the cotton waste portion is not the bypass. That wont filter down to 5 microns... Have you ever opened a filter?

The cotton waste section is useless. Might as well not even have it.

I sincerely doubt it can filter any better than the full flow section.

Then what is?

I know that the cottom waste portion isnt.. The center portion probably is..

When I took a Hengst filter apart I noticed how the cottin waste was not even capable of 10 microns.. maybe 30 on a good day. Plus it was wrapped in a tight weave cotton fabric (maybe the 5 micron portion)... Im keeping on a look out for those Fram Filters from Turkey

From what I gather after reading that massive oil filter thread, at idle most of the oil is finely filtered through that gin waste, which was most likely not what the MB engineers intended to be in there. When rpm's, and thus oil pressure are raised, the oil is "bypassed" through the rest of the filter that doesn't filter quite as finely as the lower portion. I just use a wix filter since I can't get ahold of any Turkey Frams and I'm not putting that gin waste crap, bugs, and twigs in my engine.

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Seth

1984 300D 225K
1985 300D Donor body
1985 300D Turbo 165K. Totaled. Donor Engine. It runs!!!
1980 300SD 311K My New Baby.
1979 BMW 633csi 62K+++? Dead odo

Oil is always flowing through the bypass section. The flow is restricted through a small 1mm hole that can be seen on the filter lid's shaft.