Beware of ECS Tuning Magnetic Drain Plug

acdHQK713K · 09-21-2012, 09:00 PM

Just had the head snap off on the drain plug leaving the threads in the oil pan. Didn't even torque it down. The plug has always been torqued to 25 NM in the past. Made for one of the longest oil changes in history

Luckily I got the rest of the plug out and went back to the OEM plug.

Looks like this is not the only time people have had problems with these cheap drain pugs, And here , oh and here, here also

ECS, maybe it is time to stop selling this POS?

ajohnson300 · 09-21-2012, 09:26 PM

Mine did exactly the same thing. I asked a rep at ECS if they were aware of this and he blatantly stated "No"! Luckily I was able to fish out the other piece in my oil pan. Buy this from someone else, too many are experiencing the exact same thing. POS for real!!!

secretsquirrel · 09-27-2012, 01:37 PM

I had the same thing happen to me. The part is defective and should be pulled off the market.

Spydeputy · 09-27-2012, 02:23 PM

same here, they replaced it but i'm affraid to put another one back in.

secretsquirrel · 09-29-2012, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spydeputy

same here, they replaced it but i'm affraid to put another one back in.

Its not worth it risk. Just use a regular drain plug or a magnetic one from another vendor.

Spydeputy · 10-02-2012, 06:09 AM

Who else sells a magnetic one?

Quote:

Originally Posted by secretsquirrel

Its not worth it risk. Just use a regular drain plug or a magnetic one from another vendor.

secretsquirrel · 10-02-2012, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spydeputy

Who else sells a magnetic one?

I don't know of one. I just used an oem one.

3002 tii · 10-02-2012, 09:34 AM

This is a widely known issue and yet they refuse to change the design:

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...oil-drain-bolt

http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24725

http://www.passatworld.com/forums/42...led-apart.html

OECMG · 10-18-2012, 11:21 AM

Yikes I just ordered one of these. Do you guys suggest I try to return it? It's not installed yet.

LivnLife31 · 10-18-2012, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spydeputy

Who else sells a magnetic one?

I bought mine from Bavarian Autosport- haven't had any problems!

N0OS3 · 10-19-2012, 03:54 PM

O_o this is like the fourth time i've seen this same problem with the same vendor's magnetic oil drain plug... like the poster said above me, you should just go with a different vendor. Be sure to ask lots of questions about the product next time... like what material it's made out of, how strong is the magnet, etc.
Remember... you get what you pay for... if you see a product such as this and it's somewhat expensive, find out why and it might be worth it to pay extra for quality.

secretsquirrel · 10-19-2012, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N0OS3

O_o this is like the fourth time i've seen this same problem with the same vendor's magnetic oil drain plug... like the poster said above me, you should just go with a different vendor. Be sure to ask lots of questions about the product next time... like what material it's made out of, how strong is the magnet, etc.
Remember... you get what you pay for... if you see a product such as this and it's somewhat expensive, find out why and it might be worth it to pay extra for quality.

I get what your saying but this is a low tech bolt that could be made for $1.00 or less. There should be no expectation that this bolt should be less reliable than an OEM one.

JetBlackE46 · 11-04-2012, 11:08 AM

for those of you who've used it, do you actually see any metal shavings on the magnet when you remove? just curious how useful this product really is.

in previous vehicles i've owned, it came with magnets on the transmission oil pan and those had tons of shavings captured.

Elliott@DetailAddict · 11-04-2012, 06:29 PM

Gold Plug for me. Have them in all my cars.
Rock solid.
http://www.goldplug.com/

Saigon · 11-04-2012, 10:21 PM

wow don't know why ECS doesn't take this POS item off the market

ECSTuning · 11-05-2012, 10:56 AM

Failures have been extraordinarily rare considering the number of plugs currently in use, majority of failures have been due to over torquing of the plug. If anyone has any issues with any ECS Tuning products please let me know so I can take care of you right away.

Snyperx · 11-08-2012, 11:05 AM

For the record I have this plug and have done 2 changes with it to this point. Have not had an issue. I make sure to use a torque wrench when tightening it up. I must admit though this thread as made me a bit paranoid now.

