all oil filters too tall? 96 328i

[gorgerunner]

I just went to change my oil in my 1996 328i and replaced the filter with a MANN from autozone, and it is too tall. About 3/4" taller than what was being replaced. So I went back to the parts store and checked all available brands of oil filters for my car and they are all too tall. Is it possible that the engine was changed from the stock unit and thus I am getting the incorrect filter for this engine? I have not had the car too long so this is my first oil change I have done on it. Thanks for your help.

[JDStrickland]

Is it possible that the one that came out is too short?

[MrTeeThyme]

I had a similar issue when I got my first bimmer - an e39 touring. It turned out that some filters have plastic rings on the end and two of those rings were stuck in the bottom of the housing. I'm guessing they came off during the PO's oil changes.

Check in your housing to ensure there isn't anything in there like that.

[gorgerunner]

The reason I noticed it was too tall is that the cover would not screw on. So i placed the 2 filters side by side and the old one is about 3/4" shorter.

[jmo69]

I use Mann filters in my e36 & e46, the HU925/4X and they are 4 inches long exactly. You just have to push down a little to get them started, spring loaded.

[UnderCoverGuy11]

This is pretty funny man, the SAME thing happened to me when I went to auto zone last oil change. I have an M50, so my filter housing is a little different than yours, but I put them next to each other and one was shorter, so are all the other ones. Weird because I didn't change brand or anything. I just tightened it up anyway, engine is still whisper silent. I think what happened is it was always like that, that it just shrinks after you tighten it down and all the oil goes through it after 3k. Just one of those things you never really noticed before but was always like that.

I came to this conclusion cause well there's no other possibility, it's not like every manufacturer changed all their filters at the same time

[jmo69]

On my second change I took out the Purolator filter I had installed and it came out slightly crushed, been using Manns ever since. 474127

[Eric93se]

I had the same thing happen once, but I don't remember which brand it was, I've tried different brands each time. Currently have Mobile 1 filter, they are usually expensive but caught a sale, they''re supposed to filter out more. I think the filter that didn't fit was a Mahl, the one with the hard plastic top and ring, had to push a little to get it started, was pissed at the time. The filter housing was clear of old filter parts.

We should figure this out, the exact height needed and which brands are screwing up on manufacturing these things.

[JDStrickland]

I think that instead of the new one being too tall, you did not push it down all of the way. My guess is the old filter is short, which is not a problem for the canister, rather than the new one is long. Oil fills the canister from the outside of the filter element, then goes back to the engine through the center. All that happens with the short filter is that there is oil circulating around at the top of the canister waiting to be drawn through the filter.

If the new filter is long and it's your first time, then you might not be seating it fully, and the lid does not fit on. Frankly, the short one can also not be seated well, but because it is short then the lid will still fit.

Make sure there are no old seals on the bottom of the canister that are holding the filter up too high.

[Eric93se]

I just check my new mobil 1 and its exactly 4" tall, so maybe you guys can go measure the other brands you have just to see if there's anything funny going on.

[JDStrickland]

I have a Mann on the shelf that's right at 4" tall.