Dealer Stripped Oil Pan
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
'03 G500, '11 S550 4Matic, '12 SL63 AMG, '13 ML350, '16 AMG GTS Ed. 1
Dealer Stripped Oil Pan
Looking for anyone with experience, or attorneys lol, with a dealership creating an issue after a routine maintenance service. I took my 2016 GTS in for regular oil and filter change. Drive it home, park it for a couple days, and when I back it out for a drive I noticed an oil leak. Minimal, but still a leak from directly under the engine. Called the dealership and notified them of the leak and that it was indeed engine oil from under the drain plug. I take it back in as they wanted to "diagnose" the issue. They bring on the floor, it is indeed from over torquing the steel drain plug into the aluminum oil pan. As of today, they now want to "fix" the threads with a "plug insert" they are claiming is an approved fix according to MB. When I was on the floor with the SA and mechanic, both great guys and have a great relationship with, I told each that I did not want a plug or helicoil or whatever they call it as the "fix." I said it did not go with their creed of using only OEM parts and to correct the issue properly. They are now checking with their MB rep to make sure this is an approved fix. My initial feeling is to ask for a lifetime warranty on this fix as I am not confident in this "fix" having an economic life of a new oil pan with factory spec threads.
Thoughts, suggestions or ideas?
Thank you!
Thoughts, suggestions or ideas?
Thank you!
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
Likes: 6,277
Looking for anyone with experience, or attorneys lol, with a dealership creating an issue after a routine maintenance service. I took my 2016 GTS in for regular oil and filter change. Drive it home, park it for a couple days, and when I back it out for a drive I noticed an oil leak. Minimal, but still a leak from directly under the engine. Called the dealership and notified them of the leak and that it was indeed engine oil from under the drain plug. I take it back in as they wanted to "diagnose" the issue. They bring on the floor, it is indeed from over torquing the steel drain plug into the aluminum oil pan. As of today, they now want to "fix" the threads with a "plug insert" they are claiming is an approved fix according to MB. When I was on the floor with the SA and mechanic, both great guys and have a great relationship with, I told each that I did not want a plug or helicoil or whatever they call it as the "fix." I said it did not go with their creed of using only OEM parts and to correct the issue properly. They are now checking with their MB rep to make sure this is an approved fix. My initial feeling is to ask for a lifetime warranty on this fix as I am not confident in this "fix" having an economic life of a new oil pan with factory spec threads.
Thoughts, suggestions or ideas?
Thank you!
Thoughts, suggestions or ideas?
Thank you!
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
Likes: 6,277
See if this help by chance, all the best OP: https://mbworld.org/forums/coupe-roa...s-damaged.html
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
Likes: 6,277
So I peruse your original post again and realized you want suggestions on what to ask the dealership to compensate and not how to fix it right, if so, sorry about that, that thread might not be useful to you.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 599
Likes: 237
From: Suburban Maryland
2023 E 450 Sedan. 2018 GLC 300. 2013 E 350 Coupe (retired)
I'm assuming they already figured out that there is no way they are spending what I assume is considerable time and expense to fix this right (do they have to pull the engine to rrplace the pan?). You are left with option of trying yo negotiate with them or asking an attorney to write a demand letter to the dealer ownership. Are you willing to cover part of the expense to have this done? Are they willing to reimburse you for the loss of value on the car? Will you be satisfied by free annual maintenance? Maybe they will give you a nice credit towards a new ride? Determine what you want, and if they are unreasonable get sn attorney involved. Sorry you have to go through all this. Poor kid who did this probably feels awful and lost his job.
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From: Rome, Italy
AMG GTR 2021 (Euro version)
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
'03 G500, '11 S550 4Matic, '12 SL63 AMG, '13 ML350, '16 AMG GTS Ed. 1
Thank you for all the insight! I was asking if replacing the oil pan was the "only" repair that would be authorized by MB. Well indeed it is not according to the dealership. They are claiming MB has an "authorized" repair kit for a time sert. they also make a repair kit such as this I found. Oddly enough the delaership was not aware of such a repair kit.
https://www.mbusassep.com/toolbox/product/12330
I have not looked into how much is involved to replace an oil pan and if it requires an engine out process. At this point, and they are "still investigating" options that are approved by MB and the MB rep.
