I perform regular maintenance on my 05 MCS myself and wanted to give everyone a heads up. I went to my local auto parts store (autozone) and found that they carried after market oil Filters made by STP. I figured I'd give them a shot being that it is more convenient for me to go to autozone than my dealership. I changed my oil and life was good until about a week later. I was driving home from work and noticed my car just didn't sound right. I pulled over to a gas station and noticed a distinct oil trail behind me. In the coarse of about 15 miles, I had lost about 2.5 quarts of oil. I topped off my oil and leaked the rest of the way home. Due to the amount of oil under the chasis, I could not find where it was coming from )- I was expecting to see a busted O ring on the canister but it looked fine. I also checked the lines; nothing. I cleaned it all up, changed my oil again with a new filter and O ring(yes, and STP filter). And once again, life was good. Another week passes and the same problem sprung up. Now I was convinced the leak was coming from somewhere else. I took the car in to have it checked out (fearing the worse). It turns out that the O ring on the STP oil filter is NOT the proper diameter and thickness. Even if it is well lubed, it will bunch up while the canister is being screwed back into place. After about a week of heating and cooling, it will develope a leak. So, my advice to prevent any headaches, stay with an OEM oil filter - or at the very least, avoid the STP oil filter.

 

Wow! Thanks 4 the warning! Altho I've never attempted 2 change the oil on my Mini, I was thinking about it and the least expensive route 2 do so ... I'll keep STP filters in mind!

 

Yes thanks for the info. I have the STP filter on the shelve, but also have 4 filters I got from here. http://www.minicarparts.net/Parts/M3400.cfm

Does anyone know if there are good?

 

Thanks for the heads up. I've been using the Napa filter (#7303) without any problems after finding out that the local BMW dealer uses the same filter in their service dept.

 

Great post, thanks for the warning. I am going to post a link to this thread on our club forum; we have several who do their own maintenance, especially oil changes.

 

Is this filter listed for use on 02-06 MINIs? I'm wondering if it isn't for the R56 which does have a slightly larger oil filter housing which would account for the O-ring bunching up.

Just a thought, not trying to insult anyone's intelligence.

 

Having worked for NAPA in my past, their OF's are the only ones I use. Specifically the Gold Filters. In the case of the Mini, it's superior to OEM.

 

I have about 4000 miles on my first Wix, #57303, with no problems.

 

I looked at the filter and put it back. The felt seals did not look as good the napa filter that had a rubber seal. Not sure if it would of mattered but now I feel even better about not going with STP.

 

NAPA Gold/Wix #7303 FTW!!!

Jim

 

OEM for me. I call Classic & they are sitting on my front porch the next day. Pretty easy really.

 

Thanks for the head up. Personally, I would not buy or use ANY STP products in ANYTHING I own....I have seen the damage their oil treatments can do to engines. It is not to my suprise their oil filters
too!

 

i've got an STP filter on my car right now and have had no such issues from it.

 

I helped a friend of mine (a member of the forum who may or may not chime in) change their oil and filter at the beginning of the month. I did not use the STP on my own car, but he did. Besides the odd teal color of the O-ring, I noticed once it was on the housing it was not as snug as the old O-ring. We installed it despite this and everything has been fine since. Upon reading this post I suggested he check his oil, and it was fine... Hopefully it will stay that way!

 

I've used napa gold my last 5 or 6 changes. I remember back in the day somes posts about the elements collapsing due to cheap cardboard structure inside. The Napa golds have a plastic caging inside unlike some of the others I've seen in autozone what not.

 

That I can't be sure of. I know the filter was listed in their system as being for my 05 MCS. That being said, I've heard multiple times that the MC and MCS take the same filter. If the O ring is supposed to be thicker on the MCS, that would explain a lot.

 

I work in the semiconductor industry which uses o-rings for all sorts of applications - primarily for vacuum integrity... does anyone here know the material and the size of the MINI OEM o-ring for the oil filter?

For example, the most commonly utilized black o-rings are often made of a material designated as Viton. A typical size designation could be something listed as "2-276," for example.

Again, just curious...

 

I too used an STP oil filter a few oil changes ago. Noted that the "teal" o-ring didn't seem as snug. Though, it stayed on for 3,000 miles without any issues or leaks...

I have switched back to the OEM filters now, but not due to any STP filter problems.

 

Ive got a great deal with a local quick change oil place because my friends race with a guy that works there and they do the change for just the cost of the filter and the oil. Its a really great place and I've always taken my cars there, however, the seal has broken on my car three times while using STP! Now I just go to Advance Auto Parts and bring their filter to the shop. No problem.

 

Bringing a old thread back to life but wanted to chime in...

replaced my oil filter with a STP back in Nov. at 63K miles. After 2 weeks. Started to leak. Changed the oil filter with another STP and the leak stopped until about last week. These things are horrendous and should be burned.

 

If you want the OEM filter fast and affordable, I don't know how you can beat $2.88 each from Classic Mini, in Ohio. I buy four at a time. Arrive at my door in two days.

YD

 

I have had this issue with the lube place by my house, luckily when they inspect the car before I left they noticed the oil forming around the filter. I have been using the same o ring for the last 2 oil changes, while not the best choice I don't have time to drive an hours to my dealer and wait for them to do the work for about 30 dollars more

 

Exactly what I'm doing next time. These STP's are giving me a damn headache.

 

I like the oem, I think it might be a Mann filter, BMW uses Mann as their supplier and then slap a BMW stuk sticker on it. I have tried the STP once, its ok, It has the ridgid structure so it will not bend of crush when 15- 20 NM are appiled. This is a problem with the BMW filters.

 

I stick with Purolator filters. I have heard a lot about Fram failures and some STP issues.

Good to hear you caught it before it was too late.