Took my '05 S in for an oil change. They were not able to get the oil filter cap off. Penetrating oil did not work. Said because of rust and the fact that the cap is aluminum and expands, this can happen. Ended up needing an entire oil filter housing.

Was told later models now have plactic caps to avoid this problem, but they don't make them for the '05 S.

Has this ever happened to anyone else?

 

Dealer change?

Never had any issues with my '03. You need to watch the threads putting it back on and not cross thread due to the fine pitch...

Aluminum doesn't really rust like iron either. Yes it oxidizes, but this sounds like a fishy excuse.

I'd WANT a metal canister. I would suspect a plastic can to not do well in that hot environment.

 

No way that was rusted. They can be hard to get off at times, but I find it hard to believe they really needed to change out the whole thing. I wonder if they broke it & told you a story. I smell a fish...

 

Yep.....a big fat mackerel

 

Where did you take it ?

 

shop in nj...does bmws...has good reputation.

 

You need a 36mm socket which usually (should) means a 1/2 driver. The space is a little tight so you only get two clicks sometimes, but once you crack the O ring seal, it spins off very easy. Fine thread pitch...

I do mine at home and I warm it up with a brief jaunt but not to freeway driving temp. I'm sure it's no fun to jump right in on a hot engine. I wonder if maybe they were in a hurry and cross threaded putting it back on and don't want to cop to it.

Again, I've never had a hint of 'rust' on mine. Examine the 'bad' part.

 

If it is aluminum, it would expand at a different rate than the cast head....That being said, it takes quite a while for aluminum to oxidize and when it does, it generally just discolors and looks tarnished. I think they messed something up and wanted you to pay the price for their mistake.

Maybe they rounded the socket end and couldn't get it off.

I always ask for my old pieces back so I can make sure they were replaced when a shop does work that "just pops up". A lot of shops make extra money by "replacing" unnecessary parts.