Oil pan bolts fell into bell housing please help!

Asked by George Feb 27, 2017 at 12:21 AM about the 2003 BMW 3 Series 325i Sedan RWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Hello my name is George,
I have an issue i hope someone can help
before tomorrow sorry such short notice, a
friend of mine has a 2003 325i, I just
replaced the oil pan gaskt (P.I.T.A. JOB) my
question is, when replacing the 2 bolts up in
the holes of bell housing they missed and
dropped in if i leave them because cant get
them out will anything bad happen to
vehicle? I bought 2 new ones but affraid to
leave them there. just changed my oil pan
gasket in my 2003 325i manual
transmission, while putting the 2 pan bolts
that go up through the holes in the trans bell
housing they missed and fell in. So my
question is if i just replace them and leave
them in there (because i can not get them
out) will it cause any damage? Need to know
a.s.a.p thank you so much George Elmore.

8 Answers

59,755

Bend a telescopic magnet pen or get one that bends may can find one at wally world or if you can put a magnet on a string and fish them out just don't drop it in there too or see if the trans has a half bell housing that is removable to get them out. The flywheel spinning will more than likely catch them, may just chew them up but could do damage too. Some have a cu tout near bottom it may have a rubber grommet in it look and see, I really do not think there is enough room for them to be there and never get in the way, every bump in the road they will be bouncing around.

59,755

Look at this pic see the 1-2 inch slot bottom left it looks like it has a open spot just 2-3 inches back in the slot see if you can locate and work the out threw it, this trand does not have a flywheel so with one will be very tight.

59,755

The slot is just to the center left in this picture and the two pass threw oil pan holes are to the right which may be just the opposite from looking under the car depending on which way you are positioned yourself.

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