1st Gen R50 Cooper Most liked posts in thread: Please Help! How to replace Oil Filter Housing

Mine does! hahaha stole it from a "S" and did my own plumbing.

 

BThayer thanks for the heads up I don't know how I would have got those lines off without the special pliers. My filter housing gasket and oil cooler gaskets are now replaced and I believe the leak has stopped, currently parking over cardboard to watch it.

I wish I could say the job went easy, well it did, up until the point where I broke the little black plastic spring thing in the housing... That was an expensive mistake but I got lucky and Way had a used housing for me.

Now I get to tackle a new leak I discovered while under Broknsmurf this morning.. looks like my power steering return line needs to be replaced.... Im starting to think broknsmurf knows im about to pay him off....

 

Call Way at Way Motor Works, he has a selection of used parts around. Even if he doesn't have the part he may be able to point you in the right direction. Please mention you saw Way Motor Works here on Motoring Alliance.

Another place that has used parts is Detroit Tuned, call and talk to TJ.

 

Not sure if you can take the filter housing off the block without disconnecting the heat exchanger. Just a warning, if you're going to take the heat exchanger off, get a pair of cable-operated hose clamp pliers. It's impossible to get the coolant hoses off without this $40 tool. I tried every set of pliers, had my friend help from above, cursed and swore, but nothing worked until I got the special hose clamp pliers.

 

Thank you for this info! I really appreciate the replies.

I'm currently using this video as a general guide, though it only shows replacement of the gasket.



I have a few other questions about this job, if you or anyone else can shed some light-

1. Would I be wise to drain all the oil out of the car before changing the housing? Or would laying some towels out suffice?

2. Am I likely to have to replace the hoses, or to need any additional tools to disconnect/reconnect the hoses leading to the housing?

3. To get the housing out, would I need to remove anything else? If so, what would be the easiest thing to remove to get to it? In the video I referenced, it looks like I should be able to pull it up from the top, but I could be wrong.


And lastly, if anyone has a link to buy the PDF of the Bentley manual, or has an old one they want to get rid of, definitely shoot me a message!

 

Hey update! Scratch all that from my previous post. I wound up just going for it.

1. Didn't drain the oil. It didn't leak very much.

2. Didn't have to futz with any coolant hoses at all on my base model 03 R50. Just unscrewed the 3 bolts (this took hours) and unhooked the pressure sensor.

3. I just pulled the housing out through the top.

I wound up having the best luck getting all the bolts out from the top. I attempted to get it out from the bottom, but the axle was in the way and I couldn't reach around the subframe.

Also I ordered the Bentley manual today so that should make future repairs easier.

Thanks fellas

 

Check out RealOEM.com Online BMW Parts Catalog for the part numbers you need and then check with MINI Cooper Accessories : MINI Cooper Parts : OutMotoring: or Way Motor Works for the parts. Bet you they can get them.

 

While they may show the original part as ended quite often it is just a super-session in part numbers. Usually because there is a new source or there is a design change with the part.

Which parts in the image below are you looking for?

 

another option, if Way or Detroit Tuned or another sponsor doesn't have the old parts, to search for a used part near you -
go to car-part.com
plug in a year (2002, 2003, 2004), MINI Cooper (BMW), Oil Filter Adapter (I think that's what they'll list it as), Northwest.

I searched for 2003, and it found one at a lot in Oregon for $45.
Then you call the number it comes up with and verify they actually have it, describe exactly what you're looking for in detail (because they will not know ANYTHING about MINIs) and get them to lay hands on the parts and have them describe back to you exactly what they're holding to ensure they have all the parts, etc. Then either pick them up or have them ship.

I've bought a number of used parts this way with good results.

Best solution would be to install the new style assembly on the car... but if I were in your situation, I'd probably try to get the parts I was missing first via the method above.

 

Sounds like all you need is the oil canister cap?

 

I don't know if the new style filter will work with the old style housing... Since it shows that both the housing and the cap have changed in RealOEM, I assume that they both need to be replaced together (all new style), or that you need to stick with all old style parts.

Hence the suggestion to find a used cap/spring/core assembly off a salvage car, as the simplest solution.

 

I meant it looks like all he will need is a new canister, not the whole oil filter assembly. I assume the picture is of the old style.

 

That's what I'm talking about - both cap part and the base part of the assembly changed. I don't know if the new style cap and filter will work with the 2002-2003 housing? OP says the new style filter will not fit his housing, that the whole assembly has to be replaced to use new style filters.

 

Ahhhh......now that would be typical BMW now wouldn't it.