Where to get it...just bought an 04 Mini Hardtop and low oil light is on on low rpms and turns off while driving. Found the problem but cant find the place to buy this part. Help

 

depending on the transmistion this will show you the part number. search the part number on google and you should find it

http://realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?mo...21&hg=11&fg=30

 

Thanks for prompt reply unfortunately I have been down that road with no luck. They dont sell that part separately. its a manual transmission.

 

In an '04 you won't have a cage/spring. It's a valve in the bottom of the assembly, which also is not available separately. There is a thread that shows how somebody kludged a way to get the valve to stay in, though.

 

Apparently there is a cage up to June of 2004. After that they upgraded to a cageless oil filter housing. Where do I buy this cage??? Thats the question.

 

Original "cage" part you refer to is a defunct part. It was used to support the inner structure of the all paper filters, keeping them from collapsing/providing flow and good seal to cover....In many parts catalogues like realoem, they still show the assembly with the spring/cage. It's only because they rarely change film images when there are part supersessions.

Unfortunately, some aftermarket brand filter companies have not caught onto the "newly designed" oil filter MINI has which is probably happen some 7 yrs ago....lol.

So basically, if you have an OEM style filter based upon what MINI is selling today, you will not need those parts.

To elevate any potential headaches I just use OEM oil filters. IMO not a part to go cheap on such as CARQUEST or Autozone....which only created filter housing leaks for me when used.

 

Ok, so another words I dont need to buy a new housing/canister in order to buy these new filters with structural plastic element inside of them? I red somewhere that in order to buy these new filters you have to buy that canister that has an updated design to fit these new filters. Even if you go to lets say pelican parts, they have 2 filter designs. As if that newer filter wont fit the old canister.

Basically I bought this Mini yesterday and the dealer tells me that they changed the oil and this light will extinguish by itself in 200 miles. I laughed at him. After 30mins research it came down to his "experienced" mechanic threw the old filter away with that plastic cage because the oil light is on at idle to 2k rpms and then it goes off. i want to get that fixed asap. So its either CAGE or NEW FILTER that will fit.

 

This is what oil filter cover looks like on my 03' MCS.





Your's looks diff but functions the same.


03:20 from there on explains some of your questions too.

http://on.aol.com/video/how-to-chang...nger-208498299

 

THATS what i NEEDED!!!!

Thank you. So basically visit your local mini dealer and pick up a filter

Thank you

 

Check this thread, as it might be your problem - oil bypass valve.
If it is, and the valve is still in the canister, this thread shows how to repair it.

 

Going back for a second to the video.....I took my filter element out to see what kind of filter sits in there. The gentleman in the video described his filter unit as having a plastic on one end of the filter. My filter has a similar thing but its not plastic but rather a rubber. Im suspecting that this rubber when hit with hot oil gives way to the pressure relief valve and thats why the light turns on. I noticed an indentation in that rubber piece. I also noticed that when i turn on the car and it warms up , the light is off until it warms up. So at this point Im 95% sure its that rubbers fault.

If the new filter from dealer wont fix it, Ill look into that oil bypass valve.

Thanks for all the help and input!!!

 

If the bypass valve in still in place, that shouldn't be your problem - those that had the problem found the valve loose in the oil canister container. Let us know the outcome!

 

Ok problem solved. Basically somebody put an aftermarket filter that instead of having that plastic piece on the bottom of the filter to press on the vlave, its rubber. and under heat that rubber gives way to the spring of the valve. Secondly comparing the two filters, that rubber collar is thinner then the plastic collar (OE Mini filter) by about 1/32-1/16". So, from the get go, that valve is not opened properly.

Lesson: USE MINI ORIGINAL OIL FILTER!!!