How To Repair Stripped Threads on your BMW

Unfortunately the aluminum alloy that was used on the M52/M54 era engines tended to get a little weak as it aged and especially if it was overheated (which mine was at some point before I bought it) and that causes threads to pull out, which has happened to me on my valve cover and I need to repair them. To do that I used this time-sert kit:
M7 x 1.00mm Time Sert Kit:
amzn.to/3J7QbKM
This video is for entertainment purposes only. 50sKid assumes no liability for any repairs or modifications performed by the viewer as a result of the information contained in this video.

[@FullgasNoTraction]

Tap sockets! What a wonderful invention 😎 Another well filmed tutorial Jason 👍

[@Lup3r]

This is the second time within 24 hours that you’ve uploaded the exact video on a repair that I was going to do!

[@davidebare3401]

I had to use a timesert kit to repair a stripped out rocker arm bolt. You’re right the kits are a little pricey but not near what it would cost to have it done “professionally”. In the end it worked and saved my bacon.

[@michaelwalton3631]

I was cringing for the first few minutes, certain that at least one piece of the timesert kit was going to end up in the timing case! But you clearly don't fumble like I do. Great video, thanks.

[@MBWchannel]

I dropped a stainless steel head stud nut in the crankcase, I had to remove the engine and take off the oil pan. It took about 4 hours in total over 1 little nut.

[@timboyle3114]

Only had to use a thread repair once on a cast iron cylinder head years ago. Touch wood - never stripped out any BMW bolts (yet). Used a Helicoil as that's what I could find. This one looks a LOT more robust than the coil.

[@wankersonwhisky]

This has always been my nightmare & why I have shied away from doing a VCG myself...thanks Jason!

[@Sarrge1]

6:02 congratulations for the nice big chips in the chain timing.

[@50sKid]

None of it fell in. I had a better perspective than the camera did

[@Sarrge1]

@@50sKid but whom are you deceiving? me or yourself?🤥🤥 the engine is yours, the car is yours.😑 you will wail later, not me or someone else🥱. watch it from any perspective you want, it means the most to you😬. Greetings ✌️

[@50sKid]

@@Sarrge1 thank you for your kind and supportive words.

[@dantheman1337]

Vacuum is probably best

[@Rusty-Shackleford69]

I've been waiting for this video, Jason! This is a nightmare scenario no one wants to find themselves in.

[@VincentMMoore0]

Great video, and thanks for all of them. Small add: IF someone was super cautious, they could buy a normal tap of the same thread pitch in order to start the threads. Then take the bottoming tap in to finish. That's the method I sheared off the threaded stud on my oil level sensor (OLS). I extracted the OLS studs, and re-tapped each hole, then replaced with bolts of the proper length and pitch.

[@customconnections2425]

Thanks for your invaluable videos man! Looks like you are getting in shape, congrats!

[@Cloverleaf7642]

Brilliant demonstration, thanks Jason.

[@joedemidovich6530]

You sir are a craftsman

[@josephguzman4737]

Literally Did this exact job last year. Highly reccomend the thread sert. The precise , quality and build of the tools makes the job go perfectly smooth. Use cheap tools, get cheap results. Simple as that

[@herrbrahms]

It makes me feel better to see that this happened to you too. Two years ago, despite taking all precautions I stripped the exact same threaded hole in my E46's head (cyl 1 exhaust side) and thought it was my fault. Like you, I fixed it with a Time Sert and the VC torqued back down to spec like nothing happened. There's a peculiar feeling of terror that grips you when you drill the head during the repair and see aluminum shavings come out. Have faith and see the job through.

[@Bemaritohtori]

Thank you! I ended up using helicoil on my M43 valve cover bolts. But as you said they are only 10Nm so it should be fine👍🏻 For more critical application I'd have certainly gone with Timesert. We'll see during the weekend how those coils handle 10Nm UPDATE: 8/10 Threads were stripped. I did Helicoil on all of them and it was very successful! I used 25€ M6 set by FORCE from Autodoc.

[@dantheman1337]

I helicoiled one of mine too. Seemed fine

[@lukasscott2970]

Thank you SO much for this video! E46 valve cover area always leaking, had the gasket replaced, the cover itself replaced, shop replaced everything including spark plugs and coils AGAIN...to no avail! Tool a curious gander at it one day, stripped bolt hole! 😵‍💫 Your videos have saved my ass several times, but this one took the cake 🙌🏼 Always appreciate you!

[@MsSheikh111]

I like your video like always Please don’t stop making more video I like the way you explain things And I’m learning how to works on my car thanks again

[@michaelblacktree]

Wow, that engine is so clean inside!

[@eddierofl]

Awesome vid! I had one of the oil filter housing bolts strip when replacing the gasket (that's a great vid too!) and I got a thread repair guy to come fix it. Pretty sure he used a similar tool, cost me about $150 aus dollars from memory.

[@johncoss5604]

Great video

[@thetoughcookie3665]

Nice video. I saw the piece flying! But so did you :D I tried this to my E53 rear chassis bolt on aluminum part, when it stripped couple of year ago, method was almost the same but the thread did go in by turning and then taking the mid piece of after it was in. Good way to save threads easily

[@quickliqproductions]

11:26 “Thats the HOLE issue”

[@--LZ---]

Yea I liked that as well.

