unkl300d and can-do,

Well, the filter sure is bent. And the design of the outer can is different than the one on my MANN filter. Actually the Hengst one is much more perforated. The holes look to be small semi circles kind of punched into the metal. Looks like it is less restrictive to flow than the 90 holes of the MANN filter.

I guess I will have to find another way for the bypass filter flow to make it to the main filter discharge line.

Were the grommets tight on the center tube when you took it out? Which end was up? The canned end or the other end? The reason the can deformed is still that the flow through the bypass section was much higher than it is supposed to be, which makes it possible to develop a pressure differential across the can even though it has holes (lots of them!) in it. It seems there may be other means to allow the unintended flow.

How are the MANN or other replacement filters doing? Maybe you can save the grommets and see how they fit over the center tube of the oil cap when you change filters. There has to be an explanation for what happened and it bugs me that this one is so elusive.

Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)