2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Oil Filter Housing Repair - Advice Please?

Me thinks that is some fine BMW engineering there. Would the French bother with an oil filter?

 

I think you are not getting an answer because that is not something many folks have done or even had done. I'd suggest buying a Bentley manual for your car. They really are detailed & will help a lot.

 

Sometimes the "O" ring seal can get nipped when screwing the top back on during an oil change. If so... it can leak under pressure. It's easy to verify.... Just replace the existing filter with a new unit and be careful with the "O" ring that is included in the box. Try to stick with the OEM or Mann filters. Don't be tempted with aftermarket...

Also, the torque requirements for the plastic top are not very high.... Someone could have over torqued it and cracked the top and maybe it's leaking as a result....

Two relatively inexpensive suggestions in trying to find the leak....

 

Ahhh you have to the the French R56....:devil::crazy::frown2::mad2:

 

Engineering Weak Sauce Right There....

 

I am reviving this thread, did you replace this because oil and coolant were mixing and were curious if the exchanger had cracked? I suppose that is a possibility. I am looking into swapping out mine atm.

 

So is it the oil filter housing that is leaking??? Maybe just the plastic canister?? Or you dont yet know?... If that is the case an independent shop is probably a good idea, especially if any of your CA Mini friends have any good recommendations!

 

Are you sure what the mech said was leaking? Could it have been the oil cooler?

The part the filter screws into is all aluminum, where the filter cover is plastic. I would go with metalman's suggestion that you replace the filter with a factory one and replace the cover, lube the o-ring well and don't overtighten the cover. Remember, the o-ring makes the seal, the cover only has to be tight enough to not come loose.

The filter cover will be a dealer only part I'd guess, and as long as you're there buy a filter too.

I'm not sure but it sounds like you're having a non MINI dealer mechanic work on it, maybe that's what's the root of your continuing problems? Or by BMW do you mean MINI? I would not use a BMW shop for my MINI repairs, unless it's a combo dealer. There are some good MINI independant shops in the Bay area I'm sure. See if there's a local MINI club you can ask for help....

Changing just the filter and cover should not take more than 30 min tops.

 

yes it is the housing

The oil filter housing on these engines is a really poor bit of engineering. When off and in your hand, looking at the sealing surfaces, you can see a longish 5 inch section of curved recess that holds the o ring-with-NO bolts passing through it to clamp it to the block. there are 4 attatching bolts, all on the opposite side. Then the cat is positioned right above this unclamped side-so-the oil filter housing itself warps away from the block and begins leaking oil or coolant or both. We charge 6.5 hours at 99.00/hour and the part is about 230.00. On the upside, if there is one, the part comes with the orings and a new filter and cap already installed. sorry for your troubles, this is a common R56 issue, we fix at least one a month.

 

Mona912,

I have used Mini of Mountain View and their service was excellent. I was even given a free loaner. If you'd like, the advisor I worked with was Andrew Northrop @ 408-260-4935.

Or, I am available to take a peak at your car Thurs - Sun, if you would like. Maybe an extra pair of eyes will help, and we can change your filter housing as a start.

 

off the car view

the screwdriver is pointing at the leak area, notice no bolt holes along that entire side

 

Good point.... Engineered to leak... Just keep topping up with fresh oil. No need for a filter.

And you guys thought your MINI used oil.... It was designed to......

 

what a coincidence, my '07 is in for the exact same thing.:mad2: I was also quoted 6 hours labour, though they said it was only the gaskets that had to be replaced.

 

My experience-which is only once-is the gaskets do not permanently cure the issue. After redoing one for free except for the price of the housing, I never dig in there without a new housing-way too much work to do over. The o rings leak due to the lack of clamping on that side and the metal warping away-it is not dramatic enough to see with a straight edge, cold and off the car, but I would insist on a housing. lesson learned here.

 

too late, jobs already finished. I checked the receipt, they only changed the gaskets, not the housing.:nonod:

 

well if it is not already leaking, you are ahead of the game-let us know if it holds or re-fails.