After being inspired by members of this forum, I have decided to start taking maintenance into my semi-capable hands. The most basic of activities, the oil change, has presented a challenge in that I am having issues removing the filter insert. Is there a method to removal, or do I just need to yank it out? If I break anything my wife will insist that I take the car back to the local expensive, yet proficient, MB indie shop. Please help me retain my manhood.

Yank it out.

Whack the new one back in.

Simple as. Don't forget to change the o-rings on it.

I'll try the yank method. Go Giants.

Great game!


There is a small wire handle affixed to the top of the filter. Use it!

No handle on mine and they are always German made.

Wear gloves, wrap it with a paper towel or put it in the empty box and tug it off.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Just pull it straight up and and out - voila! Then slap the new one down in, be sure to snug it down in like the old one was - so it is not touching the sides of the filter housing. Rub some clean oil on the new o-ring and place it on the housing cap, reinstall the cap, and you're good to go. Manhood retained. Now, with the few extra dollars you just saved yourself, go celebrate that awesome Giants win!!!

PS. I'm a Steelers fan, but that was a great win!

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'95 E300D ("Tank") - 231,000 miles
'79 240D ("Biscuit") - 197,250 miles (Sold)
'83 240D ("Ding-Ding") - 217,000 miles (Death by deer)
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"Back off, man. I’m a scientist” ~ Peter Venkman

There is no wire handle on the filter for my '96. Is the '95 different?

Some of the elements hold very tightly to the shaft on the cover. After removing the cover from the car, hold the filter element with a paper towel or plastic bag and tap the end of the shaft on a hard surface, and the filter will immediately dislodge.

the filters on my 606 come out with the cap, and usually are quite attached to it. The only method I have used is to PULL and sometimes end up flinging oil about Do you think I could sand down the part that slips inside the filter and make it a little looser fit? Or will that allow oil to bypass and defeat the purpose of the whole thing?

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Muleears
'07 E320 Bluetec 133K my DD
'04 Jaguar XJ8 VDP, 34K
'10 Hyundai Accent 60K Grocery Getter
'02 VW Golf soon to be on the road again
'97 E300 Diesel Son's DD
'61 VERY tolerant wife

Hampton Roads, VA USA

Gone but not forgotten:
'67 250S 95K
'86 300SDL
'87 300D Turbo, 364K! R.I.P.
'98 E300 Turbodiesel, 213K
'02 S420, 164K
'01 Prius 138K

I tell you, just give it a small tap on the table. It comes right out with little mess. Don't resort to sandpaper.

Huh, the handle must be a 95 thing. Sure makes it easy. Sorry 'bout that.

Interesting. All the filters I get from Phil - and over the years I think I've tried all his brands, have a wire handle on top which makes it easy to pull the filter.

My filter never sticks to the shaft bolt of the filter unit.

By the way, get a good strong light and look into the filter housing when the filter is out - all the old oil makes it very hard to actually see what's in there. I did this on my car after I first got it and saw "something" in there. Pulled it out and it was the rubber grommet from the bottom of an old filter in there. Could have been catastrophic if it had blocked off the lube oil drain passage!

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 252K

My newly-acquired Fleetguard filters that I got through my local tractor dealer have a handle on them. I haven't actually done the oil change procedure on my '95 yet, but I soon will.

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Nothing cranks me like compression ignition.

- '95 Mercedes E300D "The Great White"
- '98.5 Dodge Cummins 24V 4x4 - "The Green Hammer" (Sold 12-08)
- '81 VW Rabbit diesel w/GTI suspension - "The JackRabbit"
- '00 Triumph Sprint ST for when I need speed

I suspect the differences here are that with the 95, the filter remains in the canister when the lid is removed.

With the 96 and up, the filter remains attached to the lid when the lid is removed.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

"That is correct, sir".

Here's my experience with this. The aftermarket filters I have found are much harder to pull off of the top than the OE M-B brand. I'm reluctant to exert the kind of force it takes to remove them sometimes for fear of breaking the filter lid.

If you look closely at the filters you will see on the M-B filter they use a kind of felt lining where it mounts to the lid but the aftermarket ones don't. When everyone says they are all the same I say look closer...if you find the aftermarket ones hard to remove try an M-B filter and see if that is easier.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz