Removing broken wheel speed sensor - help!

[g3org3y]

Bit of bother chaps.

I've mentioned on my Readers' Cars thread about the wheel speed sensor on my BMW E46 330

When trying to replace the sensor a while back, head of the bolt sheared.
Old sensor:


Clearer view of the sheared bolt


Today, thought I'd give it another go and see if I could get it off and perhaps tackle the bolt.

This sensor was solid. Hit it with a hammer - nothing. Tried to prise it off with a flat head screw driver - nothing.

Turns out trying to pull it off (Oh er!) with mole grips...


Results in this:


Hmmm....



Any ideas? (Apart from the inevitable take it to the garage next week option...)

[g3org3y]

Penelope Stopit said:

Burn it out

or

Angled drill through center and then go bigger and bigger and....

Should then collapse with a few taps and come out, don't damage the teeth below

Drill through center of broken bolt, near enough will do, go bigger and tap a new thread, near enough will do

Thanks for the advice.

Did think about drilling out the sensor but it goes in quite deep. Am concerned I'd break the upper half and have the rest stuck inside.

It appears my drill bits are too crap to drill properly into the bolt.

I think, as a courtesy to the mechanic, less is more. Don't want to make their job even harder.

[g3org3y]

If anyone is interested, despite my best efforts (blow torch etc), the bloody bolt wouldn't shift. Had to take it to the local garage. They eventually had to drill it out, said it was a bd of a job. Makes me feel a bit happier about my failed attempts.