I've been having intermitten issues with valvetrain chatter on hot or cold startups so I decided to change my oil .
When I remove the filter I found that it doesn't look right . I have a new mann filter and they look identical . Did I install it wrong ?

 

Make sure you use the correct filter. You cannot mix filters. Will cause all kinds of issues. Depends on production date. Man issue is if you have a pre facelift housing. The cage should have a spring below it. The cage is part of the housing. A post lift setup uses the filter that has the cage in the filter itself. Usually what happens is you get an oil change somewhere an the remove the old filter an throw the cage away because the new filter they got came with it in the filter already. Thinking it will work. This can cause oil issues.

 

Great info ,thanks. My production date is 08 03 however I have the housing shown for the later model . I felt inside the bottom half and I can feel a tube the would be in the center of the filter. I've owned this for about 4yrs and do the oil changes myself . Never has an issue until recently.
Is it possible I installed it backwards .

 

You force the plain end of the filter into the removed canister, lube the black end with some engine oil, and then install in the engine. It could be that you didn't lube the black ring and it didn't slide while being tightened and the filter twisted- or it twisted when you removed it. I have an '03 S and it, too, has the later canister- maybe the dealer switched them out at some point, but it's been in there for over 15 years without issues.

 

I didn't lube it at all . Never knew I was supposed to so thanks.
Just to be clear the large opening goes into the cover and the small opening goes twords the engine

 

Yes, the large opening in the end without a seal goes into the cover and the smaller one with the rubber seal goes toward the engine.

 

My R53 is a 07/03 production date and I have the "newer" style filter housing. I suspect the cut-off date in the pic above is not correct.
I bought my car new so I know it's never been converted.

 

the filter housing with the loose cage was on early GEN1 "justa" and never on the S (I had a very early S and the housing looks like RIGHT in picture above.)

Was the filter a MINI filter? If not, what brand?

If you dir here on NAM going all the way back to the early days there are MANY reports of issues with oil filter collapse / failure when using other than OE. Several of the most respected MINI garages have said here that they ONLY USE OE - MINI - oil filters. Here's what WayMotorWorks says: Mini OEM oil filter kit. Don't bother trying to save a dollar. Get these original MINI oil filter kit to change your oil. Many aftermarket filters don't fit correct or the O rings will leak.

Long time MINI parts suppliers OUTMOTORING and MINI MANIA also offer MANN and MAHLE and I've used both with no issues.

Some other 'popular' brands commonly found in auto parts stores have had repeated issues ...... interestingly Way sells some of these brands of AIR filters but only MINI oil filters . . .