E36 Oil leak - Missing Plug in block?

sce7dmas · 02-02-2009, 06:07 AM

Hi all,

Developed a major oil leak on my E36 318TDS earlier in the week.
Once in the engine bay and some of the oil was cleaned off it was obvious the oil was coming from a hole in the front of the Engine!!!

Can anyone tell me what should be there? I'm assuming it should be a plug of some sort. Can anyone tell me a part number to mention to a BMW dealer (they don't know what I'm talking about from a quick phone call so far!). Any one got any idea how the plug is attached? I'm wondering why it has suddenley come out!

Thanks for your help guys.
Dan

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

I couldnt find it but check here:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?model=CC51&mospid=47440&hg=11&fg=15

sce7dmas · 02-02-2009, 10:42 AM

Thanks Jeron, I had looked on there but couldn't see anything marked up. The Cylinder head has the plug on the sketch but it isn't identifed!!!!

Visited a dealer today and they have no idea what it is!!!

Dan

Jeron · Jeron's Garage

It is threaded right. I would have said it was a casting hole that was covered by a bung but since it has a machined area around it, it looks like a sensor hole.

sce7dmas · 02-02-2009, 11:33 PM

Thanks again for the reply Jeron. There is noe thread on the hole in my engine but.....

Managed to get a mate to take a picture of his 318TDS so can see that this should be a threaded part, with a Torx head.

Also managed to identify what it is for on TIS:

As there is no thread in mine I assume that it was a threaded insert that has come unbonded from the blockand fallen out. Going to have to fashion up some sort of bung to bodge it for now I think. Depends how much pressure there is behind it.

Dan