N62: oil filter removal - Spring found (solved)
 

Hi all,
I just got a call from my BMW mech and they told me that upon removal of the oil filter and filter plastic housing, they found a ball bearing in there.
They said this is the second time in 10 years they have come across this but they have NO Idea what it actually is from.
these mechanics are not fools. They are all very seasoned BMW mechanics.
They said another owner with an N62 X5 had the same issue 10 years ago and the same engine is still working 100% and the same owner still brings that engine bck for maintenance when needed adn has never complained of any issue related to the oil system/ball bearing they found.

Have ANY of you ever heard of this before? I swear I have, but I thought it was for another brand engine.

Maybe they are in there to circulate the oil and keep the additives in suspension :) just kidding. Its a mystery

EDIT: MAN I AM BUSY>>> too busy to even listen to my mech when he tells me it was a SPRING, not a ball bearing. UGH I need more time in a week

This happened to my X5 4.4 2005 while still under factory warranty years ago. It was a spring found while the dealer was doing an oil change. The dealer replaced the oil pump under CPO warranty but I vaguely remember them saying it's not catastrophic. Here're threads about this rather common issue and there's even a TSB about it with a description of the various unexpected components of the anti-drain valve that tend to fall out while performing an oil change on an N62 engine:

https://xoutpost.com/1073844-post8.html

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...r-removal.html

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...project-9.html

Thanks for snapping me back to reality. it WAS a spring they found when my filter was removed.
thanks for the links.

Yeah, it's your turn now to impress your very seasoned BMW mechanics, educating them where that part came from, and arm yourself with a print-out of the BMW SIB-110905 to boot ;). They'll sit at your feet for a while, awe struck as you explain the spring mystery :bustingup.

I already emailed them the SI B :)
I'm just glad its not of concern, mostly