oil filter housing - internal valves??

[e30rapidic]

I am chasing a low oil pressure issue in my S50 and about at wits end with it. I bought the engine and completely rebuilt it. I've read many posts about leaking o-rings on the oil filter housing and low oil pressure etc. I saw one string where their solution to the oil pressure issue was to replace the whole oil filter housing assembly. I decided to go ahead and pull mine apart to take a closer look.

While looking over my housing, I noticed that I had the allen head screw in caps where most posts have shown caps held in by snap rings. I popped my lower cap off and there was nothing inside of it. Every post I've seen showing the step by step on replacing the o-rings have shown some sort of valve in the lower port. Mine did not have one....

So am I missing the valve? Common sense says yes. The top cap had a crush washer while the bottom cap had what looked like teflon tape gooped in the threads and no crush washer. Or do the housings with screw in caps not have them?!?! Unfortunately I haven't found much info regarding the internal valves on these filter housings.

Any of you guys with screw in caps mind taking a look under your lower port? I know its a pain in the rear to do but hoping someone would have a hosing laying on a bench or in a box somewhere.

Anyone know a part number for this valve? I have found zero information on it.

here are a couple of pics I pulled off google for reference and from this thread http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1724656





thanks all

[e30rapidic]

based on BFC posts, thinking now that valve is really a thermostat. Not all housings have them

[Mr.SWISS]

That reminds me I haven't had a Milky Way in a minute.

[328ijunkie]

^when you rebuilt everything what bearing sizes did you use? Replace the oil pressure valve in the head?