alright, i'm changing out my valve cover gasket and evrything is going great. i get to the spark plug gasket retainers and one of the round metal pieces that holds the rubber down (can't remeber the name i'm so pissed) fell into the spark plug hole. it just so happens it is the perfect size to fit around the spark plug top and leave no gap around the sides, so i can't get anything to pry it out. i already trid a magnet, it's on too tight. any advice is greatly appreciated. thanx guys.:12:

Is it down in your engine ? your screwed

But if its just a small piece of metal stuck on the plug why not just pull the plug out even if u have to bend the piece of metal. Or a long piece of metal and hammer and tap around stuff I'm not sure what your describing I guess the 318's dont have that.

it's not down in the engine, it is a round metal washer that fell on top of the sparkplug. there is no room around the sides of it, or where the top of the sparkplug is poking through the hole of the washer. it is also at the bottom of about a 6inch cylinder that is to thin to get any pliers in. i can't take out the sparkplug because the washer is blocking off everything from the top of the sparkplug down.

Hopefully you haven't applied too much downward pressure on the washer to wedge it tightly onto the spark plug's barrel. If the washer is laying loosely on top of the spark plug's barrel shank you should be able to use a socket (of appropriate outside diameter) on a rather long extension and apply some kind of adhesive around the socket's outer rim to lift it out.

You may want to use a fast drying gasket cement for example. You can just leave the socket sitting over the washer while the adhesive or cement dries before attempting to lift it out.

Be patient! Good luck......

Bob ///M3

yah bob has good idea or maybe a coat hanger or two would help if you could use them to pry or push the washer lose. There is also long skinny screw drivers. Take a trip to hardware store and think while u walk around.

If you have some double-faced tape like is used to install golf club grips that should work. Or even better would be the automotive type double-faced adhesive tape used for emblems, etc. Put it on the outer rim of the socket and the tape should adhere to the washer with just a light touch where you can pull it off the spark plug.

Bob ///M3

PS - Or you could always use bubble gum!
http://www.dimensional.com/~bkelly/bgpage/Pictures/explosion.index.jpeg

thanx for all the advice guys. i'm going to the hardware store when my wife gets home from work. i'll let you guys know how it turns out.

You may want to search for a pencil sized magnet on a telescoping shaft that would fit down the tube and on the washer. If you see one, get it along with some double-faced tape and some type of very quick drying (thick) adhesive or cement.

Good luck! Next time cover those "holes" up with a rag or towel...they're magents for small parts!
http://bobcrews.homestead.com/files/Butt_Crack_URL.gif

Bob ///M3

Originally posted by Bob ///M3
You may want to search for a pencil sized magnet on a telescoping shaft that would fit down the tube and on the washer. If you see one, get it along with some double-faced tape and some type of very quick drying (thick) adhesive or cement.

Good luck! Next time cover those "holes" up with a rag or towel...they're magents for small parts!
http://bobcrews.homestead.com/files/Butt_Crack_URL.gif

Bob ///M3
nice pic:128:

yeah, use the adhesive; if its a copper washer, it isnt magnetic, if it is magnetic..the magnetize a small screwdriver.

and hey...at least the damn thing isnt sitting on top of the piston..then you would be up the proverbial creek..

That's a picture of Willy's skinny little ass! http://bobcrews.homestead.com/files/smilie_buttrock.gif

Bob ///M3


Originally posted by filip75

nice pic:128:

You'd be amazed at what compressed air will get out too. But Bob's idea is the best, assuming the part isn't all greasy.

Something like this might work. This picture came from sears, but I know you can get this at a hardware store (Home Depot, et. al.)

He said he had no room between the inside wall of the spark plug tube and the washer to be able to grab it with anything. Apparently the washer's outer diameter is about a perfect fit for the spark plug's inner tube diameter!

Bob ///M3


Originally posted by Bernman
Something like this might work. This picture came from sears, but I know you can get this at a hardware store (Home Depot, et. al.)

Originally posted by Bernman
Something like this might work. This picture came from sears, but I know you can get this at a hardware store (Home Depot, et. al.)
I've seen one of those thingamagigs right after the Doctor said bend over:moon:

i went to home depot and started wandering around aimlessly.....i got one of those bend over tools, a telescoping magnet, superglue, set of small but long picks. i used the curved pick to get it loose and then used the magnet to get it out. thanx for all ur guys help! you guys rock. also, if anyone is having idle fluctuation problems like i was you might want to replace the valve cover gasket, it fixed my problems. i also am now chirping gears going into third :) i don't know if it is possible that a bad valve cover gasket can rob hp, but i'm pretty sure mine was. my old gasket was like charcoal. thanx again guys. and a note for the rest of the diy idiots out there. plug those pesky holes before shit falls in them.:D

Hey, hey! I'm glad you got the washer out! Now I won't toss and turn all night thinking about it!

Yes, a vacuum leak from the valve cover will indeed cause rough idle and less than normal engine performance.

Cover those holes... or fill it with the right thing!!! :D

Bob ///M3

mike3fan .........

I know this is random. But that girl in your signature is SO DAMN HOT, sorry just had to say it. do you know who she is?

hehe sorry for random post i just had to ask.

Two hoochies from the Momo website. Probably driver's wives.

luckybmw,

What kind of idle problems were you having? I've been battling problems myself. This really perked my ears up, since I noticed some oiling around the valve cover area...

Thanks!

- Chris

the idle will jump around when reaching a stop for a few seconds and then come to a stop. the thing that set me off was the oil on the plugs and coils (not good). i got a new gasket from bavarian for like $25 shipped. the old gaskets i took off were like charcoal. the new ones like, well, new rubber. i would highly recommend this to anyone experiancing idle problems, considering the next most common cause is the idle control valve and it cost like $150 to replace.