Getting there......Crank Case breather

Still loving ownership, no expensive bills as yet (still paranoid over clutch / VCU / IRD imminently failing!) and consistently getting 35 mpg, well happy!
Investigating oil on rocker cover thought intercooler pipe gone, just turned out to be jubilee clip not tightening enough, so thought better check crank case filter, solid it was!
Went for a Bearmach cloth one as in stock and local at Roean, but has anyone any idea on what the piece of plastic is floating around in the r/h chamber of the breather filter housing? was found just lying in there, so assembled the same, any ideas?
Should have took a photo when apart, but have a look at this ebay listing and it's the piece in the bottom right of the picture?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crankcas...=item36200cb752:g:CZsAAOSwTRFZorp8:rk:49:pf:0
Any thoughts appreciated.

Dick Snow.

There are 2 components in the crankcase filter assembly. The filter which is the fluffy thing and the PCV valve is the other part. It should be assembled into the housing and not flopping about loose. It's job is to allow crankcase gasses to vent into the inlet tract, but prevent boost pressure from reaching the crankcase.
I'd be replacing if you can't work out how it's supposed to be assembled , or if parts are missing.

Remove the filter housing again as the piece of plastic you are referring to holds the blue cotton filter in place, as you can see from the photo's below

You could replace the whole assembly for the BMW upgrade part and do away with the filter system altogether.

Arctic2, the mutts nuts sir!
The pictures clearly show the plastic part, which was loose in the r/h chamber, gainfully employed as a retainer for the filter!
So, soon to be in the garage and placing said part where is should be, again, many thanks.
The BMW part, if the beast is still with me when next service due, that'll be the mod then, just didn't know what was already in there, so on taking it apart the new OEM part was 5 miles away £13 and in stock instead of spending £40 and a days wait for the BM part.
Anyhoo, thanks folks for quality replies, at last! Found a forum that actually works!

Job done!
Again, the last garage that changed this filter prior to me buying it was in Devon! Just can't get the staff nowadays, suppose that's why I love the FL1 and the BMW diesel, you can still maintain it yourself!
Clip fitted in the slot in l/h chamber retaining breather filter, simple when you know!