Parts in my oil filter

abrownaz · #1 09-25-2010, 12:42 AM

Hi All. I just bought a 2005 X5, with 64k mi, and have since joined the forum. Now I'm ready for my first question.

I did my first oil change on it last weekend and found a spring and cone-shaped-deal in the oil filter. I assume it came from the oil pump but I'm curious as to what it is. It seems like the oil is still circulating just fine. Has anyone had the same experience?

Picture is attached. Note: the penny was not in the oil, it's just there for size comparison.

JCL · #2 09-25-2010, 01:18 AM

I suspect that it is part of the oil check valve (anti-drain valve) which stops the oil from bleeding down when the engine is shut off. There were campaigns on some of those check valves, not sure if your engine was covered. Without a functioning check valve you can get a lack of oil on start-up, with resulting noise and wear, until oil pressure builds up.

The check valve is not part of the filter, but rather part of the filter housing (at least it was on my X5 3.0, not sure if different engines have different setups).

Pentastarpackrat · #3 10-02-2010, 12:58 AM

I found the same parts, plus the plastic valve portion in my wife's 2004 X5 4.4 with 60k miles. It is the non-return oil check valve that prevents oil from draining back while the engine is shut off. Upon inspection, I could see where it was originally pressed in, inside the passage at the top of the filter housing. There is a service bulletin for this problem from 2005, stating oil pump replacement as the fix. BIG $$$ and lots of time, especially if you plan to tackle it yourself.

I contacted the service manager at Brian Jessel BMW here in Vancouver. He looked into the issue and promptly responded, according to BMW's recomendation, no action is required beyond removing the 4 components of the valve. No harm will occur as a result. If I wanted to proceed with the pump replacement, the pump is nearly $900 and the total job aprox. $3500 CDN dollars.

I could be wrong but historically engines didn't have this type of valve and oil drain back has always been a reality in those engines. Over time, the lack of instant lubrication at start up could shorten engine life by introducing added wear. I suppose time will tell. I would bet, most of these engines have had the valve parts removed and tossed at some point, with or without the owners knowing when servicing is being performed, especially if they were discovered during the warrantee period by a dealer.

JCL · #4 10-02-2010, 01:51 AM

Many designs of oil filter have this valve. BMW just chooses to put it in the housing instead of the filter.

If there is engine noise evident on cold start, potentially from oil starvation, then I would replace the broken drain-back valve. If there is no engine noise evident on cold start, then it is a toss up as to whether it is worth doing. I would have done it on my own vehicle (no labour charge) but I would be reluctant to pay a dealer several thousand to do it, if they weren't going to help out on a goodwill/policy basis.