I finally got around to changing the oil filter on the copen and what a drama so I thought I should share my story here in case it can save some one else some trouble. Whom ever serviced the car previously had installed a filter twice the length of the normal one so it could not fit out through the gap in the engine mount. To get it out I had to remove the lower inter-cooler hard pipe and soft hose. The pipe is held with 2 12mm bolts and has an oring. Once these are off the filter could be maneuvered between the exhaust and inter-cooler then past the bumper and cross member. The oring is a pain to keep in place while refitting the pipe. If it is stuck to the pipe as mine was don't pull it off like I did!
There are two types of filters. One is quite slim (half the height), you can wedge this one through the engine mount without taking apart anything. The other one is too big to fit through, that will be a pain. Depending on what filter is installed at the moment, this could take from minutes to hours I would definitely install the slim version when replacing the filter. See the following picture for guidance
I have just done my oil and oil filter. I can add though unless you have small hands the whole fitting through the engine mount is just a no no. I tried and tried and just couldn't get hand rotated enough through the engine mount to safely thread the new filter back on. Its bumper off am afraid for me from now on....
What about oil filter wrenches? They should let you tighten it through the engine mount. Also: Hand tight is enough, no need for 200nm of torque
I used the correct oil filter wrench/flute, I just struggled so much with the hand up through the engine mount I went with bumper off. I didn't have the confidence of getting the new filter bedded in correctly. You can access the wrench cups from the front if just the grill removed but for me it was the simple act of getting the filter on the threads correctly with confidence..... just big hands :-(
I went to the shop here yesterday and the only ones they have (had to order it in) what i think is the bigger one. There was a choice of 3 but they were all 65mm. i was under there last night trying to find my oil leak but i'm dammed if i can find mine! are they in a different place for the 0.6?
The 65mm is the "wrong" one, I have found one that is 50mm from a german company called Herth+Buss Jakoparts, the number is J1316008. Maybe you can order it online...
20 Minutes....complet with filter 2,50 Euro..J1316008 Jakoparts herth+Buss. daparto or ebay`? easy to get..
Yup, it was the wrong size! No way that sucker is going in that space! Easy enough to find though, pretty much to the right of the dipstick and up towards the engine (if you are under the car).
