OIL FILTERS: which one to buy???? - Page 6 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Brian Carlton · #76 04-04-2005, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Mitchel

Does Baldwin make a filter for the Sdl?
If so why not use the best.
Just because it is factory and Germane does't mean it is the best.
Most Owner Operator Big Rig use Baldwin. It is their money and living.
Just one man .02.
Charlie

Baldwin buys the filter from Luberfiner, made by Champion Labs. Champion buys the filter from somebody else; Purolator, if I had to bet.

I bought some of these filters and can confirm that they are the same Purolator POS made in India.

Don't buy the Baldwin for the 603..

BTW, none of these manufacturers makes a full line of filters. They all buy from each others, depending on the specific make and model of filter.

dieseldiehard · #77 04-04-2005, 12:42 AM

Baldwin lost my vote - I ordered one for an '87 300D (same engine as 300SDL) with great faith that it was not going to be made in Inda and hopefully not contain any bugs sticks or floor sweepings.

I received it and lo and behold it was made in India. I sent the QA people a message using the Baldwin website, telling them I noticed that it was out of round, where the rubber fit the center stem and I aked if they used any waste cottn gin material in it. I never received a reply. The darned thing was considerably more expensive and I expected perfection or at least some lip service from Baldwin on the subjects I raised.
FOOEY on BALDWIN

Its back to MANN for me.

Hit Man X · #78 04-04-2005, 05:59 PM

After all that reading, appears Wix filters are the way to go when it comes to being able to get them easily.

phantoms · #79 04-04-2005, 09:57 PM

WIX makes quality filters (and they also make the NAPA Gold line along with others), but just remember that the one they make for the benz is a full flow filter, not a full/bypass setup like the stock filter. If that doesn't bother you, then let me tell you that I use WIX filters through work and can vouch that they are quality made filters. Even so, I still run a factory filter in my Mercedes for the benefit of the bypass filter.

Hit Man X · #80 04-04-2005, 10:08 PM

From what I gathered, the bypass element doesn't seem to benefit much if you change the filter and oil often and if it's not too tightly packed like many are too.

Hit Man X · #81 01-04-2006, 08:25 PM

I opened up my STP one from AutoZone today, it was made in India and full of junk. Just FYI for everyone.

whunter · #82 01-04-2006, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit Man X

I opened up my STP one from AutoZone today, it was made in India and full of junk. Just FYI for everyone.

Pictures please.

whunter · #83 01-04-2006, 09:32 PM

Engine Oil Filters Overview
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilters.html

Hit Man X · #84 01-04-2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whunter

Pictures please.

The media was quite oily (obviously) so you had to look close. I'll get it out of the trash here and snap some pics. It looked to be that cotton waste.

biopete · #85 01-05-2006, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H-townbenzoboy

I would only use Mann, Knecht, Hengst, or Mahle brand oil filters in a MB. Mann, Hengst, and Knecht are OEM suppliers of oil filters to MB, Mahle brand is not a OEM supplier to MB, but they're essentially Knecht brand, they're both marked "Mahle Knecht".

Sad but it is obvious car parts are suffering from decietful branding just like every other industry. Once upon a time, companies stamped their name on products they were proud to have made and engineered. Take a look at the Bosch stamp all in metal on an old IP for what I thought was a good example of this. It is humble unobtrusive. If you want to know who made it you can look but otherwise it won't ever grab your eye. Now, look at all the thousands of crappy parts made by some outsource operation god knows where that Bosch plasters its name on. No longer do products carry the name of the company that proudly makes them. Rather they carry many different names depending on the day of the week and the current labor costs of huge , once trusted , coorporations that now are much more interested in exhorbitant profits that making good reliable products. MB is guilty of this too. Why else would their modern cars break so much? (I really would like to now and am very prepared to eat my words . )

Nonetheless , in this global commodities market where brands are no more than a placebo, what is commoner to do but band together and get down to the nitty gritty. Keep up the good work and where are the pics? I' ll post some of my oil filter as soon as i change it. Thank god for the internet.

Hatterasguy · #86 01-05-2006, 09:53 PM

I don't know from my research and filter cutting with the 603 I found at least in that case the OE filter is better then the others. The OE has a much higher quality cotten and is packed better.

The Fram was the worse by far. All the others are about the same.

I suspect they all come from one or maybe two factories, however MB probably grabs the cream for themselves.

I have no idea how this information compares to the 617 though. Those are a much more common engine their may be more sources of the filters.

Tirebiter · #87 01-05-2006, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H-townbenzoboy

Knowing what's found inside of the filters is ok, but I'd like to know how the materials found in the filters degrade the oil filtering process. I mean, as long as it filters the oil properly and doesn't damage the engine, there's no problem right?

Back in 1976 the OE Mann filter had pleated paper instead of cotten gin tailings and rat turds. Times have changed, eh?

Perhaps it makes no difference but I tossed all the new filters with the cotten tailings. I use Baldwin because I can see the pleated paper and it makes ME feel better.

Here is a challenge for one and all:
Just try to get some German Engineer to say the factory condones those filters filled with crap.

my123ca · #88 01-06-2006, 06:37 PM

NAPA used to have filters with bypass for the 617 engine. That was around 4 years ago. Now, they give you a full flow filter. They might still have the old ones. I tried to explain it to the guy that the filter didnt look right and that the last one i got had 2 stages. Im using the OE now but would like to know if there are better local ones out there. The OEs are $18 and still rising.

Old300D · #89 01-08-2006, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit Man X

From what I gathered, the bypass element doesn't seem to benefit much if you change the filter and oil often and if it's not too tightly packed like many are too.

I disagree strongly. The bypass element is the most important section of the filter. It is trapping all the small particles that will otherwise circulate continuously. IMHO, polished oil contributes to the longevity of the engine.

dunl · #90 01-08-2006, 02:31 PM

Do Fram filters have a bypass section?