Has anyone ever contacted a MB rep and discussed anything similar for what I think is not a proper repair for a dealership mistake? I agree, the guy who did this is a great guy and I am shocked it got strtipped. I almost have to believe they had two people working on it and he was not the one who physically torqued the drain plug, which is also how it went unnoticed until days later. The only request I have made thus far is if they do not replace the oil pan I want a lifetime guarantee in writing for the time sert.
Anyone have any experience with a time sert? From what I am reading online it seems to be a solid repair. Solid as in it give a more robust steel area (the insert) for the steel drain plug to seat. I am no mechanic and have never used one and looking for any users.
Waiting for their response!
Thank you all!
https://www.mbusassep.com/toolbox/product/12330
I have not looked into how much is involved to replace an oil pan and if it requires an engine out process. At this point, and they are "still investigating" options that are approved by MB and the MB rep.
Has anyone ever contacted a MB rep and discussed anything similar for what I think is not a proper repair for a dealership mistake? I agree, the guy who did this is a great guy and I am shocked it got strtipped. I almost have to believe they had two people working on it and he was not the one who physically torqued the drain plug, which is also how it went unnoticed until days later. The only request I have made thus far is if they do not replace the oil pan I want a lifetime guarantee in writing for the time sert.
Anyone have any experience with a time sert? From what I am reading online it seems to be a solid repair. Solid as in it give a more robust steel area (the insert) for the steel drain plug to seat. I am no mechanic and have never used one and looking for any users.
Waiting for their response!
Thank you all!
Last edited by brianw430; May 14, 2025 at 03:19 PM. Reason: Additional info
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
Likes: 6,277
Thank you for all the insight! I was asking if replacing the oil pan was the "only" repair that would be authorized by MB. Well indeed it is not according to the dealership. They are claiming MB has an "authorized" repair kit for a time sert. they also make a repair kit such as this I found. Oddly enough the delaership was not aware of such a repair kit.
https://www.mbusassep.com/toolbox/product/12330
I have not looked into how much is involved to replace an oil pan and if it requires an engine out process. At this point, and they are "still investigating" options that are approved by MB and the MB rep.
Has anyone ever contacted a MB rep and discussed anything similar for what I think is not a proper repair for a dealership mistake? I agree, the guy who did this is a great guy and I am shocked it got strtipped. I almost have to believe they had two people working on it and he was not the one who physically torqued the drain plug, which is also how it went unnoticed until days later. The only request I have made thus far is if they do not replace the oil pan I want a lifetime guarantee in writing for the time sert.
Anyone have any experience with a time sert? From what I am reading online it seems to be a solid repair. Solid as in it give a more robust steel area (the insert) for the steel drain plug to seat. I am no mechanic and have never used one and looking for any users.
Waiting for their response!
Thank you all!
https://www.mbusassep.com/toolbox/product/12330
I have not looked into how much is involved to replace an oil pan and if it requires an engine out process. At this point, and they are "still investigating" options that are approved by MB and the MB rep.
Has anyone ever contacted a MB rep and discussed anything similar for what I think is not a proper repair for a dealership mistake? I agree, the guy who did this is a great guy and I am shocked it got strtipped. I almost have to believe they had two people working on it and he was not the one who physically torqued the drain plug, which is also how it went unnoticed until days later. The only request I have made thus far is if they do not replace the oil pan I want a lifetime guarantee in writing for the time sert.
Anyone have any experience with a time sert? From what I am reading online it seems to be a solid repair. Solid as in it give a more robust steel area (the insert) for the steel drain plug to seat. I am no mechanic and have never used one and looking for any users.
Waiting for their response!
Thank you all!
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
Likes: 6,277
You're welcome 
You deserve better, really hate these stealerships ugh... 
Here is a very recent horrible experience with these dealerships: https://mbworld.org/forums/w213-amg/...ver-again.html
Another one but last year: https://mbworld.org/forums/gl63-amg-...ng-thanks.html
Really hope your dealership owns up to their mistake and make you whole.
You deserve better, really hate these stealerships ugh... Here is a very recent horrible experience with these dealerships: https://mbworld.org/forums/w213-amg/...ver-again.html
Another one but last year: https://mbworld.org/forums/gl63-amg-...ng-thanks.html
Really hope your dealership owns up to their mistake and make you whole.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 21
Likes: 8
w164 ml350
Threads strip, there are plenty of ways to fix the thread without replacing the oil pan. I understand you're upset, but **** happens and fixing the threads is a much less invasive fix than replacing the pan.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 8
Likes: 2
'02 CLK430 '18 AMG GTS '22 GLC 43 AMG Coupe
