so I'm doing my oil change, finish up, check oil level, (pull dipstick out, clean, place in, pull out....)

damn thing rips apart, I now have the plug with about 2 inches of stick and the rest in the car...

I use needle-nose plyers to get the thing out, and plug the hole with the top end of the dipstick.

Anyone else have this problem? anyone have an extra? or know of a wreck lot? Mini wants almost $30...

 

This is standard problem #5 for first-gen MINIs. An OEM replacement won't last long either - it's a piece of ...stuff...

If you can, upgrade to one of these: http://www.mossmini.com/Shop/ViewPro...eIndexID=58062

 

Sorry to hear that Schrieb!

Almost EVERY time I pull mine out I am just waiting for it to break. I may just go ahead and bit the bullet now as to avoid having to try and get the thing out later when it DOES break. Goodluck.

 

Its a more of a problem with the way the user puts the stick back into the car. I broke my dipstick and it is completely do to not supporting the rod as its pushed all the way in... When it broke on me it did not break completely and I just pulled it out with it hanging by a hair plastic...

 

^true

If the dipstick is installed incorrectly they will break, happens quite often. MINI has released a bulletin on this, not going to be warranty though.

 

My first one was replaced under warranty. After that, I bought the Craven version - no problems since. I don't think that it is usually a user error, it's just a really fragile piece of ...stuff... and a certain percentage of them break. Count yourself lucky that there was enough showing to remove it easily - sometimes they break a couple of inches down inside the tube.

I don't really think that a dipstick should require a training course in how to insert and remove it...

 

I have read many comments on this subject the past years. So before I pull the dipstick out, I gently twist the handle right and left just a little and then very gently pull it out. When I reinsert it, I feed it in gently supporting the full length with the other hand. What a PITA. This is the cheesiest design of a dipstick I have ever seen on any engine on any thing. But, if this is what must be done so be it--I'll adapt.

 

+1

Saying it was the OPs fault is a little weak. I can understand having a hard time with some of the maintenence on our cars but, the dipstick? Nah, should be easy.

 

The twisting left to right is what broke mine.
Pelican parts has the oem for 15.00 plus 2.00 for shipping.

 

...not to mention the impossible to read,dirty orange tip!
I'm gonna get a nice red handled one with clear,precise, graduated marks(from outmotoring).

 

I've broke two - don't waste money on an oem one, it will just brake again. I got the one from craven speed Little expensive, but its guaranteed for the life of you vehicle.

Nik

 

My dipstick broke a while ago. Well not mine, but my MINI's did. Replaced under warranty. Yep that is a real quality piece of stuff. I guess I just check my MINI's oil too darned much.

I'd love to see a copy of MINI's pull the dipstick correctly bulletin. Could you post a copy zminitech?

I'd love one of those nice ones made of metal, but I'm just too cheap I guess.

 

Incorrectly installing the engine oil dipstick can result in binding, eventually leading to a fracture in the dipstick shaft itself. Below are examples of a correctly and incorrectly installed dipstick. Do not use excessive force or twisting movements when inserting the dipstick.





Correct/Incorrect

 

Thanks for the visual aide.

Seems though however gentle one is that noodle of a dipstick is bound to break.

For what it's worth I use the technique shown in figure 1 & mine still broke.

 

Ive broke mine as well. Only problem is ive pulled out around 4 inches of it. the rest is stuck in or (hopefully not) in my oilpan. How can i remove the tube that holds the dipstick? I can locate one bolt but the other??? it wraps under too much. Help!

 

The other bolt is beneath the supercharger and is bolted directly to the engine block.

 

You may be able to get it out from the bottom, but most likely you will need to remove the front end to get to the last bolt.

 

Mine finally broke, I have an Outmotoring one as a spare. It's time to fab up an all metal one using the OEM handle.

 

 

 

Soon.

 

Done;

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...n-mcs-jcw.html

 

This happened to me on the weekend as well... 6" from the top of the stick. I was able to get the rest out though.

The link on MossMini shows it not being available anymore??