R50/53 Oily Residue in Intake Air Filter Housing

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Sep 21, 2024 | 06:34 PM

ireallylovemymini

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Oily Residue in Intake Air Filter Housing

I've owned my R53 for about six months. I was doing some preventative maintenance today which involved replacing the intake air filter. The top of the filter element looked clean but the underside was disgusting and looked oil soaked. Here are some pictures: https://imgur.com/a/cgBFVgX.

I cleaned the whole housing with water and a cloth and then vacuumed. So all OK for now. Does anyone have an idea of where that residue came from?

Thank you!

Sep 25, 2024 | 03:22 PM

mkov608

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From: Pensacola, FL

It looks like the previous owner sprayed the filter with a filter oil thinking it was a K&N type filter. If the problem persists with the new filter, check your PCV valve. Is the car an S model?

Sep 25, 2024 | 04:10 PM

ireallylovemymini

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Oh man, the thought of that makes me wince. Good idea. I will check the filter housing in another 100 miles or so.

It's an 06 Mini Cooper S, yes. A little over 100,000 miles.

Sep 26, 2024 | 12:38 PM

ECSTuning

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From: Wadsworth, Ohio

yep and wow was that dirty.

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Oct 4, 2024 | 01:00 AM

BeauCruz

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Yes, you are right.

Oct 8, 2024 | 05:40 AM

AnthonyClark

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Best of luck.

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Last edited by AnthonyClark; Oct 21, 2024 at 01:07 AM.

Oct 11, 2024 | 01:42 PM

Grand-Cayman

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Agree, I don't think there is a problem, but check it after a while to make sure. That's about the dirtiest af I've seen!

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Oct 14, 2024 | 02:48 PM

JABowders

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Joined: Jun 2014

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From: Dover, PA

The Air Filter Body housing looks like it has the additional air inlet from the Vent (like a JCW) in front of the driver side wiper. ... it is possible "stuff" got sprayed into the vent and was sucked into the filter housing and this is what gooped up that filter, but ... that is a lot of crud and sludge. Put a new filter in that and the engine will breathe again, bet your MPG increases by 40%.

Nov 9, 2024 | 10:28 AM

ireallylovemymini

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I put another 1500-2000 miles on the car and checked the air filter last weekend. It looked fine, so hopefully whatever happened before was a one time event. Thanks everyone for your input.