Thanks all, for the input.
We do carry filters in each car, along with coolant, water, oil and tranny fluid (not for the 240D), blankets, flashlights, etc.
All I can say is, "The Bob" is AWESOME!
A thousand thanks to Bob Counihan for making a 1+ hour trip to help us out!! He arrived and made my wife fell so at-ease. She said that he was so incredibly thorough, polite, friendly, and knowledgeable...and she could not believe that someone would go out of there way to help a perfect stranger like that! Bob made what could have been a really terrible experience for my wife a really good one, and for that I am extremely grateful!
Hey, She now knows how to change the filters!
The diagnosis? Air getting in due to a leak in the fuel lines somewhere. Bob installed new fuel line(s)and filters and checked several other areas to make sure that he had fixed the problem.
We need more people like TheBob in this world. He went way out of his way to help a stranger...me...I won't forget that.