Allan,
We had a very similar issue just this last week.� My advice is to not do a helicoil!� It will eventually strip again.� A helicoil had apparently had been installed once before in our case, and the metal gave way and desintegrated. Our research pointed to a better solution:�the steel "TimeSert" sleeve.� Its a steel threaded sleeve that is inserted, and then the oil plug screws into that .� The kit is $115 for five of them.� Excellent "how to" video on their website.� We called the mechanic we had recently started using, and they actually had one and installed it for $55... well worth not paying for the 4 extras (Plug here - no pun intended - for German Motors in Mesa AZ!).� We bought a temporary expanding oil plug from AutoZone to allow us to drive to the repair shop and that worked well too.��Here's the email response TimeSert sent us which gives all the information and the website:
�
{This should be a M14x1.5 as VW has used this size for many years.
you can verify to be sure.
kit p/n 1415A price $115.95
Kit includes all the tools and 5 inserts of a 12.7mm length.
Here is a link to the instructions which are included in the kit.
http://www.timesert.com/html/drain-plug-repair.pdf

The tooling has square drives so if you have square drive sockets
that will make it easy to hold the square using a 3/8 ratchet.
If you don't have a square drive socket you may optionally try using
a 12 point socket as this can drive a square fairly well as a standard
6 sided socket will not.
Recommended:
We sell a 3pc. socket that will drive all the tools p/n 70940 found here:
http://www.timesert.com/html/drainplugNote2.html
Price $30.83}
�
Good luck, Madeline� 
�
Date:��� Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:37:26 -0500
From:��� Allan Streib <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
Subject: oil drain threads stripped

Changing the oil tonight in my WBX.� When I first got the van, the plug
bolt installed had too large a head and I had to grind down a socket to
fit.� So I ordered the correct plug and crush washer, and was going to
install it but found that I could barely get it beyond finger tight --
it just keeps turning.� So, it would seem the threads in the case are
stripped out.� 

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