Ok, maybe it's just me or my car in particular, but has anyone else had problems with broken bolts?

The first one to break on me was one of the tiny external TORX bolts that hold the head on (the one in the corner above the waterpump). It broke during removal.

Next was one down the left center of the lower timing cover. I had it just about torqued down to 11ft/lbs when < snap > I heard it break. Sure enough, sheared right off midway down the bolt. :mad

When I finally get my car back together and write up DIYs about all this junk, I'm going to encourage people to purchase NEW BOLTS for everything critical. A few dollars would go a long way to ensure this doesn't happen to anyone else!

Rats, posted in wrong section -- mod please tow this outside! Thanks...

No, but everything else breaks.

Seriously, I recommend using new bolts every time the old one is out (for anything). It costs a bit extra, but rest assured.

On the flipside, I recently swapped diffs, and re-used the bolts (forgot to get em). You got me all psyched out that they are gonna break now.

Ahh well, more weekend projects :eyecrazy

I'm definitely going to get all NEW ones next time I do anything on the car... hopefully since the broken timing cover bolt is midway down the side, between 2 other bolts, and in a low-pressure area, it will not leak oil. Oh well, time will tell.

Maybe it's psychological (or psycho?) but I used a dab of JB-weld on the broken bolt and cemented it in there. Either I was vainly hoping it would tighten after it dried (that stuff is pretty strong after all!) or I just thought it would make me feel better not seeing that missing bolt head everytime I look down there... :D

Yeah. Front suspension control arm bushing. I guess they rust in tight and are nearly impossible to remove. BMW needs to do better.

i broke off the belt tensioner bolt right in the block had a shop remove the bolt $50.00