BMW Oil Filter Question - what is the small copper washer?

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Simes123
Joined: Sun 27 Sep, 2009 20:02
Posts: 49

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Leuchars

BMW Oil Filter Question - what is the small copper washer?

Post by Simes123 »

Just bought a BMW oil filter for my 2.2i Z3. Despite having double checked with the parts guy who insisted all the O rings were tucked inside, I find only the large O ring is included, and the two little ones are not included. However, there is a small (appears to only have about 8mm internal dia) washer in copper. It looks too small to be the sump plug washer - or is it? Don't want to be in a sump plug out situation without the new washer....

Do I need to get the O rings separately, and is that my sump washer?

Simon
henrycrun
Joined: Wed 18 Apr, 2007 19:48
Posts: 522

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Ely

Post by henrycrun »

Should be the sump plug washer.
At my motor factors, I always check before buying that the 2 small O rings and the large O ring are present, as there are cheeky garages who buy the filter, then take the bits out and bring the filter back for a refund....
Last edited by henrycrun on Tue 20 Oct, 2009 18:01, edited 1 time in total.
Simes123
Joined: Sun 27 Sep, 2009 20:02
Posts: 49

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Leuchars

Post by Simes123 »

OK thanks - was just surprised at how small the washer was for such a big engine! The filter is a genuine BMW filter bought at a main dealer, and was all sealed in polythene etc, so it looks like the little O rings may only come with the aftermarket filters. Will have to take a trip back to Dundee I guess!

This is all turning into a rather more complicated Oil Service than I'd anticipated - but still, I got my Mobil 1 0w40 at Costco for 20quid per 4 litres which was a bonus.

Simon
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Robert T
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  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Cheshire

Post by Robert T »

I can't see a copper washer on the oil filter diagram below, but #2 (part no 11427512300) only consists of the filter element and the large o-ring - the two smaller o-rings are #5 (part number 11421744001) and you need 2 of them. They are not included in the filter set, only in the complete oil filter or as separate items.

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Lubrication system-Oil filter - BMW parts catalog

Also here on RealOEM.

Am surprised dealer couldn't figure this out - unless his misunderstood your question. They should surely be able to find some for you if you give them the part number. :wink:

If memory serves, you will need 5 litres of oil.

Cheers R.

Edit: Just confirmed it is 5 litres - see here.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
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Simes123
Joined: Sun 27 Sep, 2009 20:02
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  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Leuchars

Post by Simes123 »

Robert

Brilliant - thanks for clearing that up. Looks like I need to take a trip back for the little o rings. The parts guy seemed fairly confident that all I needed was in the filter package, so I trusted him... (doh) He was also trying to sell me a cabin filter and a fuel filter, neither of which I'll ever need on the Z3 as far as I can tell. (The fuel filter doesn't appear to have a change interval, and the cabin filter is an N/A item). I also tried to buy 1 litre of BMW brake fluid as I heard it is good value from BMW, but I got the impression he doesnt get much call from DIY servicers as he said he doesn't stock it - they use large drums of the stuff, and he didn't want to order me any 1L bottles as he'd have to order 12, and he'd not get any call for it.

I think that's wrong on the 5L in the Kb. That may be the case for the 1.9, but I believe that the 2.2i with a filter change needs 6.5L (I bought 12 litres at that price, as my wife's car needs doing too.

Thanks again,
Simon
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Robert T
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  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Cheshire

Post by Robert T »

Simes123 wrote:I think that's wrong on the 5L in the Kb. That may be the case for the 1.9, but I believe that the 2.2i with a filter change needs 6.5L (I bought 12 litres at that price, as my wife's car needs doing too.
If it does turn out to be 6.5L I'll update the article. The only place I can check is in the BMW TIS and I don't have it installed at the moment. I am sure someone else on here will be able to confirm.

Cheers R.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
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Justin Time
Joined: Thu 22 Jun, 2006 20:34
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  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: Kent

Post by Justin Time »

BMW Z3 2.0L Velvet Blue Individual Edition
Simes123
Joined: Sun 27 Sep, 2009 20:02
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  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Leuchars

Post by Simes123 »

Robert T wrote:
Simes123 wrote:I think that's wrong on the 5L in the Kb. That may be the case for the 1.9, but I believe that the 2.2i with a filter change needs 6.5L (I bought 12 litres at that price, as my wife's car needs doing too.
If it does turn out to be 6.5L I'll update the article. The only place I can check is in the BMW TIS and I don't have it installed at the moment. I am sure someone else on here will be able to confirm.

