Did you drop the oil pan yourself or have it done somewhere else? If you didnt do it and it wasn't covered under warranty what did it cost you?

 

I would drop the oil pan to get it out if it was mine.
This is clearly a design fault irregardless of the sniping at Chrysler, BMW was just as involved in approving and accepting it. Sure it's a major pain in the A$$ and they should do something about it but thats just wishful thinking.

I'm using the CravenSpeed dipstick from the group buy trying to avoid the same dilemma.

Any feedback what so ever that the CravenSpeed dipstick also breaks off and I'm going to find a metal one and adapt it to mine. I just had a Uhaul Ford V8 truck that has a nice thin metal one that looked like it could be adapted.

 

jeffc, did you get it fixed yet?
Question, how long is the dipstick piece still attached to the handle.

 

No not yet. I am going to bring it to the dealer and get a estimate before doing anything.

3 - 4 inches. It broke off right before the bend in the tube.

 

I have one of these flexible grabber tools (see Pictures) that if modified should do the job.
If you take some needle nose pliers and gently bend the claws at the tips inward so that they point back inward toward the center you will have a pretty effective claw for for grasping the broken dip stick to pull it out.
You will have to visualize a bit from the drawing.

 

Interesting where can I get one of those gadgets? The only issue I see is it may not have the gripping power to pull it out.

If there was tool that that went around the dipstick and I could twist it on that might work. I am will to try anything.

 

Bend between the end and the last bend so that the claws will grip and dig in.

I checked out my after market dip stick just now and guess what?

There are fine hair line cracks in the stick just before the bend.
I had a notion to go get it and take pictures but on second thought will address this with our vendor first.

 

Most any auto parts store that sells tools or Sears will have them, they aren't expensive. In their standard form they wouldn't work, they would just slip off. Oh gripping power? Just put your finger in there and release the spring tension and get out the bandages.

 

You could always use one of those super long needle nose pliers that fisherman use to get the hooks out of the fish if it swallows it (most academy's have them)

 

After looking at some of these reply's I just had another thought. If you could get a proper diameter spring at a hardware store and fasten it to a rod. Then slide it down the dip stick tube and twist the rod to screw it onto the broken piece. It would be kind of like the Chinese finger hand cuffs. The harder you pull the more it tightens. It may require some fiddling but may work.
Steve

 

Of the two extraction methods needed when the stick breaks too far down in the tube, removing the dip-stick tube on the MCS is more complicated. The S model dip-stick tube has two fastener locations, one on the supercharger and the other on the engine block; but in order for the tube to clear its hole in the case when pulled up, the supercharger has to be shifted upwards a few millimeters. This means the intercooler, alternator, supercharger bolts, throttle body, and supercharger intake duct must be removed. The front of the supercharger can remain suspended on the dowel while pushing upwards slightly. Care must be taken not to move the supercharger off the dowel or radically cant the water pump’s coolant intake tube; for those reasons it is safer to remove the belt tensioner, disconnect the coolant hoses, and pull the supercharger. There are much fewer concerns when dropping the oil pan and pulling the stick from bellow.

I may be simplistic with this suggestion, but I pull the OEM dipstick more than a hundred times a year and the stick is still intact after almost five years; allow the stick turn on its own while pulling and inserting. I give it a yank with a hooked finger to clear the o-rings and keep a loose grasp allowing the wrist to twist and hand to pronate or supinate depending upon which direction the stick is going.

 

I'd like to know more about the "space-aged super secret material" Craven claims about the dip stick before I'd part with $75 for a machined handle and a stick that looks suspiciously like the OEM material. Looks like were paying for a spiffy looking handle rather than an improved part
Ramjet

 

Thanks for all the post .. keep the information coming. I am going to try some stuff this weekend.

 

I took my car in for an inspection and a flat repair and the shop "helped me out" by checking my oil and they broke the dipstick. It is still in one piece but when I checked the oil this weekend, I could see it was fractured about 8 inches from the end.

Does anyone know the replacement cost? I can see them having a problem with this since it was a week after they did the work that I noticced it and want to be armed with the cost going in if they whine.

 

man my damn thing broke few weeks back and i tried to fix it today but failed... pisses me off so much.

the center, thread like things, all been pulled out while i was trying to pull that p.o.s. out, so i decided to drill in a small screw and grab on that to pull but that damn screw broke too.. i'm stuck.. it snapped off 1/4 inch below the top of the tube.. so i can' clearly see it but don't have clear grip on it...

any help?

 

The last time I removed the dipstick tube, moving the supercharger upwards was not required. Whether it was bent on one of the other removals or I tried harder is a guess, but removing the tube would be the first approach to try before dropping the oil pan. The front will need to be positioned in service mode to gain access to the bottom bolt.

 

so if u put it in service mode, u get access to all the bolts? i believe there is two?

thanks!

 

Get a Cravenspeed DS "before" it breaks...works for me...

 

Helix got mine out and at 1/4 the price of the dealership. They did have to put it in service mode and drop the oil pan.

I heard the cravens have been known to break as well. Hopefully mine doesn't break again but I may just buy a new one every year at $14 it is cheap insurance to replace annually.

 

dealer charged $24.for the dipstick in Honolulu,Hi.

 

what is service mode?

can't you just take the oil pan off and pull it out?

 

There is nothing saving the plastic dipstick from deformation and eventual breakage if there is ANY problem putting the dipstick back in the tube. My 2004 has a severe hump that turning twisting and being "Nice" during insertion has been able to overcome. I am now on dipstick #3 at 32,000 miles and anticipate a yearly problem until a suitable metal solution is found.

It stinks that a simple item from MINI could provide such a problem but the tube on newer 07's and 06's have inserted rods that work like...well very smooth.

My 2004 S.....would be glad to offer $70 for a METAL rod...no more super slick plastic/synthetics.

ANYONE KNOW OF A METAL REPLACEMENT???
Thanks

 

Pulled my dipstick the other day, and saw the plastic had cracked, about 4 inches down from the top. Nylon threads are exposed. So it's close to breaking completely. Obviously I wish to replace before it does snap off down in the tube. Will the dealer give out a free replacement? I'm at 13K miles on my 06 MCS.

 

Even if they don't they are only $13.

 

sorry you had so much trouble with the stick. i had the original craven break but now have their new and improved one. i was able to pull out the dipstick tube after unbolting it. Tuls assured me the tube would pull out of the oil pan and it did. tight fit getting at everything though.