R56 DIY oil service - what a pain

[CantDecide]

I have just completed an oil service (oil + filter) on my R56 JCW and I have to say what were the designers/engineers thinking. The oil filter cap is buried beneath hoses that don t want to move and make it extremely difficult to get the filter cap (and filter) out and even harder to get the new one back in. Trying to line the cap up so that you can do the first few turns by hand to avoid cross threading is ridiculously difficult.

If anyone has any suggestions to make it easier I would welcome them.

Perhaps the next time I do it it wont take me an hour to get the older filter out and new one in, and perhaps a few less swear words as well At least it s done now but I am already not looking forward to the next one! Rant over.

[CacheMonet]

While I agree that the packaging is tight, the placement of the oil filter is significantly easier than most vehicles I have worked on. German style top-loading filter housings are nice and straightforward - it's no hardship removing the intake and breather pipes, sometimes even the washer bottle, though.

Realistically, assuming you have an N14, a catch can is recommended. If you're changing your oil this then becomes part of the steps, and even inspecting the intake and breather pipes for residue or damage. "while you're in there" n all that. Pretty much the only place for a catch can the hose routing is around the oil filter back to the firewall, so disassembly becomes well practiced

[Megaflow]

Yep, ridiculous place for an oil filter, although not as bad as a >2020 Nissan Navara...

I found the best way is to vac out the header tank and remove it, for the 5 minutes it takes, it makes the job much much easier!