1.9 DG sump plug stripped

[HansT]

Usually do my own oil changes and servicing, but for reasons I won't go into the last oil change and service was done by a garage, who from the look of the copper washer when I finally got the sump plug out today must have done it up with a lot of grunt - far more than the 25Nm set for plug replacement on my torque wrench (and no, didn't use the torque wrench to undo the sump plug).
Yep, the sump thread is stripped - so should I try a helicoil repair myself, which I am up for, or try to find a mobile repairer?
Advice on the forum seems a bit mixed - some suggest that it is not a job for the faint hearted, others think it not so bad.
So, advice please - and can anyone recommend a mobile thread repairer in the St Albans area? and what is the likely cost?
Many thanks, hans.

[itchyfeet]

It depends on your skills, it's not to bad a job if you have some experience, I first tested the drilling, tapping and fitting of an M14 helicol on an old casting I had at work.

Personally I prefer to learn to do jobs myself then next time you need to helicoil something you have the skills and it saves money, sometimes you do a better job than a 'professional' too ( as you just discovered)

Some people prefer to work a few more hours doing their daily job and pay somebody for the knoledge and experience, it's your call.

If you do it yourself then you need to get it square there are no square surfaces on a WBX so I use a tube cut square ( check with a set square) which acts as a guide when held against the plug mating surface

[HansT]

Thanks itchyfeet, I've certainly got one or two ally castings from my two wheeled days ( I remember that some old Triumphs had important bolts etc drilled and wired to keep them in place...), so a little practice will certainly be a good idea.

Anyone else had experience of using a mobile thread doctor sort of visiting engineer? Any info will be most welcome. Thanks, hans.

[HansT]

So, having looked into the cost of a genuine helicoil kit (rather than a cheap imported one) it seemed a good idea to get a mobile engineer in.
Phoned several - some do not do sump plugs, a couple of others offered drilling and fitting a 16 mil oversize plug.
Finally found Martin Law, of Thread Reairs Ltd, who covers a radius of 55 miles from Harlow.
Phoned him last Thursday, booked him for the following day - job sorted with a 14 mil helicoil, together with advice on flushing sump with old oil.
He also specialises in removing broken studs. Contact him on 07831 591323 or 01279 418961.
My repair cost £80, which matched that from other engineers for doing an oversize plug.

[itchyfeet]

Thanks for posting, good to have reccomendations and prices