Originally Posted by babymog

Tell me you've never opened the hood for something like an oil change and then realized you're out of filters.

Originally Posted by JimSmith

I acknowledge it is nice to have a dealer nearby. I don't always use the dealer either, and use Fastlane quite often - some parts are fine from other sources, especially if they are being sold by an outfit that stands behind them, like Phil and FastLane. Some stuff is just not that simple, and to be honest, unless the cost is a big deal, I will often default to the dealer - for me filters are just not that expensive from the dealer to make an issue of it.

I picked up my filter and ordered a key. As I promised I scanned the box and the top of the filter can so you can see the manufacturer (Mann) and the Mann part number. I also scanned the receipt, folded it to protect the innocent, and included it below. $13.87 is not a bad price for the MB filter. Join MB Club and see what you can wrangle.

Jim

Originally Posted by pawoSD

How does your dealer have such awesome prices?!?!?

Our dealer wants $40 per key!!!! Those cons.....

Originally Posted by horsttappert

excuse me for not following the thread but what's the final outcome now? Fram, again? Turkish? Yawn
or just no filter whatsoever since there's nothing to filter out anyway?
(unless you spill sand or something else harder than metal into the filler of course)

Originally Posted by horsttappert

excuse me for not following the thread but what's the final outcome now? Fram, again? Turkish? Yawn
or just no filter whatsoever since there's nothing to filter out anyway?
(unless you spill sand or something else harder than metal into the filler of course)

Originally Posted by JimSmith

We will see what kind of key I get - I have a feeling I am getting the metal part only as in previous discussions the plastic head part was nearly $30. The key is also for a 1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16, which has a different metal blade shape - maybe it is cheaper.

There is another thread out there on this subject. I reuse the old plastic parts if I can, by filling the space inside with JB Weld, clamping it, and then manually grinding the hardened ooze with a Dremel. I can't bring myself to pay $30 for that plastic head. Jim

Originally Posted by Diesel911

I guess the outcome is that there is some info available to make a choice from. It is by no means complete info.

Baldwin, Mann and to a partial extent Mahle have responded to some of the Members questions concerning 617 type Filters. WIX has the specs available on their site for most of the filters that they make.

I wish the companies that make the filters would publish the specs so the consumer knows what they are getting.

Though given only passing mention installing a separate By-pass filter in my opinion solves the problem (but some feel the stock filter is enough).
After that it does not matter what type of media is in the bypass section of the stock or other makers filters.

If I did not have a separate By-pass installed I would use the Baldwin p-102 if I could find them. Baldwin at least knows filtration of both ends of their filter.

Originally Posted by Goatman

If there is no Amsoil EA series filter available, such as for our 603's, then I go with then next best filter ever made, which is Wix.


I live driving distance from the Fram plant and factory store, had friends that used to work there, and NONE of us would ever buy anything that had that name on it. EVER.

Originally Posted by JimSmith

Delivery Valve,

Change oil frequently and hot. Change the filter every time you change the oil. Use decent oil and I recommend you buy your filters from the MB dealership. With that kind of regimen there is no evidence the visually unappealing features of the filter pose a threat to harm your engine.

The filter is a functional device and MB, at least in the 1950's through the 1970's, was a "form follows function" driven organization in a country recovering from a devastating war where the concept of "quality" included low operating costs. MB Diesels owned the taxi cab, ambulance and other utility markets because of their rugged, reliable, nature as well as their low operating costs. I am sure MB could have found a more visually appealing and more expensive material for the by-pass filter media. That, however, would have departed from the "form follows function" mantra. The function is defined as ensuring the oil remains able to provide adequate lubrication to limit friction and remove heat over some prescribed interval.

The very worst consequence of the condition in the photos you posted is the by-pass filter media is by-passed by some, perhaps a large fraction, of the by-pass oil filter flow, if the media in fact remains in the drained and slumped condition shown in the photo while it is "in service" in the filter pod and full of oil. In any case what ever unfiltered oil volume that circumvents the by-pass media still has to go through the main flow filter element before it enters critical parts of the engine.

I don't have any issue with anyone's conclusion the aesthetic impression of the cotton "waste" material in its as new or used condition is that the stuff is unappealing looking. My objection is that the unappealing appearance of the material is being cited, all by itself, as evidence the filter design and manufacturing process is substandard, and based on that conclusion, people who read this thread are being influenced to choose a filter design that has never been sold by MB for this application, and therefore, has likely not been subjected to any MB sanctioned testing to validate its performance in an MB OM616/617 Diesel engine. I, along with others who have contributed to this thread, have pointed out the basic design features of the oil lubrication system on the OM616/617 engines, and how the combination filter is part of the oil lubrication system on those engines. There is also a nearly 40 year history of the filter performing well as these engines do not have a reputation of lower end failures that could be attributed to oil flow deficiencies.

Influencing people to buy a filter with a more visually appealing filtering media that has not been qualified by MB for this application, and one that works on a different set of principles without some technical data to support the presumption it will perform adequately, much less better, is potentially technically misleading and will cost them additional money. I just called and "my" price for a genuine MB badged OM616/617 filter is $14.37 before tax.

But, in the end if you change oil frequently and hot, and change the filter at the same time, today's oils will cover a bunch of filter performance sins - whether they be due to the unappealing media or a prettier but misapplied media. If you are genuinely technically concerned, have your oil tested regularly and establish an oil change interval based on the condition of your oil.

Jim