I changed the oil in my September 2002 build 2003 S today and used one of the early writeups to make sure I didn't screw anything up. I also looked in my Bentley manual which shows a spring in the center of the oil filter canister housing. My canister has no spring. I just pushed the O.E.M. filter onto the engine block to enlarge the hole then into the canister until it bottomed out and eventually got it to thread and tighten down properly. So my question is: Should there be a spring as the Bentley shows or is that something for a later year? The car runs fine and no oil pressure light is shining. Thoughts?

 

Mine doesn't have a spring. Your procedure sounds correct so you shouldn't have any issues.

 

The spring was in the early 2002 MINI's and probably all the 2001 Euro MINI's.
This is much simpler than messing with an oily spring in middle of the element at oil change time.

 

mine had no spring either. just the filter and new seal.

 

Just to clarify- The spring I'm talkng about is pictured inside the metal housing the filter element goes into, not the pleated filter itself. My metal housing has no spring. Yours?

 

I had a 2003 MC that had the spring...My 04 MCS does not have it (BTW: It was a PIA!)

 

My Sept 02 build 2003 MCS has no spring either. Be happy.

 

Only MC have the spring not the MCS

 

I still find it astounding that the new MINI uses an oil filer in a housing, much like it's 60's predacessor.

BMW, ever hear of a spin on oil filter?

 

My 9/02 MCS Has one! Does anyone know if there is conversion to change over to a spin on filter?, I''ve seen them for MC but not MCS.

 

There is a conversion kit for a spin-on filter. Check MossMINI and MINIMania.
Gromit...with the location and orientation of the filter, a spin on filter would spill oil everywhere. With the cartridge filter, and a small amount of patience, you can do an oil change without spilling a drop.

 

I actually kind of like the canister. Changed my oil for the first time last weekend on my 03. No mess at all unlike the spin ons of my current/previous cars. Just loosen the canister a little bit and it all drains back out through the bottom drain plug! Heard horror stories of cross threading but I didn't encounter any problems. Very nice design I think.

 

I've change many an angled spin-on filter without spilling. One just has to remember to use a filter with an anti-flow back feature, and have the oil pan positioned to catch any drips.

 

But the oil filter is at the TOP of the motor. Any drips from the filter don't make it to the pan, instead landing on the back of the engine, the exhaust and the heat sheilding. And it's not just angled, it actually has the opening pointing down.

 

I've never understood why they can't design the oil filter location to be on the bottom somewhere and oriented so that the filter is hanging striaght down and you thread up onto the block.

 

wrong.

 

They CAN (at least they did on the Subaru flat four and, IIRC the 4cyl in the VW Jetta) but there are MANY criteria in engine design, far more than I would be comfortable second guessing.
FWIW, I've never done a cleaner oil change than in the MINI. Twist, let it drain, then remove. Not a drop spilled. With vertical spin on filters, the oil necessarily runs down your hand when you spin it off.

 

But at least it would drip down into a catch pan where you can predict where it would go, not all over the block and misc engine parts.

But yes, I was pleasantly surprised with the MINIs oil change experience. Not a drop spilled.

 

Also on all C5 Corvettes........points straight down.

But the Suburu is the only car I have seen that keeps the filter and the main drain plug close enough together that the catch pan can catch both drains at the same time. I always appreciated that on my 91 Legacy

 

I changed on two 2003 Coopers (mine included which is a July build 2003) this past weekend, and the canister has the spring. Actually it has a tube that fits over the spring, and the filter slips over this tube. Oil changes are mess free except for when trying to remove that darn filter off the tube!

Also changed the oil on a 2005 MC Convertible and she didn't have the spring.

Richard

 

Since we're on the subject, we're about to embark on our first oil change for my 2003 Cooper, so please help me with a few questions:

• What types of oil are you using/recommmending?
• Is the oil filter a dealer item only or is there another resource?

Thanks in advance,
Buzznbi

 

Use a full synthetic 5W30- like Mobil One, Red Line, Amsoil, etc. I just used Amsoil. I also used an OEM filter which you can get at the dealer or online vendor- several list them. I think some people have experienced problems with other manufacturers' filters but some have had no troubles. Can't really go wrong with OEM. Good luck!

 

Order oil filters from Outmotoring.com

http://outmotoring.com/mini_cooper_m...nce_items.html

Don't buy the STP oil filters from Autozone. The green o-ring that it comes with is larger than factory and doesn't seat properly in the filter housing. The actual filter seems ok, but the o-ring isn't.

I use 5w-30 Mobil 1 like others have mentioned.

Richard

 

my june '02 has the spring.

 

Really? My MCS was built the same month and doesn't have one