Just had to replace the dipstick in my daughters 04 "S" , i went to check the oil in it for her the other day, and when i pulled it out i noticed it had been kinked / bent at some stage .

Some time ago i ordered some service parts off this guy ( James) from ,

http://www.masterparts.com.au/c/4339161/1/mini.html ,

and he told me then, that he sells quite a few new dipsticks , now i know why . I find the one in my daughters car doesn't slide down the tube nice and easy , you have to be gentle with it and twist and push it until it clears whatever it catches on at the bottom of the tube .

Just thought i'd share this with others in case they have the same problem , i can't imagine what the drama would be if the dipstick actually broke off whilst removing it and you left the bottom half in the tube $$$$$.

It didn't take much before it actually broke .

They're absolute crap dipsticks, I had to twist and turn as you said.
The other thing with mine - one day the handle became so brittle it just snapped off!

Yes have had the same problem, I filled the damaged spot with fiberglass resin and heat shrink on to
it helps to reinforce the area where it fails

Pretty much the norm with a lot of euro cars, VW's the whole stick and tube snaps off.