Yesterday as I was ready to put a new oil filter on my wife's 2004 R50 I realizes the new filters do not work in the pre-mid 2004 canisters.
Previously I had a personal supply of filters and the last couple time an independent shop changed the oil.
Frankly until yesterday I was not aware of the change.

My problem-I am having a difficult time locating the older design filters without the plastic cage built in.

Will a new design cap work with the original canister?
Or, will I have to fork over about $250 to be able to change the oil?
Thanks for any assistance.
Bruce

 

IDK where the idea that there were two different oil filters came from as this pops up from time to time. All the 02-06 MINIs have always used the same oil filter. The difference was the 02-04 R50 non S had a plastic cage and spring mounted to the cap, the R53 didn't have that but they used the same filter.

So if you have an 02-04 R50 and the plastic cage is missing or broke off the cap you need to either find a used oil filter cap with the plastic cage or replace the entire housing with the new 05-06 style that didn't have the cage on the cap.
You can NOT just put the new cap on as the filter won't push the plunger in the housing down and you will get an oil pressure light all the time.

Here is the new housing you will need
http://www.waymotorworks.com/oil-fil...52-cooper.html

 

More info here also.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-question.html

 

I 2nd this. I am running into the same issue. I do not have the money to replace the housing AND cap. I still have the cage and everything, but its slightly broken, but it works! Sticking with that until my next oil change.

I found ONE online retailer who has the older style caps, with the cage, but they are close to $80. Forking over them money now since they are rare and searching for someone in the for sale sections who's willing to part theirs out.

Seems pretty bad of Mini to update one piece, that's cheap, discontinue the old, so you can only buy the new which requires you to buy a $300 piece!