Hey Las Vegas community,

I recently moved to the city and started my first job here in the USA. I bought a used BMW 528i xDrive (2012) but made the mistake of not thoroughly checking the car before purchasing. During an inspection, I discovered the oil pan drain plug had been siliconed in a very hacky manner. Additionally, the car needed engine mount replacements, which I didn’t realize would be extremely costly.

Feeling taken advantage of by the seller, I found a mechanic who replaced the engine mounts for much less than what others quoted. This same mechanic also helped with an oil change and informed me that this would be the last time he could silicone the drain plug. He mentioned that next time, I’d need to replace the entire oil pan, although there's no visible oil leakage at the moment.

The first mechanic I consulted, at South West Bimmer, was very discouraging and suggested I sell the car, which has made me wary of trusting mechanics. Despite this, the car has been running well without any major issues (I have driven it over 9k miles).

I plan to replace the oil pan soon and my current mechanic quoted me $2.5k for the job, which is significantly less than the $3.5k-$3.8k others quoted. He also agreed to let me bring my own parts, which I’ll be ordering from FCP Euro.

Since I’m new to owning a car, I’d really appreciate any advice or suggestions from those with more experience. Specifically, I’m looking for:

1. Opinions on replacing the oil pan: Is this the right move, given the current state of my drain plug?
2. Mechanic recommendations: Do you know any trustworthy mechanics in Las Vegas who might offer better prices or quality service?
3. Performance mods: If I have to remove the engine for the oil pan replacement, are there any worthwhile mods I should consider for better performance or overall experience, even if they're not a priority right now?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. Your advice will be greatly appreciated as I navigate car ownership for the first time.

TL;DR: Bought a used BMW without thorough inspection. Found out the oil pan drain plug is siliconed and need to replace the oil pan soon. Seeking advice on the issue, trusted mechanics in Las Vegas, and potential performance mods during the engine removal.

Any suggestions are welcome!