oil filter disintergrated
 

Changed the oil today. The oil filter had become brittle.The filter was in small fragment. It separated from the plastic disks. After much careful picking I got all of it out. Any ideas about what happened or anything I should do. Thanks

How long had it been since the last oil/filter change? The filters are 'supposed' to last to the 15k mile interval BMW specifies, but...well ok, I won't get into how freaking stupid the 15k mile oil change interval is.

What happened to you is generally caused by an oil filter being used for too long of a time.

Could be too long a time, but going brittle doesn't usually happen with an OEM filter. I would investigate whether it is a jobber filter (not OEM), whether it is labelled BMW or not as it could be a counterfeit part. Also, I wonder whether there was too much heat, but I would expect other problems as well in that case (if you had overheating, and had to fix something else already, then that may explain the brittle filter).

OEM filters don't have any problem at all if you follow the change intervals recommended, which are the first of 15,000 miles and up to 2 years in service (depending on year of manufacture).

If you had your oils done in the last 15k and this happend to the oil filter, then the only thing I can tell you is that the dealer never changed the filter and kept the same one in. I've heard stories about this from many other people. I myself still double check the oil filter every time I get an oil change. I get my oil change at 5k. I don't trust any dealer. Just an FYI...

I have heard of dealers doing this as well, but if you had your oil done at a jiffy lube or something like that, they probably didnt even have your filter in stock and didnt even take a look at it. I think you can buy 4 OEM filters on ebay for like $25 or something like that. pick some up and take one in with you next time