German engineering

[AM28]

I hate German engineering, and I specifically hate BMW most of all. I have two newer BMWs and it is nothing but one expensive hard to fix problem after another. When I see someone driving or riding a BMW I just feel bad for them. Poor sucker, you were as stupid as I was.

I have removed and replaced thousands of drain plugs on just about every kind of vehicle, motorcycle, airplane, boat, that you can possibly think of. I have never once stripped or broken a drain plug. Stupid design.

 

[DustyRusty]

I believe that the BMW, like the Mercedes the oil is usually pumped out of the engine by inserting a plastic tube down the dipstick tube. Some of these newer cars don't even come with a dipstick, just a tube with a cap that requires a special tool to remove.

 

[AM28]

I believe that the BMW, like the Mercedes the oil is usually pumped out of the engine by inserting a plastic tube down the dipstick tube. Some of these newer cars don't even come with a dipstick, just a tube with a cap that requires a special tool to remove.

That is correct for some models. I made my own dipstick from a parts car. Filled the oil levels, trans and engine to specs cold, made a mark, then ran it hot and made another mark. One side for eng oil and the other for tranny.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I believe that the BMW, like the Mercedes the oil is usually pumped out of the engine by inserting a plastic tube down the dipstick tube. Some of these newer cars don't even come with a dipstick, just a tube with a cap that requires a special tool to remove.

Wow - this has turned into a a real hot button debate

BMW eliminated engine oil dipsticks on virtually all models around 2006 and they still use engine oil drain plugs.

Dan

 

[TheOldHokie]

I'll agree the undercut is possibly a stress relief or just a place for the sealing washer to expand into???
But the hole is for a magnet that they have left out because it's of little use, it's a left over design from years past.

After doing some research it looks like this plug is actually an aftermarket magnetic plug (sans magnet) of the type sold by ECS Tuning and FCP Performance among others. The Bimmer forum has numerous threads spread over a decade plus bashing them because they do exactly what my son experienced - snap off when tightened.

My apologies for the kerfuffle

Dan

 

[mikester]

Apple uses a charge counter for it's laptops and once the counter hits 1,000 battery recharges your device gets crippled through software so you have to go and buy a new laptop.

BM-Trouble-You does the exact same thing with it's hardware- designed to fail and create a steady future revenue stream at the stealership.

Elon Musk thinks his fanboys will buy his $50K taxi-turds without steering wheels or operator controls and when Elon remotely shuts them off the fanboys will think nothing of buying a new $50K disposable turd.

 

[GrassLakeRon]

I personally love German engineering. My Mercedes W126 was the best riding car I ever owned. My German appliances haven't failed me yet. The same can be said about my Japanese engineered toys.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Hmm, at least there IS a drain plug. Seems JD had a 'better idea' for a series of their riding mowers, NO drain plug for the HST unit.Due to other 'improvements',these HST units wouldn't climb up SMALL inclines. I bought a 2 year old machine,less than 80hrs on it, looked and smelled new, it was that clean as I wanted the engine but decided to tear the HST apart to see why. Penny pinchers at JD never installed the magnets ,used SAE30 oil and of course no drain plug.
So it's not just the Germans who can't engineer properly !

 

[TheOldHokie]

After doing some research it looks like this plug is actually an aftermarket magnetic plug (sans magnet) of the type sold by ECS Tuning and FCP Performance among others. The Bimmer forum has numerous threads spread over a decade plus bashing them because they do exactly what my son experienced - snap off when tightened.

My apologies for the kerfuffle

Dan

AMAZON just delivered the replacement (Dorman) plug. Generic 14mm plug with multiple BMW, Mercedes, and Mini applications. Its hollow but no magnet or undercut.

Dan

 

[DustyRusty]

I personally love German engineering. My Mercedes W126 was the best riding car I ever owned. My German appliances haven't failed me yet. The same can be said about my Japanese engineered toys.

I bought my first Mercedes in 1966 and it was a tank to steer, and no creature comforts, but it was a diesel and that is what I wanted. Every couple of years after that one I would upgrade to a new model and it was improved over the old one. The best diesel I had was the 350SDL until the particulate filter and turbo went out. Had it replaced 3 times under warranty and then MB said no more, the lifetime warranty was over. Bought an E300 wagon and drove that for a few years put it in the garage and forgot about it for about 10 years. When I took it out the mice ate the electrical system wiring. Now I own Ford products and am very happy with them.

 

[mcmxi]

I personally love German engineering. My Mercedes W126 was the best riding car I ever owned. My German appliances haven't failed me yet. The same can be said about my Japanese engineered toys.

Me too! I consider German engineers to be top tier when it comes to design and manufacturing.

 

[GrassLakeRon]

I bought my first Mercedes in 1966 and it was a tank to steer, and no creature comforts, but it was a diesel and that is what I wanted. Every couple of years after that one I would upgrade to a new model and it was improved over the old one. The best diesel I had was the 350SDL until the particulate filter and turbo went out. Had it replaced 3 times under warranty and then MB said no more, the lifetime warranty was over. Bought an E300 wagon and drove that for a few years put it in the garage and forgot about it for about 10 years. When I took it out the mice ate the electrical system wiring. Now I own Ford products and am very happy with them.

I had a 1987 420 SEL in light ivory. I could push that car into a corner and never, and I mean never, feel in trouble for doing so. If I could find one I would own one again.

 

[GrassLakeRon]

Me too! I consider German engineers to be top tier when it comes to design and manufacturing.

Bruno Sacco just passed away about three weeks ago. His designs pushed Mercedes to their best selling years. His designs of the w126 earned him several awards, one even as the w126 as art! Mercedes has never sold as many S Class cars then during the w126 years.

 

[mikester]

Hmm, at least there IS a drain plug. Seems JD had a 'better idea' for a series of their riding mowers, NO drain plug for the HST unit.Due to other 'improvements',these HST units wouldn't climb up SMALL inclines. I bought a 2 year old machine,less than 80hrs on it, looked and smelled new, it was that clean as I wanted the engine but decided to tear the HST apart to see why. Penny pinchers at JD never installed the magnets ,used SAE30 oil and of course no drain plug.
So it's not just the Germans who can't engineer properly !

No, that's accountants running the engineering department. Save $0.02 on a million units? Done

 

[GrassLakeRon]

This is a testament to German engineering. 60 mph head-on off set crash with no air bags.

I wish all cars where this good.

 

[lugbolt]

can't speculate on german but when I was doing more racing, weight was a BIG deal. Lighter cars are safer cars also allows one to move ballast around to maintain minimum weight yet the ballast could be used to 'adjust' the car's characteristics.

During weight-conscious car building we found that use of hollow fasteners and titanium fasteners in non-critical areas was worth quite a bit of weight overall. If you took all the bolts out of a car and put them in a bucket, you'd see what I mean-on my little deal, it was worth about 34 lbs total savings by using alternative fasteners.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

i remember when someone running NASCAR was using hollowed out carb mounting bolts got caught.

 

[AM28]

i remember when someone running NASCAR was using hollowed out carb mounting bolts got caught.

Smokey?

 

[Yooper]

Don’t get me wrong. I respect German engineering. But I have an engineer friend that likes to say that while the engineers were arguing the paint specs on the ME109, we cranked out a thousand B17s.

And then there’s Swiss engineering…

 

[GrassLakeRon]

How many US training films underscored to not be afraid of things like the mg42. My American made Ruger has a Mauser action.

I will say for full disclosure I am 40% German. My mom's dad side left in 1880 about the S.S. Abraham Lincoln to get away from the crazy Kaiser.