1 Car, 2 Oil filters

Sun Sep 02, 2012 8:50 pm

Just done the sump gasket on my M20 today and changed the engine mounted filter and noticed the remote one on the oil cooler side above the o/s brake duct which looks close to rotting through. Is this the same filter as the engine filter as I can't seem to find one listed anywhere?

Sun Sep 02, 2012 8:59 pm

You sure its an oil filter mate?

Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:25 pm

its not the air-con is it?

Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:29 pm

No remote filter ever fitted by BMW!
Other candidates are the drier that's part of an air con system, or a charcoal canister that's part of emissions equipment. Both relatively rare to find on an E30.

Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:33 pm

When I got the car a mate of mine caught a high kerb and twatted the front valance on the o/s corner, when I got a replacement and told the fella what happened he commented that I was lucky to have not lost the oil. I didn't take much notice at the time. The car has been off road since Nov 2007 and only just started to mess with it again. Only today that I noticed it and realised that was what he must have meant. It's a spin on filter invertedly fitted to a remote housing with high pressure rubber hoses that seem to lead to the oil cooler.

Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:39 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:No remote filter ever fitted by BMW!
Other candidates are the drier that's part of an air con system, or a charcoal canister that's part of emissions equipment. Both relatively rare to find on an E30.

It has got Air Con and could be a dryer now it's been mentioned a couple of times. I'll have another look tomorrow and take a pic. I thought it odd to have 2 filters. I'm gonna end up looking like a nob!

Mon Sep 03, 2012 10:53 am

Brianmoooore wrote:No remote filter ever fitted by BMW!
Other candidates are the drier that's part of an air con system, or a charcoal canister that's part of emissions equipment. Both relatively rare to find on an E30.

Got both on my cab (which seems to have a spec all of its own)

The charcoal canister - does it do anything after 20 odd years? can I ditch it?

Mon Sep 03, 2012 10:56 am

Dids wrote:
Brianmoooore wrote:No remote filter ever fitted by BMW!
Other candidates are the drier that's part of an air con system, or a charcoal canister that's part of emissions equipment. Both relatively rare to find on an E30.
It has got Air Con and could be a dryer now it's been mentioned a couple of times. I'll have another look tomorrow and take a pic. I thought it odd to have 2 filters. I'm gonna end up looking like a nob!

As I recall on my car- Air con bit is just near the corner of the car sort of below the o/s headlight area; the charcoal bit is midway along the n/s wing.

Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:59 am

Yeah, you've got those right. Charcoal canister is buried down unter the PAS reservoir and brake master cylinder. It's possible to ditch it by blocking off the rubber pipe that connects to the bottom of the throttle body (so that there's no leak in the intake), disconnecting the air valve and routing the new vent pipe to the inner wing.

Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:12 pm

AlpineCab wrote:As I recall on my car- Air con bit is just near the corner of the car sort of below the o/s headlight area; the charcoal bit is midway along the n/s wing.

Depends entirely on which side your steering wheel is! I learnt a long time ago to assume nothing when replying to queries.

Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:56 pm

It's the Air Con receiver. There's 2 reasons I now know this. 1. Most of you think it is and 2. Upon further investigation it says it is on the side of it. I'm ashamed!

Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:14 am

Brianmoooore wrote:
AlpineCab wrote:As I recall on my car- Air con bit is just near the corner of the car sort of below the o/s headlight area; the charcoal bit is midway along the n/s wing.
Depends entirely on which side your steering wheel is! I learnt a long time ago to assume nothing when replying to queries.

Very right Brianmoooore - and being in France could only add to the potential confusion. Car's RHD though.

Thu Sep 06, 2012 1:49 pm

Dids wrote:It's the Air Con receiver. There's 2 reasons I now know this. 1. Most of you think it is and 2. Upon further investigation it says it is on the side of it. I'm ashamed!

Don't be ashamed, you have an E30 with aircon! I'd be proud

Is it the car in your sig?

Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:04 pm

Yeah. The Air Con worked quite well the last time I drove it, but that was Oct '07. Other projects and the price of fuel never gave me the incentive to put it back on the road, but I didn't want to sell it. They seem to be making a comeback so it's time for me to put it back to it's former glory.