Hole in BMW oil pan

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Buddy of mine hits a metal "thing" on I-10 in Fla.Thing punches a hole in the oil panp...about 1/4" dia.Car is a late model 300 series BMW sedan.Pan is cast aluminum...material analysis unknown.Pic shows view from front of car looking back (kinda looks like a gunshot!?!?!)Access is limited but may be sufficient to get a small tig torch w/ button cap in there.https://cid-8d552e035ecd3f75.photos....pub=SDX.PhotosQuestions:Can this be tigged in place?Fill the hole or cover with a patch?Level of risk of explosion?The no-risk method would obviously be to remove the pan and either patch or replace ($400 for a new replacement) but it's a PITA removing the pan.My friend's suggestion was to drill/tap the hole and screw in a pipe plug slathered up with JB Weld.  I'm not real comfortable with that but it might work...short term.Miller 211 w/ spool gunMiller Dynasty 200DXLongevity 60i IGBT plasmaO/A w/ crappy chinese torch/gaugesSouth Bend 10K latheGrizzly 4029 10x54 millGrizzly 7x12 hor bandsawangle grnders, bench grnder, bench belt sndr7.5 hp 80gal cmprsor
Reply:I'm not sure the pic is viewable...hope this works. Attached ImagesMiller 211 w/ spool gunMiller Dynasty 200DXLongevity 60i IGBT plasmaO/A w/ crappy chinese torch/gaugesSouth Bend 10K latheGrizzly 4029 10x54 millGrizzly 7x12 hor bandsawangle grnders, bench grnder, bench belt sndr7.5 hp 80gal cmprsor
Reply:unless you want to replace the entire BMW remove pan before welding...temp fix could be plug and jb but you MUST  clean it real good..dont even think of welding on the car...
Reply:Weld an oil pan in place.  LOL, that's a good one.But seriously, you can't do that because you don't have access to clean the backside.  Besides, whatever made that hole, and what's left behind from the hole, are both probably still somewhere in that pan.  And that's one reason I wouldn't JB it, but that's up to you.
Reply:What about an insurance claim?   Let BMW fix it (ka ching) and cover the warranty. It may be a real PITA to drop the pan. i.e. cross member, exhaust, yada, yada, yada....Most of BMW folks that I know wouldnt't let anyone other then the dealer touch their precious car...(i.e. my stupid broke sister)
Reply:drill, tap,  and tighten the plug..why jb weld? no differrent than a drain plug......
Reply:Pull the pan and patch and weld all around the patch. Done this on dozens of pans never had ant come back.
Reply:did an oil pan weld years ago with a torch. steel pan. wont do that again. got it done and walked by the drain hole. i was lucky. the flame came out of the drain hole and singed the hair on the back of my head. any slower and it would have gotten me in the face.
Reply:It certainly looks like it gouged the outside face of the pan pretty deeply.  If you don't want to take it off and fix it the right way, you can get some spray carb cleaner, clean the area the best you can, then use some of that gas tank sealer that comes in a stick.  You cut off a hunk, knead it with your fingers until the color is uniform, them cram it in the hole.  It will last many thousands of miles.  That epoxy stick stuff can stand up to running gasoline, so I'm sure it will stop an oil leak.Miller Syncrowave 350Millermatic 252/ 30A spoolgunMiller Bobcat 225g w/ 3545 spoolgunLincoln PowerArc4000Lincoln 175 Mig  Lincoln 135 Mig Everlast 250EX TigCentury ac/dc 230 amp stickVictor O/AHypertherm 1000 plasma
Reply:jbweld will last forever on something like that as long as it's cleaned relatively well & nothing is dripping from inside when you do it...miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:Take it off and do it RIGHT!!!!JB weld can and will FAIL at the worst possible moment..Drilling and tapping is NO GOOD either..All those chips that don't fall to the ground have to end up somewhere..Like in the bearings...And when the motor goes kaput you are the last one to touch it so YOUR IT!...zap!Last edited by zapster; 03-01-2011 at 06:43 PM.I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:I am with ZAPSTER on this.I was going to suggest the JB weld too, but if it was MY CAR I would take the pan off and check for damage and then take the pan and get it TIG welded. Do it rightHere is WHY. Because if you use JB weld you will have to worry EVERY DAY and check on it for weeks.And even then you will have to keep checking it. And you will worry yourself for a long time.Just get it fixed right. You will very happy you did it properly and you will know there is no damage and not metal part in the oil pan.And if you can make an insurance claim, it IS warranted in this case.Better look around for other damage in the area.The pan could be cracked too.Last edited by Donald Branscom; 03-01-2011 at 06:52 PM.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:I agree, much better to do it right, but, that don't change the fact that jbweld will last forever on something like that  a late model beemer deserves more than that though...miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:I think you might be able to pull the pan without to much work, loosen the mounts and jack up the engine a little, no need to take all that BS off, ...... I can't see from here but some cars can be done that way...
