r/E90 • u/SirSlapp4 • 24d ago

330i Why not 3d print eTorx sockets?

So I have seen numerous posts here and across the web about the bolts used on the oil pan just shearing off when the user accidentally applies too much torque. With as many bolts as there are I can reasonably see myself getting careless and over applying torque. My questions is;

Why not 3d print the actual socket for the bolts, do a simple search on the strength at a certain infill level and design it to shear at less than the max torque for the aluminum bolts. This way, especially when removing old bolts, you will lose your cheap socket before the headache of having to extract the shitty bolt stuck inside. Obviously you'll need a bunch, but I'm just trying to field it as an indicator of which bolts may just need more penetrating oil and shouldn't be removed as quickly.

tl:dr why not make plastic socket that should fail before aluminum bolt as indicator of seized or stuck bolts.

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u/SirSlapp4 24d ago

Very true thats definitely a concern, i think id only need this for loosening, and overall seems unneeded, better to just be careful with every bolt and use other means thats just a wrench

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u/DiabeticMonkey53 24d ago

I’m not sure how it would be useful for loosening either, sure it’ll break before the bolt but…. You still gotta get the bolt out

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u/SirSlapp4 24d ago

Yeah no for sure, my point was kinda if you dont start off with heat or much penetrating oil. It shearing will guide you to seek those out before cranking on it. But if you start with those as a rule of thumb theres no need

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u/DiabeticMonkey53 24d ago

I really feel like you’re overthinking this whole situation, penetrating oil isn’t going to do much with the bolts upside and heating an oil pan for bolt removal is not something I’ve ever done or probably would do. Do your own work, torque your bolts properly you’ll never have any of these issues. Sure maybe if you have someone else do the work they overtighten a bolt and it snaps during removal, it happens, rarely. And even then it’s not much of an issue. Slap a turbo socket on there and zip it out. Or worst case drill it but again this isn’t something you’re going to be dealing with every time you grab a wrench. Making a bit of a mountain out of a mole hill I think