Broken Spark Plug

[AV325i]

One of my spark plugs broke on my 88 325i. This looks bad. How do you get the piece out that is left in the block? Is there a special tool? One guy on You Tube used a bolt extractor and did a lot of heating and use PB blaster.

Also, I have not been on this forum for a while. This may be a stupid question, but what is the M20, M42, etc subgroups. Is that a body type like an e30? Where would a person post e30 engine questions like this?

Thanks!

[Northern]

you could use one of those magnet-on-a-stick things that the snapon guy sells, or improvise and make your own.

The M20/M42/M10 etc groups are all the different engines that came in the e30. You'd have an M20b25 in your 325i

[5Toes]

Well best of luck to you getting that out.

It is possible, just have a lot of patience

[KenC]

I'd use a lot of PB Blaster. Let it soak overnight. Then engineer some way to get an EZ-Out in there.

[Jaxx_]

you could use one of those magnet-on-a-stick things that the snapon guy sells, or improvise and make your own.

he's talking about stuck in the head, in the threads, I think.


If that's the case, short of pulling the head, you might have to use an EZ out tool like KenC suggested. You might want to fab up something to hold your drill very steady and not touch the threads.

[AV325i]

Thanks for the replys. Yes, the treads are stuck in the head. From how hard the other spark plugs came out, I suspect that it will not be easy to get out.

I will start by soaking it in PB and then cut up an old spark plug and see which easy out will work best. They come in different sizes, right? I've never used one.

Some people on the net use a blow torch to heat is and loosen the rust. Might try that.

I might bring this project in to a good garage. If I damage the threads, or drop metal into the cylinder, I'm in bigger trouble.

So I have an M20b25 engine. Thanks! Is there any way to repost this on the M20 section to get more ideas?

[cabriodster87]

Wow, I've never seen a broken plug, got to be ugly. Spend a little more time and save heartache by removing the Exh manifold to gain room for extraction. Try left hand drill bit?

[jlevie]

I'd pull the head and work on it on the bench. To use an easy out you will probably have to drill out the center of the plug. Those shavings and the center of the plug are going to wind up in cylinder if you do the work with the head on the engine.

[priapism]

I've found with constant, hard pressure, plugs will eventually come loose. Hold the top of the wrench straight so you don't damage the porcelean and just push constantly for a while. I had a stuck plug on a Volvo and it finally came loose after pushing on it for about 30 seconds constantly.

[5Toes]

^ lol what???

[Ceeker]

plugs which get stuck either haven't been changes since the dark ages or...it was reefed in. Once you do manage to get the plug out. put some anti seize on the threads-just a little before installing the new plugs. The anti seize goes on the plug threads. not the head. Once you put the plugs back in just make them snug. This will make removal of the plugs much easier on the next change.

If you decide to remove it while on the head. Just remember to get high pressure air into the spark plug hole to blow out as much of the drill debris as you can from the chamber. whatever is left will most like burn off or blow out throw exhaust if you're lucky. the other option is just remove the exhaust manifold and shoot air through the plug hole and let it blow out from the exhaust side. Otherwise like mentioned removal of head could be the next step.

[bmwstudent]

if you decide to use a torch on your aluminum head, rethink that. unless you are well versed in using a blue tip wrench chances are you will f-something up. If you do not know what a blue tipped wrench is, ask a mechanic. (its a oxy-acetetalyne torch, get it?) We call it that because it has a blue tip and it WILL remove anything in front of it without hesitation

[KenC]

if you decide to use a torch on your aluminum head, rethink that. unless you are well versed in using a blue tip wrench chances are you will f-something up. If you do not know what a blue tipped wrench is, ask a mechanic. (its a oxy-acetetalyne torch, get it?) We call it that because it has a blue tip and it WILL remove anything in front of it without hesitation

LOL, I don't think he's planning on using an OA torch.

The smartest thing to do would be to remove the head.

[bmwstudent]

agreed, and them implement a regular maintenance program

[devon.818]

remove cylinder head
drill out spark plug
install new plugs
sell half spark plug on ebay as a commemortative BMW ornament for christmans
profit?