oil filter brands
 

Any preferences to brand of oil filter as far as better than the rest? In the past, I used Mann. While shopping online, I've noticed that Bosch filters cost close to double? Is there a reason, are they worth it?

Bosch filters do not have a particularly good reputation. Stick with Mann, Knecht, and Hengst -- all are OEM.

Ron
German Star

Filters
 

Ron

What your take say on the upper USA made Hastings or Balwin. My research shows they protect million plus dollar pieces of equipment and or machinery. Just curious, and yes they do make those for MB etc. As I have a friend who uses them on his Jaguar and swears by them.

Keith

Another diesel forum I belong to did a filter comparison judging construction quality, amount and type of filter media, etc. and the Baldwin came out on top. Appears to be a very high quality product. They can be tough to find though. RT

Where do you buy Baldwin filters? I've never seen one.

They are red and I just bought three of them for my MB. P-125 is the number for 89 420SEL V-8.

Right down the street is industrial filter supply in Prairville Lousiaiana and they have any Baldwin. Serious filters for sure. The phone number is (225) 677-8811. Their prices are hard to beat. They ordered a K&N last week for the MB. The prices (two others) were in the mid sixtys to upper sixtys. Industrial Filter Supply, forty two plus tax. Not bad for a MB application. Most of the oil filters should run in the five dollar range. I know of no filter made any better than Baldwin. Million dollar heavy equipment use the same filter they make for your car.

If anyone needs a parts number for your make and model I have the 2002 filter applications current catalog.

Keith

Do they show anything for a 1982 300D - it's a cannister type filter in this application, not a spin-on. Just wondering if they have something.......

Ken300D

How about for an 82 240D. Probably the same as for the 300D.

Ken and Ron

Yes they have them the part number is P-102. However they only start at the year 1980, so you are both covered. The number is the same for both.

If you want I can check with them as they had to order mine for the 420 because it is a canister type also and did not have it on the shelf. Took two or three days to come in. Thats why I ordered three to last awhile.

Keith

Ron and Ken

Just called and they have to order them. Not on the self. They told me Balwin is shut down for the holidays till after the New Year about two weeks. They had already ordered this week and due in next week.

Sure wish I worked somewhere that shut down for the holidays, like two weeks off.

Anyway the price was eight dollars and some change. You diesel guys cost a couple dollars more.

Keith

Baldwin
 

Thomas, could you please direct me to the diesel forum that tested the filters.

Also Baldwin has a good web site,
www.baldwinfilter.com

enjoy the drive, timreid

I recently ordered some new parts over the Internet and got more than one brand of filter for comparison. The Bosch appears to be identical to the OEM Mann filters from a dealer. The Bosch are made in North America by Champion who also make filters for about 100 other companies including the Mobil 1 filter.

The Bosch filters I just got from FastLane for a 1987 300D were made in INDIA.

My suggestion - avoid Bosch oil filters.

Just an opinion.

Ken300D

Another test is to take a small weight scale and weigh the Bosch and weigh the other filter. The weight is not totally the only way to prove the better filter but it is one of them.
K

The question is whether or not the Bosch filters are the same as the OEM filter (such as the Mann spin on) and not where they are made.

As I said, the Bosch spin-on for the M103 appears to be identical to the MB labeled Mann filters I get from Caliber Motors. The Knecht filter I bought with the Bosch was made in Austria and appears smaller and of a different construction than the Bosch/Mann filters.

Bosch or Mann filters may not be the best but I wouldn't think they are bad either. If the Bosch is junk than so is the Mann spin on sold by dealers.