This seems like an unusual circumstance.
I have read nothing in the forums to indicate any particular company makes bad Secondary Filters. However, the good quality Filters are not overpriced and are competitive with the cheapie ones so most people buy a decent make of Filter.

Also the Hengst, Mahle and Mann versions are often priced slightly lower (on the internet) then the US versions.

In general when spin-on Filters have a problem it is often with the rubber Seal on the Filter or some issue with the threads.
If there is an issue inside of the Filter itself you normally cannot see that.

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