Reply:If EVER in my wildest dreams I could afford a BMW, I would want the best repair possible. If nothing else, the cost of a rebuilt motor would flash across my eyes every time something hiccuped!
Reply:Gentlemen,Thanks for the advise.  Here's the update.First, the BMW was a salvage title...no warranty.  My friend paid $5000 for it.  Nice car inside and out and ran like a champ....I drove it just last week.Instead of opting for a gas station / duct tape / pipe plug / JB weld repair in the middle of nowhere, he got his sister to drive his truck from Austin, Tx to the scene of the crime (Miss/La I think).  He then rented a car hauler and got the car back to Austin.Back home in his garage, he then attempted to JB Weld a thin aluminum patch over the hole.  Poured 5 qts of oil in the motor and fired it up.  He reported that, w/ the motor stopped, there was a slow (drip....drip....drip) leak.  With the motor running, the leak stopped.  (Solution to problem...never turn off the motor...or carry a drip pan for when you stop then pour the spillage back into the motor when your ready to go again....I would seriously do that.)He then found a mechanic in Austin that would R&R the pan for around $400....labor only.The mechanic insisted on installing a new pan and gasket...total parts around $500...wouldn't guarantee the job with a weld-repaired pan.So, my friend will be out about a grand but the car will be right.  He said I can have the old pan to play with...oh boy!But this saga has left me with one major unanswered question....where the hell do people get sisters that will drive their truck from the middle of Texas to the Miss/La border to pick up their sorry a$$ and haul their busted car back home!Miller 211 w/ spool gunMiller Dynasty 200DXLongevity 60i IGBT plasmaO/A w/ crappy chinese torch/gaugesSouth Bend 10K latheGrizzly 4029 10x54 millGrizzly 7x12 hor bandsawangle grnders, bench grnder, bench belt sndr7.5 hp 80gal cmprsor
Reply:Hi Everyone,I'm looking for some kind of advice. I have an Audi A4 that is leaking some oil. Perhaps up to a quart a week. THere's a smal hole/crack on the bottom of the oil pan. The stealership has quoted $670 for replacing the oil pan, but i've been reading that TIG welding may do the job just fine.If I decide to go this route, who would I call? An auto Body shop? a regular mechanic? Who would have such tools for welding? I would appreciate if somebody could point me in the right directionAlso, what should I expect to pay to have this done by a welding professional?Here's what the damage looks like.
Reply:if you  can take the pan off take it to a welding shop.  either that or take it to a mechanic and pay for the labor with no warranty and have him give you the pan and you take it to a welding shop and he replaces it. i am fairly certain he will not warranty the workwithout seeing it or knowing the labor rates for where you live I  bet the welding would be $75-100bobs77vet/37ford4drEastwood digital TIG200HH190Lincoln Invertec 155sLincoln weldpak 100sears/craftsman (lincoln) 50a 240v buzz boxO/A rig Harris gaugesnexion cut 50 dxchicago electric (HF) 240v spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by BTDGentlemen,Thanks for the advise.  Here's the update.First, the BMW was a salvage title...no warranty.  My friend paid $5000 for it.  Nice car inside and out and ran like a champ....I drove it just last week.Instead of opting for a gas station / duct tape / pipe plug / JB weld repair in the middle of nowhere, he got his sister to drive his truck from Austin, Tx to the scene of the crime (Miss/La I think).  He then rented a car hauler and got the car back to Austin.Back home in his garage, he then attempted to JB Weld a thin aluminum patch over the hole.  Poured 5 qts of oil in the motor and fired it up.  He reported that, w/ the motor stopped, there was a slow (drip....drip....drip) leak.  With the motor running, the leak stopped.  (Solution to problem...never turn off the motor...or carry a drip pan for when you stop then pour the spillage back into the motor when your ready to go again....I would seriously do that.)He then found a mechanic in Austin that would R&R the pan for around $400....labor only.The mechanic insisted on installing a new pan and gasket...total parts around $500...wouldn't guarantee the job with a weld-repaired pan.So, my friend will be out about a grand but the car will be right.  He said I can have the old pan to play with...oh boy!But this saga has left me with one major unanswered question....where the hell do people get sisters that will drive their truck from the middle of Texas to the Miss/La border to pick up their sorry a$$ and haul their busted car back home!