When comparing an oil-filter housing for an F30 330i, first establish which engine and which assembly the offer describes. A filter cartridge, a gasket, a separate cooler and a complete housing with cooler are different purchases. A photograph of one component does not establish what will arrive in the box.
This guide uses one specific example: the listed Australian F30 LCI 330i sedan with the 2.0L B48 turbo-petrol engine, within 07/2015–10/2018, where the original housing matches reference 11428596283. The aim is to compare the assembly, its interfaces and its inclusions before ordering, rather than selecting from the 3 Series badge alone.
Confirm B48 before comparing the housing
Record the VIN, build month, engine code and body variant. Keep the selected B48 application separate from N20 and B58 applications. A page headed “BMW 3 Series” is too broad to settle the match.
Build dates in a supplier’s family-level fitment table may cover more models than the exact replacement page you are considering. The PFA example below deliberately uses the narrower F30 LCI 330i sedan scope. Do not extend it to another engine, body style or production period without a vehicle-specific catalogue check.
Find out what the assembly actually includes
| Item being compared | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Housing and cooler | Whether both are supplied together, rather than a separate heat exchanger or bare housing. |
| Filter | Whether a cartridge is included. The selected manufacturer’s assembly states that its filter is already installed inside. |
| Gasket | Which gasket is supplied. “With gasket” is not a statement that every seal, fastener, hose or service material for the repair is included. |
| Application | The original reference, engine, build scope and physical interfaces must agree with the actual vehicle. |
The F30 330i B48 housing-and-cooler assembly is listed with the cooler, an installed filter and the supplier-specified gasket. Use the current product page for the exact supplied configuration and availability. Do not assume a differently photographed offer has identical contents merely because it mentions the same engine family.
Compare the engine-side face, not just the filter cap
The actual assembly photograph below shows why a single top view is insufficient. The engine-side face has a defined sealing outline, several openings and specific mounting points. A familiar-looking filter canister does not verify those interfaces.
Ask for a view of the engine-side sealing layout, the filter-canister orientation, the coolant connection and the mounting arrangement. Compare each from the same direction. A detail crop can show a feature clearly, but it should be traceable to the same complete assembly rather than a different variant.
If the original is still installed, begin with the VIN and visible reference. The workshop can compare less accessible features during its assessment. There is no need to dismantle a working assembly solely to obtain an online comparison photograph.
A reference list does not prove every supersession
Some offers list several reference numbers under one product. Keep the reference from your original assembly and ask for confirmation of any claimed replacement relationship. Similar digits, a shared B48 label or a long compatibility list are not enough to establish that relationship for a particular VIN.
Material descriptions also need to refer to the actual item being purchased. One supplier may describe a different housing construction from another. Do not infer that a material change proves better service life, resolves a known failure or makes an otherwise unconfirmed assembly interchangeable.
Keep selection and diagnosis separate
This comparison identifies the replacement configuration. It does not diagnose a leak or prove that a complete housing is required instead of a seal or another component. Have the workshop locate the fault and decide the repair scope before ordering.
An installed filter and a supplied gasket also do not make the package a complete service kit. Ask the installer what additional seals, fasteners, fluids or other materials the vehicle-specific repair requires. Use the appropriate service information for tightening, filling and checks; this article does not provide a generic torque or fluid procedure.
A short checklist before the order
- Confirm the F30 LCI 330i sedan application, B48 engine and build month.
- Record the original reference and resolve any claimed supersession against the VIN.
- Compare the sealing face, connection, canister orientation and mounting points.
- Confirm whether the offer is a complete assembly or an individual component.
- Check the filter and gasket inclusions separately from the workshop’s full repair requirements.
Sources behind this comparison
The manufacturer’s assembly description identifies reference 11428596283, states that the filter is installed and lists an assembly with gasket. The independent Australian GMS application listing provides B48/B48O F30/F31 context for that reference family; its material description and broader fitment scope should not be copied into another supplier’s product specification.
If any identifying feature remains unresolved, send the vehicle details and original-housing photographs for confirmation before choosing the linked assembly.
Prepared from catalogue and actual product-photo checks. The featured workshop scene is an AI-generated editorial illustration. Information reviewed on 3 November 2026.