I worked on an E39 529i with the M52TU engine and performed an engine oil service.

When I removed the filter, the filer paper was falling apart and I found sludge on the bottom of the housing. I wiped off top of the filter to see if this was a BMW version and it wasn't.

Just for your information, BMW is aware with this problem since last year and happened to there own oil filters as well. Problem is that the normal operating temp. of the engine oil is really high, and the filter cannot withstand the heat and breaks off. And no it does not go inside the engine cut off oil pressure. BMW has modified these filters and are no longer in production. The modified oil filters are now used in all BMW 6 and 8 cylinder engines.

There is absolutly nothing to worry about though if you had your warranty engine oil services at a BMW Center or you have been buying OEM Spec oil filters.

PS. Always check your engine oil level when you fuel up your vehicle.

PSS: This may apply to our vehicles with a M52, M50TU, M50, S50, and S52 engines. If you have serious engine modifications that increase engine temp. the engine oil will hold up but possibly not the filter, especially to those that drive really hard and have long engine oil service intervals.
Please use BMW OEM engine oil filters.

Thanks for the great info Jon.

yup.....I saw this alot in the E39 when I was working in a shop....I mean it would be a bitch to scrap out all those little filter parts in the oil filter housing.

Alan

I recall when BMW changed the design of some of their oil filters about a year or so ago. Do you know what the change entailed? Was it a different type of paper media that is now used?

Bob ///M3

Bob,

Yes, BMW switched to a harder more durable paper element. No more flakes inside the housing!

Gotcha, that makes sense!

Bob ///M3

You know how often this happens with other filters and you dont know it?

at least with bmw you can see when it happens

Stockman,

It started happening on the E46 and E39 with the M52TU (2.5L and 2.8L) engines that came out in 1999. I'm sure you are aware that BMW increased the engine oil service intervals at about 15,500 miles.

Seems like the customers are really having their oil change at around that mileage sometimes even beyond that. Apprently, the older filters just couldnt take it. I also noticed the old oil to be really black even on the new cars 2000-2001.

I first found out about this when I was in BMW traning and they showed us a BMW Service Roundtable video about this subject. BMW decided to stick with the same oil service intervals and got rid of the old style filters and in with the new.

Hey Jon, are you out in California right now? What BMW dealership did you get hired at eventually?

Yeah I use the BMW OEM (Mahle) filters and buy them along with my AMSOIL 0W-30 and just have my mechanic do the oil change.

Cheap oil filters at XP Engineering for $2.99/$3.99.

Thanks for the info Jon.

Gio

<a href="http://www.xpengineering.com">Oil Filters@XP Engineering</a>

Gio,

I'm still here in Atlanta, GA. I decided to stay due to a pay raise I recieved plus my supervisor wanted me to stick around.

I'm moving back to the Los Angeles area end of Dec. or Jan.

Jon,

How much does a BMW master technician make if they have over 5 years experience? Do they ever employ technicians for part time - like on the weekends?

umnitza-

It kinda depends on how the Technician gets paid and different BMW centers pay them differently.
Some BMW dealers may not even recognize ASE Certified if a Technician has that status.

BMW Master Techs can earn about $23-$28 an hour and bring in like 55hrs or more a week.

Very few dealers or none may hire part time techs. I know that my dealer doesnt do such a thing.

thanks...I was just wondering because I love working on my car and thought, hey, I could learn a few things and get paid doing it....

But, I won't quit my "day job";)

Thanks for the info.