Oil filter froken in half???

[mike43068]

I changed the oil on my '99 528i today. This was my first time changing the oil myself. When I removed the oil filter cap, half was in the cap and half was still down in the reservoir. Is this normal? I'm worried that maybe it was broken before I opened it up andI haven't been filtering my oil.

[gtx510]

Are you running 15k OCI's (Oil Change Intervals)?
Not really normal for a filter to crack in half. No that would suck. :D

I've heard of the early filters having problems with the 15k OCI's but that was fixed long ago. I think some would crack and even split in 2?
Personally, the 15k OCI doesn't help either. And the oil's about dead at 10-12k....

I'd guess hopefully it cracked when you twisted off the cap. Do the '99's have twist caps?
Incorrect installation? :dunno:

start doing synthetic oil changes at 7-8k
use (German) Castrol Syntec 0W30 from Autozone until you can find something better (that'll be tough)
try some www.auto-rx.net to care for that neglected oiling system
keep your fingers crossed

[mike43068]

Yes the '99s are twist off caps. I was hoping it didn't happen during the install if it was over torqued. I'm thinking it probably happened during removal. This was my firt time changing the oil and I didn't know what to expect.

I got the car from my brother when he got shipped overseas. He was changing the oil at 10,000 mile intervals and recommended the same to me. I currently have 80,000 on it. About 3,000 from me.

[gtx510]

You should be fine. Hopefully...
If it happens again or the filter cracks easily after removal I'd think about shortening your interval a little bit.


Congrats on the new ride. Tell you bro to have a "schwarma", it's like a burrito/gryos, and to keep his head down.