[@apexfiend5015]

Had to do several of these in my M54 head last year. PO stripped several. Had a hard time getting the one in the back left corner. Still had trouble tightening one or two of the bolts. Ended up putting liquid gasket on the rubber gasket all the way around and snugging it down best I could. So far no leaks!

[@titolindj]

Lucky you that the repair had to be done in the front, any of the ones in the back and you're screwed! Great video!

[@50sKid]

Yeah those would suck!

[@dantheman1337]

Been there done that... i had to remove the wiper cover, cut all the drills down in length and use a right angled drill attachment.

[@CrazyOneToo]

Man you had me stressing when you were holding that insert with gloves on over that open engine.

[@thechuckster1971]

Have had success with helicoil on all of my oil filter housing bolts and a couple valve cover bolts. Would definitely use timeserts on head bolts. I put the tap in my drill and go slow and back out a couple times.

[@yungxsixbigswagdady6970]

Thanks going to be doing this on my m54b25 325ci

[@alexphillips1885]

Doing first Solo headgasket on a m54 praying I don’t need this video as reference too 😅. Just waiting on a second pair of hands to pull the head and reset it

[@igorchaves1232]

And when this happens on the very last on exhaust side? 😂😂😂 Im suffering! Lol great job as always Jason!

[@rotarythread]

Tip: use a lot of grease, slowly turning the tap back and forth to prevent it from breaking. Btw, we have the same tool you might want to try it out :)

[@wolflord256]

Ideally when running the tap in you want to use some kind of oil as opposed to wd40 to better manage the chips that come off. And after a few turns you want to back the tap out a 1/2 turn or so to break off the chips from the cutters, probably just a few more times than you did. More of a slow and steady thing.

[@50sKid]

In steel sure, but aluminum is quite a bit softer

[@lp2565]

Great video, Jason. I hope I never have to use it. lol

[@brandonbalauag]

I need help with that on my thermostat housing The tap broke half way in there and I can’t drill it out ??

[@50sKid]

Walton tap extractor

[@diegabe4166]

is there a recommended torque amount for the bolts

[@erlendberghansen]

I’m in the prosess of replacing headgsket on ny m54b30 and have recived the head from the machine shop the other day. Now I’m installing the studs for the camshafts and I notised that six of the studs have a little longer section of threads! Do you now where these go?

[@dantheman1337]

The thread at the very back of the engine was stripped for me. I had to remove the wipers and the cover to get at it ( or take the engine out). Massive pain in the ass.

[@netherlandhomestead]

I’ve got a 02 330i that has been sitting for 3-4 years not running. Supposedly the CCV needs to be replaced and the intake box and boots are removed. What things should I probably go ahead and figure in replacing to get it back up and running?

[@ironnerd8336]

Ty! I have been lucky enough to avoid TimeSert for now. Would a Helicoil not work just as well for the application? VCGs are pretty much hand tight on there anyways. A lot of people see inch-pound specs and go foot-pound gorilla on those things. Not questioning you, just trying to save someone money if their VCG studs strip.

[@RobertoRodriguez-yi1ng]

How would you do this on one of the threaded holes on the back with blockage from the frame? On an M54 for an E46

[@jerrynapier4994]

Strippedkut threads replacements on a crown Vic 2002odrlonbavk side how to remove

[@oiygfdxssfgg]

Aren't you supposed to add lock tight as well.

[@SettinFools]

man i need your help i have a 2001 bmw 330ci , the heater fuse stops my car from starting , if i put heater fuse in it works but car wont start until i remove fuse then it starts ?? help !

[@MrScorpioninstinct]

Hi jason! stripped my m54 gm transmission housing threads.real oem states the bolt as M6x16. what size time sert do i need to repair those threads. there are 20 bolts in total and 8 of them are stripped. the pan was leaking before i bought the car and i found this out while doing my transmission pan filter and gasket teplacement. Please help.

[@EuphoriaMusic1]

Can someone please let me know when it's actually considered stripped? I'm chasing an injector leak (N55) and I've read it could be the holding clamp bolt holes that can get stripped. I've looked in there and sure enough there are some holes that don't look as pristine. However, every clamp sits down tight with no movement what's so ever, I've also tried pulling the clamp up and out and it does not budge. Does this indicate that my bores are still ok?

[@petar443]

I've heard if you drive too much time with leaking injector seals , the walls of the bores become rough. Then when you install the new injector seals, the rough wall surface scratches the new seals and they leak again.

[@EuphoriaMusic1]

@@petar443Makes sense, but all seals are intact

[@anthonyspeters7203]

Think that tap your using is known as a plug tap!

[@johncoss5604]

Do you put loctite on the time sert

[@petar443]

Same question exactly.

[@Bemaritohtori]

@@petar443 honestly it wouldn't hurt. But it isn't totally necessary

[@50sKid]

Unnecessary for such a small thread size. If this were for the head bolts, I would have (and did)

[@TedSchoenling]

if you are drilling anything tougher than aluminum use a real oil WD 40 isn't a lube

[@flyhacking5830]

Looks like you lost a lot of weight!