Glow plug tip snapped

[aturnick54]

BMW 435d, glow plug tip has broken off in the cylinder head. Is there any way to extract/remove this without removing the cylinder head?

[stevemcs]

Any chance you can get a camera in to see if/where it’s sitting.

If you can see it I guess it’s a magnet, sticky tape on a stick suction, if not head off.

[TwinKam]

When you say 'broken off in the cylinder head' do you mean there is a loose piece which is rolling around in the combustion chamber (in which case the previous post may help) or that the hex part has snapped whilst you were undoing it and the threaded end is stuck fast in the thread?... in which case you probably need a specialist engineer (such as the Thread Wizard in this area) who visits with his van full of magic tools to dig people out of the proverbial.

[Chris32345]

With all the issues people have with glow plugs snapping you'd have thought they start making them a little bit thicker?

Unless ofc many engines wouldn't have the space in the head for that?

[Jugosaurus]

TwinKam said:

When you say 'broken off in the cylinder head' do you mean there is a loose piece which is rolling around in the combustion chamber (in which case the previous post may help) or that the hex part has snapped whilst you were undoing it and the threaded end is stuck fast in the thread?... in which case you probably need a specialist engineer (such as the Thread Wizard in this area) who visits with his van full of magic tools to dig people out of the proverbial.

This. If it’s lodged in the head then get a thread wizard out.
I had the same over ten years ago and it was £250ish sorted on the driveway

[paintman]

Think it's the long thin pencil things in these.

Shear in various places.

You can buy kits to try & DIY but as already advised you'll do much better getting one of the specialist mobile guys out.

[aturnick54]

TwinKam said:

When you say 'broken off in the cylinder head' do you mean there is a loose piece which is rolling around in the combustion chamber (in which case the previous post may help) or that the hex part has snapped whilst you were undoing it and the threaded end is stuck fast in the thread?... in which case you probably need a specialist engineer (such as the Thread Wizard in this area) who visits with his van full of magic tools to dig people out of the proverbial.

It hasn't snapped at the thread, but at the tip. The tip so far hasn't fallen into the cylinder, but is stuck towards the bottom of the head.

[TwinKam]

aturnick54 said:

TwinKam said:

When you say 'broken off in the cylinder head' do you mean there is a loose piece which is rolling around in the combustion chamber (in which case the previous post may help) or that the hex part has snapped whilst you were undoing it and the threaded end is stuck fast in the thread?... in which case you probably need a specialist engineer (such as the Thread Wizard in this area) who visits with his van full of magic tools to dig people out of the proverbial.

It hasn't snapped at the thread, but at the tip. The tip so far hasn't fallen into the cylinder, but is stuck towards the bottom of the head.

[paintman]

There are special tools for removing that bit.

E.g www.sykes-pickavant.com/products/engine-service-to...

But best left to someone who a) has the necessary tooling and b) knows how to use it.

[sassanach0]

i have had considerably success with simply starting the engine in similar circumstances,However make sure nothing you need is in the way off the hole,(including you)and put a substantial piece of wood over the hole to catch it on its way out.Failure to do this will quite likely result in a hole in your bonnet(ask me how i know...)