"Mystery Plug" . . . What Is It?

[BMWtyro]

Okay, Fellow E24ers: please be kind. Remember, I am the noobiest of noobs when the topic is M30 drivetrains.

With that in mind, what the heck is the plug in the photos below? (Click pix to enlarge) It is located between the engine oil pan and the transmission bellhousing and is clearly not the drain for either the motor oil or the transmission oil (I have already drained and changed both). Is it some sort of "slop drain"? Or is it something else entirely?

In the first photo, the plug is at left-center and appears to be directly above the crossmember. In the second, it is at right-center and shows its actual relationship to the crossmember.

Thanks.

Jeff

496677496675

[Sprocket]

That's for the break-in lube from the factory. You mean you haven't drained it yet?

[Layne]

Hard to tell, but isn't that the #20 bolt in this drawing? It's not a plug, just a bolt holding part #15 to the engine.


http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/a/e/7.png

[BMWtyro]

Sprocket,

"Break-in oil drain plug"? Are you jerkin' my gherkin? :rolleyes

UPDATE:

Yeah, Lane, that's exactly what it is: a bolt for that cover. But because of the weird angle it's on (due to the inclined engine design) and the deep boss into which it installs (that appears to position it at the very bottom of the cover), it sure looks like a drain plug of some kind at first!

Thanks.

Jeff

[Shipper]

bar fridge socket!

[Sprocket]

Ha! Sorry, but I wouldn't touch your gherkin with a ten-foot drain plug...