During the last oil change on my '02 MCS the drain back plunger down in the oil filter housing broke off. An unobtanium part unless you buy the entire housing at about $250 to get the $1 plunger. I have read (and confirmed by doing it) that the plunger, even with the broken legs, will stay in it's mount and the filter then holds it in place so it should work fine (and oil pressure will be normal) as long as I remember to keep track of it during the next oil change. The question is about the missing remains of the three little black plastic legs that hold the plunger in it's mount. Can't find them. I even carefully used my suction brake bleeder to suck out all the oil from everywhere down inside the housing and carefully searched for the remains of the legs it what came out. No luck. Local MINI service dudes say don't worry they won't cause any blockages and resulting oil starvation. Anyone have experience with this situation or care to comment on chances of engine damage being caused by these three very small (about 3/32 inch cubes) pieces of plastic possibly being on the loose inside the engine before I take a chance and fire the engine up? Thanks for any insight!

 

Would drain new oil out and while draining it through a screen or colander to see if plastic parts visable. Put oil back in engine and start up motor let idle for 1-2 minutes then repeat process of draining. Plastic part if still in engine should not hurt. If it was a metal part woud take the pan off and clean.

 

BluMini9,
I purchased my Mini S in 2002. Well taken care of, so totally pissed to find the broken drain back plunger.


Really pissed forced to buy a gear pump assembly at 400+, plus hours to replace, for a poorly designed and made part.


I used you advice and carefully aligned the plunger and spring to the hole, then angled the filter away from the plunger, pressed down a bit, then angled filter back to center. As I slowly pushed down, very slightly wiggled the filter. Once in place filter was rock solid, no movement what so ever.

This took several times to get it in place, but it works, no light at idle, and Mini zips right along.


I used a borescope to see what everything look like. But, a mechanics mirror and light would be just as effective.


Next time I'll take a business card, cut it about 3/4" wide, bend it about 1/3, the place that under the spring. Doing so will raise the spring up to better catch the filter. Then as filter slowly pushed in and once hits "tight spot" in tube, carefully wiggle and rotate the paper out. An idea, for next time.


Thank you ,
John

 

You guys think this can calls problems at higher RPMs ??? I drove my car for a week with it like that doing some pulls here and there and yeah , it spun a bearing. I had no oil light on ...

 

https://www.outmotoring.com/MINI-Coo...rep_12345.html