SA said the washer did not come with the filter and they had to send someone out to get one. Perhaps it was a packaging problem, but I would have thought they would have opened another filter to see if the washer was there.

I used the Mann oil filter, not the BMW one so maybe that is why (Mann filter came with copper gasket for drain plug and rubber gaskets for filter housing).

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by sh55

That is the part number I was expecting to use fopr my oil change (I bought one) and per realoem here it is for the F82.

However, that drain plug is too large for my oil pan, and I was confronted with a steel plug when I was doing the change, so it may have something to do with the mfg. date.

Can you please post your production week for reference?

My F82 was produced week 37 in 2014 (9/8/14 - 9/14/14) and this is the drain plug type that I have on my car here which is the same steel plug with copper gasket used on pretty much every BMW model.

I think mine was a August production.

[sh55]

Ok, after further research it looks like BMW changed the drain plug type in the September 2014 production month. Per realoem all the 9/2014 and forward oil pans use the steel 17mm drain plug with copper gasket. Therefore, you are only required to replace the copper gasket when changing the oil, and this is the same gasket used in most BMW cars so dealers should have them handy.

All US F82s produced before September 2014 will require the allen key aluminum plug. I assume this could be the same for the F80 and F83, but I did not check.

[sh55]

Originally Posted by Gearhead999s

I think mine was a August production.

Thanks, that means you had the last production month for the aluminum plug per my last post.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by sh55

BMW has changed the oil drain plug on US spec F82s starting in the September 2014 production month...

I already reported on this back in February(see my STICKY bellow). Its not just that the drain plug type has changed(Alu to Steel) but that the magnesium oil pan has been changed to steel.

Alu/magnesium oil pan to steel...
http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...&postcount=201