09-21-2012, 09:00 PM	#1
acdHQK713K Major 235 Rep 1,473 Posts Drives: Car Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	Beware of ECS Tuning Magnetic Drain Plug Just had the head snap off on the drain plug leaving the threads in the oil pan. Didn't even torque it down. The plug has always been torqued to 25 NM in the past. Made for one of the longest oil changes in history Luckily I got the rest of the plug out and went back to the OEM plug. Looks like this is not the only time people have had problems with these cheap drain pugs, And here , oh and here, here also ECS, maybe it is time to stop selling this POS? Attached Images
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09-21-2012, 09:26 PM	#2
ajohnson300 Abjm3 8 Rep 132 Posts Drives: 2012 X5M, 2010 Nissan GTR Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Watervliet, NY iTrader: (3)	Mine did exactly the same thing. I asked a rep at ECS if they were aware of this and he blatantly stated "No"! Luckily I was able to fish out the other piece in my oil pan. Buy this from someone else, too many are experiencing the exact same thing. POS for real!!!
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09-27-2012, 01:37 PM	#3
secretsquirrel Colonel 193 Rep 2,340 Posts Drives: f80 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Far North Dallas iTrader: (2)	I had the same thing happen to me. The part is defective and should be pulled off the market.
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09-27-2012, 02:23 PM	#4
Spydeputy Brigadier General 211 Rep 3,523 Posts Drives: 2015 F23 M235i/2008,E90,335xi Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The County, Maryland iTrader: (19) Garage List 2017 X5 M Sport Pac ... [0.00] 2015 M235i, F23 [0.00]	same here, they replaced it but i'm affraid to put another one back in.
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10-02-2012, 09:34 AM	#8
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2478 Rep 12,687 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (100) Garage List E86 Z4 M [10.00] F15 X5 xDrive35i [9.17] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.56] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [8.93]	This is a widely known issue and yet they refuse to change the design: http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...oil-drain-bolt http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24725 http://www.passatworld.com/forums/42...led-apart.html __________________ Follow for latest mods
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10-18-2012, 11:21 AM	#9
OECMG Banned 0 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 2008 328xi Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	Yikes I just ordered one of these. Do you guys suggest I try to return it? It's not installed yet.
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10-19-2012, 03:54 PM	#11
N0OS3 Colonel 147 Rep 2,217 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oak Harbor, WA iTrader: (5)	O_o this is like the fourth time i've seen this same problem with the same vendor's magnetic oil drain plug... like the poster said above me, you should just go with a different vendor. Be sure to ask lots of questions about the product next time... like what material it's made out of, how strong is the magnet, etc. Remember... you get what you pay for... if you see a product such as this and it's somewhat expensive, find out why and it might be worth it to pay extra for quality.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-04-2012, 11:08 AM	#13
JetBlackE46 Private First Class 20 Rep 106 Posts Drives: ///M Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	for those of you who've used it, do you actually see any metal shavings on the magnet when you remove? just curious how useful this product really is. in previous vehicles i've owned, it came with magnets on the transmission oil pan and those had tons of shavings captured.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-04-2012, 06:29 PM	#14
Elliott@DetailAddict Brigadier General 308 Rep 4,443 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Clara, CA iTrader: (0)	Gold Plug for me. Have them in all my cars. Rock solid. http://www.goldplug.com/
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11-04-2012, 10:21 PM	#15
Saigon Brigadier General 248 Rep 3,524 Posts Drives: BSM E92 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (47)	wow don't know why ECS doesn't take this POS item off the market __________________ 07' Alpine White E93 335i M-Sport \| BMW Performance \| Beige l Piano Black l Sport l Premium l Heated l Navi \| Steptronic l Comfort Access l Logic7 l iPod & USB \|
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11-05-2012, 10:56 AM	#16
ECSTuning New Lifetime Replacement Policy 847 Rep 11,738 Posts Drives: Independent Tuning Specialists Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ohio iTrader: (18)	Failures have been extraordinarily rare considering the number of plugs currently in use, majority of failures have been due to over torquing of the plug. If anyone has any issues with any ECS Tuning products please let me know so I can take care of you right away.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-08-2012, 11:05 AM	#17
Snyperx Lieutenant 98 Rep 513 Posts Drives: 2006 325i (SOLD) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Stoughon, WI iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 BMW 325i [0.00]	For the record I have this plug and have done 2 changes with it to this point. Have not had an issue. I make sure to use a torque wrench when tightening it up. I must admit though this thread as made me a bit paranoid now. __________________ Regards, SnyperX
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