My car just turned over to 30k today, that means another oil change. It went like the others, good till I had to get the new oil filter on. I dont like the MINI oil filter. The metal part is so cheaply made it's nearly impossible to keep it from cross-threading. There are no threads where the to halfs of the part meet. It only took 3 hours to get it to on smoothly without cross-threading this time. It's not that I am incompetent, it's just that I have big hands and there isn't much space to work with. I got the oil done once at the dealer, and they had some trouble getting it back on.

Do the 05 or 06 MINIs have oil filter caps with continuous threads? Are they the same size as the 02 and 03 MINIs? I really want to replace this part with one that will go on everytime with no issues. Maybe I can get one machined.

 

I just changed my oil recently on my 2006 MCS and screwing the oil filter cap back on was a breeze. I did not see or feel anything resembling spring mechanism, so they must have thrown that idea out. I dont know if the case is different, but my 06 top went on the first try with ease.

 

The spring piece on my late 05 (51k miles) is in the block instead of a seperate piece like the older models. I'ma big guy with big hands I had to play with it for a few minutes but basically just grabbed the socket one hand pushed it down the other turned the ratchet until I got a few turns on the threads then just cinched it down to where it needed to be. Pretty simple, leave some room to be improved though. but its still easier to do than my last car.

 

After my warranty is up, I plan on installing a remote oil filter housing that uses a spin-on filter. Don't know if anybody makes one, though.

 

Check out the How To on Randy Webb's website. You have to push the filter on first. That way it enlarges the hole in the filter so it slides on easier. Then you'll have less trouble threading on the filter cover.

http://store.webbmotorsports.com/for...topic.php?t=10

 

There are universal remote mounts.
The only thing is getting the inlet and outlet from the stock filter mount correct.

You would have to modify this one for the oil line fittings if you wanted to keep the oil pressure sender there,
as well as the heat exchanger on manual trans cars.

 

I've also had trouble with getting the oil filter back on. I have no idea why they couldn't use continuous threads. My best method is to push the canister on hard while I'm threading it. Screw it on as until it stops (doesn't take very much) and then run my fingers around the edges of the canister to feel if the gap is consistent. If it is, I'll start tightening it with a rachet. If not, try again. If I try just screwing it on without pushing it down, it always starts crossthreading (easily felt from the unevenness of the gap between the filter and mount.)

 

On my '05, I had a little trouble the first time (big hands, strong, and very much afraid of stripping the threads). But that experience taught me how it should "feel" to properly reinstall the housing, and it was easy the second time around. Best of luck

 

push the filter on by itself then pull it off and do it with the canister.

 

Yes, that's what I did and I had no trouble.

 

This tip makes life much easier.

 

One good tip deserves another....

Practice starting the cannister without the filter and without the O-Ring a few times to get the feel of the proper angle.

Also, get an inspection mirror and take a good look at the filter housing on the engine. Mine has a spring loaded plunger that presses against the actual filter as I install it (late 2005). You'll eventually get the hang of it.

Rawhyde