Oil filter cage missing completely!! (P0012)

T

TF747

Member
Ok so here's the story so far.

I bought a 48k mile 2006 2.5si Z4 just less than 2 months ago.
A couple of weeks in I got an engine light and some idling issues and a lack of power. The engine light turned out to be a P0012.
So after some research I decided that it was probably a VANOS solenoid. So I switched them to check whether the car threw a P0015 for the other solenoid. It threw a P0012 again...
Did a quick google and found that there were people who have solved similar sounding problems with an oil and filter change.
Took my filter off to check it and the entire long cage part in the centre of the filter cap with the gasket on it was just not there.

So i'm ringing the garage I bought it from tomorrow about it but what I want to know is what does the cage do and what damage may have been done in the time that it hasn't been there.

Cheers guys.
 
Not too up on the filter but imagine unfiltered oil could have been passing round. Defo check it back to the garage to fix, I'd be tempted to do an oil and filter change myself or supervise them doing it.
 
I've read a couple of posts where guys have had really bad engine problems where this has turned out to be the cause. Not sure how long mine has been like this and i'm going to get a new filter and change the oil myself. And ring the garage to tell them.
 
I would be making them supply the new filter housing at a minimum. Report it in writing as well in case you have any related issues.
 
Bizzare! That central cage also has a couple of o-rings on it as well iirc and is crucial for separating the incoming (dirty) and outgoing (clean) oil.

I’m not sure exactly how the consequences of not having it would manifest but I’d still be quite surprised if it would give the idle issues and error code mentioned. Certainly needs sorting though in any case.
 
I've fitted a new filter cap with the full assembly and been for a drive.. the car seems to be running fine for now. However i'm convinced that my exhaust note sounds deeper and louder than it did before. Could it be to do with changes in the oil flow?
 
Same thing just happened to me.
First oil change since I got the car a few months ago, and the cage is missing from the inside of the oil filter cap.
All I can guess is it was removed with the filter by a previous owner.
Presume I can only get a new one from BMW?
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+1 on this.

I replaced the cap/cage and changed the oil out as soon as it came to light (about three weeks after I bought it). My Indy claimed that the cages often come off and then get chucked out with the spent filter before a new filter gets shoved in..... His thoughts were that the lack of cage could do weird things to oil pressures - so not ideal for the engine
 
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