Cheers R.
According to my owners manual, it's 4.0L for the 1.9i and 6.5L for the 2.2i & 3.0i (with filter change)
Mike Fishwick
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:27
Posts: 2093

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Daglan, France

2.8

Post by Mike Fishwick »

It's 6.5 litres for a 2.8, and the sump plug is rather small, at 12 mm diameter.

Last time I bought a stock of the small 'O' rings, after we got over the usual 'They're in the filter kit' nonsense, the parts guy checked and found that during the previous year, Ocean BMW had ordered 1,000 oil filters and 8 small 'O' rings - and they had been ordered for me!

It tells you a lot about the REAL value of an expensive FBMWSH, doesn't it?
estocks
Joined: Tue 04 Oct, 2005 23:36
Posts: 2866

  Not specified

Re: 2.8

Post by estocks »

Mike Fishwick wrote:during the previous year, Ocean BMW had ordered 1,000 oil filters and 8 small 'O' rings - and they had been ordered for me!
That's a lot of oil changes! :D
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Use the Search button before posting newbie questions about hard tops and fitting kits, footwell speaker amps, water in the boot, hood maintainance and those horrific angel eyes. We get like 10 threads a week on the same subject, it's obvious that you haven't searched.
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Robert T
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  Z3 roadster 1.9
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Post by Robert T »

On further examination of RealOEM, both the M43 and M44 engined 1.9s and the S50 and S54 ///Ms include the small o-rings in the filter set, but none of the other sixes seem to.

This would explain the confusion, so I don't think it is anything personal, Mike. :wink:

Cheers R.
Last edited by Robert T on Wed 21 Oct, 2009 09:34, edited 1 time in total.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
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Mike Fishwick
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:27
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  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Daglan, France

Confidence

Post by Mike Fishwick »

No - I never thought it was a personal thing - it's more of a corporate problem, as if the workshop realised that these rings (a) exist and (b) must be replaced at every filter change - as is clearly stated in the BMW TIS manual - they would be stocked by the bucketful at all dealers.

If the rings were an unimportant bit which was peculiar to a small-volume specialised model it could perhaps be understood, but as a vitial component on the vast majority of BMW engines, this omission is unforgivable.

I have a friend who is very fastidious about maintaining his immaculate E38 Five series - 20,000 miles since 1997, and most of that has been coming to visit me! He tells me that unlike le Red Zed, where the oil light goes out as the starter operates, his oil light stays on until the engine has been running for a second or so . . . needless to say, he has never been invoiced for new small 'O' rings, and it is very possible that the oil filter contents are slowly draining back to the sump during the car's usual prolonged inactivity.

There must be thousands of such owners happily driving around, confident in the quality of their FBMWSH, with small 'O' rings leaking oil back to the sump!

I remember reading on this site of an M roadster owner whose engine, 20 miles after an oil service at a dealer, turned into a clanking ruin! I bet the filter 'O' ring had not been changed in the life of the car.

My answer to all those who think that their dealer or indie is wonderful is to look at an old servicing invoice, and see if they have been charged the these 'O' rings - and so far I have never met anyone who has. They just assume that they are in the filter kit.

You can usually get away with re-using them once or twice, but in the long term . . .
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Justin Time
Joined: Thu 22 Jun, 2006 20:34
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  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: Kent

Post by Justin Time »

Simes123 wrote:According to my owners manual, it's 4.0L for the 1.9i and 6.5L for the 2.2i & 3.0i (with filter change)
The figures for the 6 cylinder models is correct, but the manual must contain a misprint/typo as I recall my old 1.9 took 5.0L of oil at it's last service.
BMW Z3 2.0L Velvet Blue Individual Edition
Mike Fishwick
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:27
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  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Daglan, France

Capacity

Post by Mike Fishwick »

I remember a BMW technican telling me that he was allowed free oil for servicing his own car . . .
Simes123
Joined: Sun 27 Sep, 2009 20:02
Posts: 49

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Leuchars

Re: Capacity

Post by Simes123 »

Mike Fishwick wrote:I remember a BMW technican telling me that he was allowed free oil for servicing his own car . . .
Nice perk..

Incidentally, different main dealer, and I've had to order those little O rings in - won't be in until Friday. So it's probably safe to assume that they don't replace them as a matter of course.... Like you say, so much for FBMWSH!!!! If they don't go by their own servicing schedule/requirements, how much is that main dealer service history really worth? Will do it myself - at least I know it's done properly. Simon
Fender2004
Joined: Fri 14 Aug, 2009 10:24
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  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Houghton-Le-Spring

Post by Fender2004 »

Thanks for all this information :) , I did change the oil when I first got my Z3, not knowing about the two small 'o' rings :head: , as they were not in the filter box, only the large one. But I'll be sure to change them the next time I do an oil change.
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