Your question made me all the more curious, so I went out to the car and got the disk. The part # on it is 0001845725. For those of you who speak German, it has "Siebscheibenfilter-Einsatz" embossed on the top. (Does that loosely translate into "Makes the filter harder to install"?) It is 3-1/2" in diameter, and is indeed a "double leafed" affair with a centre hub- all made out of tough nylon plastic. And it does slide over the cannister bolt and sits on top of the filter cartridge. At first glance it looks like it could be a pulley out of a big tape recorder. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the centre section has 8 spokes radiating out from the centre hole, and between each spoke there are two little oblong holes (oil journals?)- each hole leading to the outer top and bottom "leaves" of the disk. And much to my surprise, those leaves actually consist of an extremely fine plastic filter mesh! So this isn't just a disk to take up space- it's actually a filter- just as you call it! Now I'm listening!

This opens up a whole new line of questions- what is the correct way to clean this thing out? Does it ever get beyond cleaning and have to be replaced? Which actually plugs up first- this disk filter or the disposable cartridge? And finally the real question- for the sake of others because I'm not driving the car until I get this put back in after my proper cartridge finally gets here- what is the real danger of not having it in there? What if someone went to Jiffy Lube and the trained monkey decides not to put the disk in because he had the same problem getting everything to bolt up as I did? What if it gets thrown away without telling the owner? Is it just the W115 and earlier cars like mine that use this thing?

This could end up being a long thread!

Dave :p

Coldwar,

So you finally believe us that the disc is a filter, not a spacer. If its not installed, most of the oil will go to the engine unfiltered.

Yes, that's another danger of going to Jiffy Lube with a MB.

Yes, just W115 and earlier MB Diesels used this type of 2 stage filter. When the filter was moved to the top of the engine, the cartridge was changed to a 2 in one filter that did the same thing as the 2 separate pieces you have.

THe cartridge would plug up first because it traps the smaller carbon particles that go thru the disc filter and there would be no indication of htis. If the disc filter ever plugged up, you would have little or no oil pressure.

P E H

My first piece of advice is never go to Jiffy Lube. Or any generic oil change place. Most cars are easy, but I don't even trust them to do my non-Benz vehicles. 10 years ago a Grease Monkey place "checked" my differential fluid - as soon as I got home, the rear end was howling. The drain and inspection plugs were in place, but there was no fluid inside! Needless to say, I've not been back.

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'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

My primary filter is MB 000 184 57 25, so we may be speaking the same language. The bypass filter dumps to the pan, the primary to the block. I use a Baldwin P40 for the bypass filter, and simply wash the primary. Bolt and a couple of washers to seal the ends, slosh around in fuel (wear gloves unless you want hands like mine), let air dry overnight, then look for tears. The ends are different diameters, so install it right or it won't work. I think the big end down, or the words up. Most of the time I take a peek at the mount. Also brazed a nut at the bottom corner of the can. Short bolt and a copper washer means I can drain the can before removing it. Today a TIG welder would work just as well as brazing. Get the nut on before drilling the hole.

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daBenz - 1970 220D

Yeah, the PS pump is definitely in the way. A bit pain to keep the PS hoses tight on the pump, too.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!