TORX Bolt on Thermostat Housing STRIPPED!!!

MSport_Jon · 11-11-2013, 05:03 AM

Problem;

I installed the BMS Oil Cooler thermostat in my n54 engine. Before i finally got it installed i ran into a problem where the new tapered thermostat did not fit my lid. Talked to Jason at BMS and he was awesome and send me compatible lid. he said that the lid i had on my 2007 n54 was one he had never seen before. I got it installed but started experiencing a nasty oil leak and posted a help thread here.. After checking and double checking everything, the leak would just not go away. so i took it to BMW mechanic. He swapped out the seals surrounding the Oil thermostat housing and the leak seem to be under control. Until last Saturday where i decided to take the car to Munich to go the the BMW Welt. when i came back home i decided to open the hood and the leak was back although not as bad but a leak nevertheless.
the leak seem the come from the seal where the thermostat housing meets the Oil Filter housing. I decided to recheck the toque on the TORX bolts and found that one of them is stripped, i am suspecting the mechanic did it and did say anything and because it has been a 2 weeks since the repair i gonna have a hard time proving it!... please see the attached picture

The bolt in question is denominated "A" in the illustration. it just spins and spins and although it seems like it is ok as far as sealing i am suspecting it is not...

Illustration "B" is where the bolt screws into and seems where the threading really is

Illustration "C" is the back of the area where the TORX Bolt is once it is mated with the Oil Filter Housing. It seems that it is a straight through hole.

My questions are;

Are these TORX bolts expansion bolts (Non reusable) and perhaps the damage is on the bolt itself and not the Oil Filter housing threading that once under oil pressure the seal is compromised? what are my chances of getting correcting wit just purchasing new bolts?

is it possible to use a longer TORX Bolt that would allow me to use a bolt nut on the other side where the Oil filter housing is and has any one done it that can perhaps give me a part number?

boom · 11-11-2013, 07:27 AM

If A is spinning, you're going to need to tap that hole a size up and get a bigger bolt. You'll never get it to seal without being able to tighten the bolt.

MSport_Jon · 11-11-2013, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boom

If A is spinning, you're going to need to tap that hole a size up and get a bigger bolt. You'll never get it to seal without being able to tighten the bolt.

Thank you! Does anyone know the size of "A" Torx bolt as far as length and threading..? is this a Torx bolt? looking it up in amazon and i cant find one that looks like this one...

not listed in RealOEM.

What about using a longer bolt and getting to through on the other size and using a bolt nut with washers?

07tundra · 11-11-2013, 11:39 AM

If there are no clearance issues you could do that and it should work. You could go to Home Depot to find out the size and thread type in their hardware section. Good luck!

MSport_Jon · 11-11-2013, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 07tundra

If there are no clearance issues you could do that and it should work. You could go to Home Depot to find out the size and thread type in their hardware section. Good luck!

Thanks brother, i appreciate that... by the way the specs on the external TORX Bolt in question are

M8 x 1.25mm x 25 mm

it should take an E10 Socket...

by the way i may have to repair the stripping on the oil Filter Housing...
plan to use this kit

Aerotest · 11-11-2013, 08:55 PM

Helicoil is a much better option over trying to run a larger bolt. I use them quite often. BTW any Home Depots over there in Germany? I didnt remember seein any.

MSport_Jon · 11-12-2013, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerotest

Helicoil is a much better option over trying to run a larger bolt. I use them quite often. BTW any Home Depots over there in Germany? I didn't remember seein any.

No man.... im sucking big here without Home Depot or Lowes... Everything is so hidden here as far as auto parts. There are some but there are small in comparison. Example, i tried this morning to find longer bolts and went to the local parts store... Can you believe the guy at the counter told me they didnt carry individual bolts and to head on to the dealer...

Im heading over today to the OBI Markt which is kind of Lowes so maybe i will find something suitable there...

i may order the HeliCoil system from the states and have it shipped here...

MSport_Jon · 11-28-2013, 03:42 AM

ok... so i purchased the long bolt with a bolt nut and some washers and that did the trick. It is very tight in that area to use counter tools so i opted to buy the helicoil system and i will repair the thread when the spring comes because the car is going to storage... The helicoils seems to be the best solution because using the counter tools system to tighten the bolt is not very friendly...

11-11-2013, 05:03 AM	#1
MSport_Jon Captain 134 Rep 619 Posts Drives: X3 F25 LCI /// F80 M3 (SOLD) Join Date: May 2013 Location: Bavaria, Germany iTrader: (2)	TORX Bolt on Thermostat Housing STRIPPED!!! Problem; I installed the BMS Oil Cooler thermostat in my n54 engine. Before i finally got it installed i ran into a problem where the new tapered thermostat did not fit my lid. Talked to Jason at BMS and he was awesome and send me compatible lid. he said that the lid i had on my 2007 n54 was one he had never seen before. I got it installed but started experiencing a nasty oil leak and posted a help thread here.. After checking and double checking everything, the leak would just not go away. so i took it to BMW mechanic. He swapped out the seals surrounding the Oil thermostat housing and the leak seem to be under control. Until last Saturday where i decided to take the car to Munich to go the the BMW Welt. when i came back home i decided to open the hood and the leak was back although not as bad but a leak nevertheless. the leak seem the come from the seal where the thermostat housing meets the Oil Filter housing. I decided to recheck the toque on the TORX bolts and found that one of them is stripped, i am suspecting the mechanic did it and did say anything and because it has been a 2 weeks since the repair i gonna have a hard time proving it!... please see the attached picture The bolt in question is denominated "A" in the illustration. it just spins and spins and although it seems like it is ok as far as sealing i am suspecting it is not... Illustration "B" is where the bolt screws into and seems where the threading really is Illustration "C" is the back of the area where the TORX Bolt is once it is mated with the Oil Filter Housing. It seems that it is a straight through hole. My questions are; Are these TORX bolts expansion bolts (Non reusable) and perhaps the damage is on the bolt itself and not the Oil Filter housing threading that once under oil pressure the seal is compromised? what are my chances of getting correcting wit just purchasing new bolts? is it possible to use a longer TORX Bolt that would allow me to use a bolt nut on the other side where the Oil filter housing is and has any one done it that can perhaps give me a part number? Last edited by MSport_Jon; 11-11-2013 at 07:23 AM..
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11-11-2013, 07:27 AM	#2
boom My X5d tows my spec miata to the track. 77 Rep 1,254 Posts Drives: 2010 X5 35d Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	If A is spinning, you're going to need to tap that hole a size up and get a bigger bolt. You'll never get it to seal without being able to tighten the bolt.
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11-11-2013, 11:39 AM	#4
07tundra Lieutenant Colonel 122 Rep 1,524 Posts Drives: 8.1L Chevy 2500hd Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New Mexico iTrader: (9)	bolt If there are no clearance issues you could do that and it should work. You could go to Home Depot to find out the size and thread type in their hardware section. Good luck!
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11-11-2013, 08:55 PM	#6
Aerotest First Lieutenant 15 Rep 315 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 335i 6MT Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Yo mama iTrader: (0)	Helicoil is a much better option over trying to run a larger bolt. I use them quite often. BTW any Home Depots over there in Germany? I didnt remember seein any.
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11-28-2013, 03:42 AM	#8
MSport_Jon Captain 134 Rep 619 Posts Drives: X3 F25 LCI /// F80 M3 (SOLD) Join Date: May 2013 Location: Bavaria, Germany iTrader: (2)	Temp fix for now ok... so i purchased the long bolt with a bolt nut and some washers and that did the trick. It is very tight in that area to use counter tools so i opted to buy the helicoil system and i will repair the thread when the spring comes because the car is going to storage... The helicoils seems to be the best solution because using the counter tools system to tighten the bolt is not very friendly...
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