1st Gen R50 Cooper Most liked posts in thread: Dilemma regarding oil cap cage...

Already have located that post, but if you read it again, you'll see that it has clearly conflicting information ... and I cite:

Point #1 they make: "Beginning with the 07/2004 production, they changed the filter specification and a plastic 'cage' was built into the filter itself, eliminating the need for the cage in the cannister cover." The last part is key, in that it says that if you use a new type filter, with an integral plastic structure, you can eliminate the cage.

Point #2 (wherein they introduce the conflict: "A potential problem arises with your 2002-2004 MINI during a filter change when the plastic cage 'detaches' from the cannister cover and gets pulled out with the oil filter, allowing the spring to pop free. If the technician is not familiar with the early filter setup - the plastic cage gets thrown out with the dirty oil filter. Without the spring and cage in the early cannister, the filter fails to seal against the cover resulting in 'low oil pressure' warning light." This indicates that, even though it's been stated the cage is not required when you use the proper filter, you still need the cage. Which is it? A bad analogy is "you can't have your cake and eat it, too.":crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy:

Thanks in advance!

Got Help?

M

P.S. Anyone reading this, please follow that link above and you'll see what I mean... I wish it were a more definitive post; instead, it just confuses the issue even more. I do want to avoid installing a new housing/cap for both monetary reasons and also because I've read the install is a bit difficult b/c of one of the bolt's locations...:crazy::crazy::crazy:

 

As long was you have an original style cover intact, you can use that with the new style filters. But if you don't have a good original cover, you must replace the entire assembly to use the new style cover.[/QUOTE]

I have a cover in fine shape, no issues with the threads or anything. The only thing is the possibly degraded cage, which could crack upon the next extraction from the filter. What I'm gathering from ya is that I don't need the cage anymore with the filters that have been in use since 7/2004, because they have an internal cage of their own. Correct?

I appreciate the solution given regarding replacing the whole system, but this is a job I'm not up for nor able to pay for, either.

Need the cage? Don't need the cage? This question is easy, but highly difficult to pin down, as there are multiple issues (new cap, new housing, new filter, and ultimately the question of how the cage interacts with all of these things). There should be one, singular answer here. Hope it's yours! Please confirm... Blimey!:idea:

Thanks,
M:fingerscrossed::fingerscrossed::fingerscrossed:

 

Hmmmmmm....

Now that's an answer. But, as I noted in a post somewhere in this thread, the threads out there (different sites than this one) are not nearly as definitive as that which you've plotted out here. ... That is a FACT! I imagine your answer, essentially, is an aggregate of all that's been posted, but with a healthy dose of your own, personal logic and know how added. Forget about the housing as that's not an issue: The posts do NOT say you CAN'T use your old filter cap without the cage when you use the new (i.e., as of 7/2004) filters. In fact, one prominent one says that you can ditch the cage as long as you're using the new filter type. Your definitive conclusion, again, was YOUR conclusion ... and I appreciate it -- though I'm STILL not sure it's correct. AFTER ALL, Blimey, why would a new filter, as of 7/2004, be purposely engineered, designed, and manufactured with a rigid core IF NOT to replace the problematic OEM cage that came with the vehicle??? Please give that some thought and let me know your thougts. I really appreciate, in advance, your sticking with this one. It's obviously an "I don't care" issue for those whose MINIs were made after ~ 2005. ..

 

:idea:... Kind of wish you had stopped at Goodbye! Don't really care about your status as a 10-year veteran of the forum(s) and your ability to trust, not trust... That's irrelevant to me, understand? You continually don't answer a simple question, but nonetheless post responses, and then get miffed when someone calls you out on it. Either give definitive information or keep your voice muffled. No need to stir bad sentiment, bro! No response needed, nor encouraged. Consider the matter closed!:idea: