So in other words just buy a Hastings and be done with it. Thanks.

Freedom of choice.


On other Engines the Mahle may be the best choice. But, there is little research into other Engines.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Love the US made oil filter so thought I'd try the fuel prefilter. I was surprised that this one is not built here at all! Never actually seen this tag on anything I've bought, come to think of it.

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Let's ask this question a different way:

Despite the variation among the various "aftermarket filters" (as if Mercedes actually manufactured filters), has anyone ever had an engine failure directly attributable to their filter?

The only thing I've ever had is fuel gelling in very cold weather, which may be related to fuel filters which are TOO fine.

At 425,000 miles on the oil filter of the month, I'd have to say that there are no bad filters.

The factory prefilter might as well be chicken wire, just to keep out the big chunks. Not a set spec, and not that picky.

I only ran the factory specified prefilter part number for the first couple changes, after that I just bought whatever inline fuel filter with a visible filter element was largest/cheapest from the local auto parts or hardware store.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

The inline inlet filter on W123s is a nominal 20 micron fuel filter. The stock secondary/spin-on Fuel Filter is 10 nominal microns.

Fuel Filter issues are somewhat dictated by the quality of the Fuel. If you live someplace where fuel containation is a probem or gunk is growing in your fuel tank the situation is different.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

You'd be very wrong.

I really wish those oil filters included the rubber o-rings. It's stupid they don't give you the super-cheap little 6x10x2 o-rings that get beat up with full heat of engine oil.

I change those things every time (6x10, 7x10)
Oil filter Housing Shaft O rings size?

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1985 300TD 1981 Scirocco 1.6D conv 1986 Golf 1.6D 2003 Golf TDI

Both the 6x10, 7x10 O-rings and one that fits the Fuel filter bolt on late model W123s is in the
Metric O-ring assortment made by Dorman for less than $8.
Dorman Metric 172 piece O-ring Value Pack #799-450.

In it are 24 of the 6mmIDx10mmODx2mmW O-rings that you need for the bottom of the Oil Filter Stem: enough for 12 O-ring changes if you use the same sized O-rings each time you change it.

If you decide to use the 6x10, 7x10 combination you have enough for 24 O-ring changes

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Or get a 100 pack of either size for six bucks from McMaster.

Cost is one issue, I have at least 3 different O-ring assortment kits.

Over they years it has saved me time and money because I had them to pick through.

Simply having the assortments at home and at the time you are working on something means you get it done right then and don't have to drive somewhere.

I have also used some of the O-rings for plumbing issues.

So if the assorment costs a little more that cost is more then made up buy having different sizes to try when you need them.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

That may be MBZ spec, and obviously not all filters will match that. The holes in some of the filters I bought could have been measured with a ruler, probably 2mm. Just meant to catch big chunks. The generic paper filters I started subbing for them filtered much more finely.

Obviously whether it's "better" or "worse" to have a finer first stage filter and catch more there, or let more pass and catch more in your secondary filter, is subject to both debate and personal preference.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap