BMW filter options

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srbarnes4ever

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Coming from a long line of Nissan/Infiniti vehicles to an all Bimmer garage I am wondering if there are non OE options for filters that are superior to BMW or equivalent for cheaper price. Oil changes at my Indy still run just shy of $100 so considering doing my own going forward. Thx!
 
It may very well be that BMW OEM filters are made by a variety of manufacturers, but every one I have ever gotten from the dealer was made by Hengst. You can buy Hengst filters elsewhere, you might check RM European or AutohausAZ for online dealers. Other standard brands would be Mahle or Mann. Having said that though, when you consider shipping and everything else my local BMW dealer has a reasonable price on filters. I usually just stop there and get one. FWIW there is nothing "superior" to the OEM filter. Besides, as long as you use a name brand filter (bought from a reputable seller, not on eBay) the filter isn't what is going to make your engine break.
 
Why would you want to do such a thing? wink
Originally Posted By: srbarnes4ever
Coming from a long line of Nissan/Infiniti vehicles to an all Bimmer garage
 
Originally Posted By: srbarnes4ever
Coming from a long line of Nissan/Infiniti vehicles to an all Bimmer garage I am wondering if there are non OE options for filters that are superior to BMW or equivalent for cheaper price. Oil changes at my Indy still run just shy of $100 so considering doing my own going forward. Thx!
There are plenty of good choices. Many BMW oil filters are Mahle. You can just buy the exact same part, sans BMW branding, from Amazon, NAPA, etc. It's what I have done for years. FYI, my OEM oil filter is about $12 more just to get the one in a BMW box versus the identical filter in a Mahle box (via Amazon). You've also got Mann/Purolator and Hengst, two other big OEM filter suppliers. They're available at the same places too.
 
Originally Posted By: srbarnes4ever
Coming from a long line of Nissan/Infiniti vehicles to an all Bimmer garage I am wondering if there are non OE options for filters that are superior to BMW or equivalent for cheaper price.
Nope! One of the nice things about BMW is that OE oil filters are best. They are made by Mahle (sometimes Mann or Hengst -- same thing in the end) and come with all of the o-rings you should change. BMW OE air filters are the best, too, for what that's worth. In fact, most BMW OE parts are best. VERY few exceptions.
 
Originally Posted By: srbarnes4ever
,....... I am wondering if there are non OE options for filters that are superior to BMW or equivalent for cheaper price. Oil changes at my Indy still run just shy of $100 so considering doing my own going forward.
Your logic is impeccable, nobody can peck that. Walmart's Mobil1 0w-40 in the 5-quart jug is the cheapest, best way to go for BMWs. Or Castrol Synteq Euro 0w-30 quality too. (Both for LL-01 anyway.) Pick an oil filter based on better performance than the usual Mann-Hummel the dealer has. Fram Ultra is the best by far, 99% at >= 20 microns in the standard ISO 4548-12 test, typically an XG10075 ( Example Link here). or Walmart. The Ultra has a higher dirt holding capacity than most for long life. The Fram ExtraGuard CH10075 is good, at 95% @ 20 microns. Wix makes the 57327 which is a 95% @ 20 microns, same as NAPAgold, great choices too. (Your part numbers may vary of course.)
 
But unlike the Japanese brands, you generally know who the OEM manufacturer is. In the majority of cases you can buy parts that are identical to branded OEM for less money, such as ATE, Lemforder, TRW, Bosch, Pagid, or whatever. Although for a lot of parts if you buy them from an online dealer the price differential isn't much.
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
In fact, most BMW OE parts are best. VERY few exceptions.
 
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: srbarnes4ever
Coming from a long line of Nissan/Infiniti vehicles to an all Bimmer garage I am wondering if there are non OE options for filters that are superior to BMW or equivalent for cheaper price.
Nope! One of the nice things about BMW is that OE oil filters are best. They are made by Mahle (sometimes Mann or Hengst -- same thing in the end) and come with all of the o-rings you should change. BMW OE air filters are the best, too, for what that's worth. In fact, most BMW OE parts are best. VERY few exceptions.
Do you have performance specs to back that up? Is it because the oil filters "come with all the o-rings"? Any Fram BMW oil filters also come with the o-rings. Any facts at all, or are those just hunches based on emotion?
 
One thing about these forums: Opinions are OK, facts are BETTER. Quality post responses have real engineering specs/info/events in them, not guesses. (One great example is MolaKule's posts; His posts are like getting an inside look at what makes an oil effective, from a tribologist's viewpoint.) For oil filter knowledge, search for ZeeOSix posts, you won't be disappointed.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: kschachn
Why would you want to do such a thing? wink
Originally Posted By: srbarnes4ever
Coming from a long line of Nissan/Infiniti vehicles to an all Bimmer garage
Lol, well a brief history...dad had a 72 240z I learned to drive stick on. My first car in high school was 79 510 then I purchased my first new car, a 95 Ford escort (hold the comments!) then an 01 Maxima to 07 G35x...bought wifey an 05 Pathfinder then traded to an 08 Armada. Traded her tank for an 11 X5 and traded my G for a Hyundai Gen coupe V6 before finally realizing 2 years later that though I love it, my growing kids did not when getting in and out of the rear seats. Having had exclusively NA engines, I was looking for a high powered sedan with upside potential via tune so FI was the plan....BMW and Audi were top choices....so here I am. Live and learn...I plan to have fun while doing both!! Btw, I joined this forum when I bought the Maxima in 01....have done a lot of lurking since then...now back in learn through engaging mode...appreciate all of you, especially some of the polarizing debates!!
 
Originally Posted By: ElastoHydro
Originally Posted By: srbarnes4ever
,....... I am wondering if there are non OE options for filters that are superior to BMW or equivalent for cheaper price. Oil changes at my Indy still run just shy of $100 so considering doing my own going forward.
Your logic is impeccable, nobody can peck that. Walmart's Mobil1 0w-40 in the 5-quart jug is the cheapest, best way to go for BMWs. Or Castrol Synteq Euro 0w-30 quality too. (Both for LL-01 anyway.) Pick an oil filter based on better performance than the usual Mann-Hummel the dealer has. Fram Ultra is the best by far, 99% at >= 20 microns in the standard ISO 4548-12 test, typically an XG10075 ( Example Link here). or Walmart. The Ultra has a higher dirt holding capacity than most for long life. The Fram ExtraGuard CH10075 is good, at 95% @ 20 microns. Wix makes the 57327 which is a 95% @ 20 microns, same as NAPAgold, great choices too. (Your part numbers may vary of course.) Fram?! When I joined this forum they were the laughing stock of the filter community...,have they come so far? Seriously? How does that rating compare to Mahle or Mann? Has anyone torn down the Ultra version and verified improved components and mfg qual?
 
Originally Posted By: ElastoHydro
Pick an oil filter based on better performance than the usual Mann-Hummel the dealer has.
Do we know what the efficiency is of the Mann, Hengst or Mahle filters the OEM uses are? I don't believe we do.
Originally Posted By: ElastoHydro
Fram Ultra is the best by far, 99% at >= 20 microns in the standard ISO 4548-12 test, typically an XG10075 ( Example Link here). or Walmart. The Ultra has a higher dirt holding capacity than most for long life. The Fram ExtraGuard CH10075 is good, at 95% @ 20 microns. Wix makes the 57327 which is a 95% @ 20 microns, same as NAPAgold, great choices too. (Your part numbers may vary of course.)
Aside from the Ultra, which we know to have exceptional filtration, I don't think we can immediately assume the other offerings are superior to the OEM filters in terms of efficiency. And of course there was that recent case of the Ultra losing its end cap in a BMW, which certainly eliminated any filtration benefits it might have had in that vehicle. The OEM filters are designed to handle the extended OEM drain intervals. I don't think additional "dirt holding capacity" is an issue in these applications either. My personal choice is an OEM filter and M1 0w-40. I see nothing wrong with the other filtration options you've mentioned either, so please don't take this post as an affront to your recommendations, I am simply questioning the boldness of assuming that the aftermarket products are better when data supporting that (IE, something that gives us OEM filtration ratings) is lacking.
 
Originally Posted By: srbarnes4ever
Fram?! When I joined this forum they were the laughing stock of the filter community...,have they come so far? Seriously? How does that rating compare to Mahle or Mann? Has anyone torn down the Ultra version and verified improved components and mfg qual?
As far as I am aware, we don't know how the efficiency of most of the aftermarket filters compare to the OEM ones in this application. That said, it would be safe to assume that the FRAM Ultra is indeed more efficient, as that's likely accurate. Being a cartridge, the aversion that many have to the "cardboard end caps" doesn't really have a place here. And with the Ultra, in a traditional canister, it has your typical metal end cap construction due to the wire-backed synthetic glass media. That said, there was recently a thread on here with a BMW X3 that had an Ultra fail: Thread here Which, for my personal vehicle, would cause me pause to use one in this application without seeing some more removed from service to determine whether this was an anomaly or an actual issue.
 
The only clue we have about the filtration efficiency of Mahle or Mann or Hengst German oil filters is that it appears they don't use glass fibers, they use only paper cellulose media. That by itself suggests its a cheap way out for them, adequate but we can do better. Peformance specs for paper-only media are rarely that good. Since those German brands keep performance data secret, all we can do is choose an oil filter that has a better quality media, and Wix and NapaGold do have better media and more surface area too. OEM style oil filters are good, Wix/napaGold better, Fram Ultra best. About the Fram Ultra cartridge problem on the other thread, keep in mind that oil filter is stiff, wire-backed, it stayed in place with the BMW tube's cage and end cap housing. It was not the failure people say it is.
 
I really can't believe this thread has turned into an argument about which oil filter is "best". Let's say I even believe that Wix/Napa Gold is better and Fram Ultra is best. What is that going to get me in terms of engine longevity as opposed to buying a Hengst filter at my dealer? I can answer that right now. Zilch, nada, zippo.
 
Originally Posted By: kschachn
But unlike the Japanese brands, you generally know who the OEM manufacturer is. In the majority of cases you can buy parts that are identical to branded OEM for less money, such as ATE, Lemforder, TRW, Bosch, Pagid, or whatever. Although for a lot of parts if you buy them from an online dealer the price differential isn't much.
Very true. That's why it's crucial to distinguish between OE (the actual part from the actual brand) and OEM (the "same part" from the company that makes it). OEM parts are often exactly the same as OE, as you say. You could also end up with a part that was made in the same batch but was outside the OE tolerances. Either way, you probably won't get the OE warranty. That alone should tell you something. On my old M3, my success rate with OEM parts was pretty high. My success rate with OE parts was 100%. Not a night-and-day difference, but significant IME.
 
This is a good question because I buy MANN, HENGST, MAHLE from Amazon for a decent price with a Prime membership. The WIX brand is also made in Poland for most European vehicles. I am not stating one is better than the other, only that these are not made in US facilities and are OEM quality. The Purolator I have on the shelf is made in India, and I have no interest in the one in an Orange Box. The above mentioned filters fit a Mercedes diesel, BMW would be similar.
 
Originally Posted By: Dufus2
This is a good question because I buy MANN, HENGST, MAHLE from Amazon for a decent price with a Prime membership. The WIX brand is also made in Poland for most European vehicles. I am not stating one is better than the other, only that these are not made in US facilities and are OEM quality. The Purolator I have on the shelf is made in India, and I have no interest in the one in an Orange Box. The above mentioned filters fit a Mercedes diesel, BMW would be similar.
I'd pick an oil filter based on how it performs, not on what hunch I have. I don't use divining rods to find water either. Lets keep it real. If it performs better, use it. Peformance specs have been stated many times: Fram Ultra best, followed by Fram ToughGuards, Mobil 1 Extended, Purolator Synthetic, or Wix (napa gold same), and Carquest is really a Wix too.
 
Originally Posted By: route66mike
[/quote]I'd pick an oil filter based on how it performs, not on what hunch I have. I don't use divining rods to find water either. Lets keep it real. If it performs better, use it. Peformance specs have been stated many times: Fram Ultra best, followed by Fram ToughGuards, Mobil 1 Extended, Purolator Synthetic, or Wix (napa gold same), and Carquest is really a Wix too.
So if I buy a BMW/Hengst filter I'm contributing to excessive engine wear and the early demise of my '94? Gee, if I had only known.
 
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