And yet, the plug SHOULD be a 13mm head. There shouldn't be an SAE nut or bolt anywhere on a Mini.

 

On my 03 the original plug was 13mm, then they changed the size in the later years to 1/2". I think that is why I rounded mine the first time. Replaced the plug at the previous oil change and installed the new 1/2" and then (many miles/ months) later tried to remove w/ 13mm and rounded the corners..

Nik

 

1/2=.500 vs 13mm=.512

 

One thing that wouldn't surprise me, is if some 1/2" SAE plugs found their way onto a Mini after some Jiffy-Jock stripped the head off the original 13mm. When I worked for NAPA auto parts a wile back, places like that were our best customers for new drain plugs.

 

Naw I buy mine directly from Mini, the are now 1/2".

Nik

 

I haven't verified on the mini that you can suck the oil out...but that is how I have done all my BMW's.

I actually got more oil out that way. Not worried about any stuff settling to the bottom of the pan and "not being drained away"...since I don't think the draining process would flush anything sitting on the pan bottom anyways.

Of course it would still irk me that the bolt was stuck.

 

take it to a oil change shop, tell em that the bolt is stuck

i only paid $15 for new plug and pulling out the stripped joint.. + oil change with customer provided supplies.

 

The subframe bolts work better with 5/8" than they do with 16mm. Consider the MINI mostly Metric and part Imperial and you'll do fine.

 

Just reporting I had a severely tighten and then rounded oil drain plug.
The Irwin bolt grip sockets worked great. I did have to put a breaker bar and step on it from the drivers side wheel well. All is good again.

 

I'll add my 2 cents here.

I had this same problem on a Cooper S, oil drain bolt hit with impact gun, could not get it with an wrench, socket, or breaker bar. Breaker bar with 13mm socket ended up rounding the nut off. I then tried vice grips with a big pipe over one end, no luck.

I ended up filing down the edges of the nut until I could literally hammer a 12mm socket onto the bolt. I made sure it fit on there tight. One quick pull with the breaker bar loosened it up.

Sure enough, when I threaded in the new bolt in, it was an SAE 1/2". go figure.

 

Happened to me too. I made the dealer remove it at no charge since they had put it on too tight. I then replaced with a Fumoto.

 

Since this seems rather common, I'll also add - do not buy the oil plug at the dealer!

I saw it priced at 3.68 on realOEM, so I figured the dealer would charge ... maybe $6?. I go in and request it, purchase comes to $13! what a rip off!

Buy it online or at your local parts store.

 

I bought like 6 plugs for 4$ each.. Was maybe 3.50, from a vendor...mini oem. Still, I'll be installing the fumoto drain valve soon.
Don't laugh, I got the drain plugs so I could use a fresh on with each or everyother oil change and avoid the mess of roundindit off, or having the rubber gasket leak.