you learn something new

[domsz4]

whilst unsuccesfully searching for what make of 5w30 oil people recomend i read that the oil filter for our cars is a sort of cartridge thingy on the top of the engine a bit like an air filter.

i just assumed it was one of those canisters like on all my other cars

 

[goon]

No its a paper element sits inside a metal housing near the cylinder head very common BMW fitment my 80s 535 had the same thing,dead easy to change,great idea.

 

[domsz4]

No its a paper element sits inside a metal housing near the cylinder head very common BMW fitment my 80s 535 had the same thing,dead easy to change,great idea.

exactly, none of that chuffin around on your back trying to get the thing off. worse car had to be the old frontera i had for a while. the can pointed down so was always full and to get it past the drive shaft you had to tip it on its side :headbang: :headbang:

 

[bcworkz]

I know first hand the cartridge idea for BMW goes back at least as far as 1968 with the M30 engine. At that time though, it was near the bottom of the block at an odd angle. It was held on with a huge central bolt, and getting everything lined up on replacement to seal properly with one hand whilst lying on your back wasn't the easiest thing to do. Then there was the usual housing full of used oil spilling out on removal. The housing was twice as big as the current ones too. I'd have preferred the spin on canisters then. But now, with the on top location, nothing could be easier than a BMW oil change.

 

[Aebous]

Now if the could relocate the drain plug in a easier to access position.

Although how you would get the oil to go somewhere's else is beyond me