Hengst, Mahle or Mann

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Just ordering a stash of filters from my *OE* supplier for my Bimmers and Benz....

What brand do you guys prefer out of the 3
Hengst, Mahle or Mann.
Mann is a better name .
Now sure how Hengst stacks up..
 
I used Mann and mahle for my dads bimmer and mahle for the Benz thay look both the same both say made in Germany
 
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From a build perspective, at least for my application (530i), I like the Mahle/Knecht one better than Mann because of the hard plastic ends on the Mahle cartridge filters. However, this is purely subjective as I haven't had any issues with the fused cellulose (EVO TOP) Mann ones either.


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By the way, this thread should go into the Filters subforum.
 
If you're talking about cartridge oil filter, all those 3 are OEM and their quality are about the same, I would buy whichever is cheaper.

Also, Bosch cartridge oil filter for MB is very good too. I have Bosch fleece oil filter for my E430, it's as good as Mann or better. Normal price Bosch is more than Mann but I got it on sale for much less.

Hengst fleece oil filter is usually the most expensive one.
 
Originally Posted By: chefwong
Just ordering a stash of filters from my *OE* supplier for my Bimmers and Benz....

What brand do you guys prefer out of the 3
Hengst, Mahle or Mann.
Mann is a better name .
Now sure how Hengst stacks up..


OEM ones because they are often made to the manufacturers spec and valve settings. They might well be made by the same company, but not to the same standard due to exclusive supply contracts that restrict sales of a similar quality filter.
Mann (Made in Germany only) does seem to have a better name in Germany, although Bosch are also popular here. Mann make filters for Volvo and Ford dealers in Germany, BUT the same filters can't be sold by them on the open market in the EU.
 
Originally Posted By: skyship
Originally Posted By: chefwong
Just ordering a stash of filters from my *OE* supplier for my Bimmers and Benz....

What brand do you guys prefer out of the 3
Hengst, Mahle or Mann.
Mann is a better name .
Now sure how Hengst stacks up..


OEM ones because they are often made to the manufacturers spec and valve settings. They might well be made by the same company, but not to the same standard due to exclusive supply contracts that restrict sales of a similar quality filter.
Mann (Made in Germany only) does seem to have a better name in Germany, although Bosch are also popular here. Mann make filters for Volvo and Ford dealers in Germany, BUT the same filters can't be sold by them on the open market in the EU.


While I agree OEM filters are made to the auto makers specs, MANN or whoever has a reputation to keep up when their name is on the box. They are not going to sell a 2nd rate filter and put their name on it.
 
Originally Posted By: skyship
OEM ones because they are often made to the manufacturers spec and valve settings.

All three companies the OP mentioned are OEM suppliers for BMW.
 
Agreed BUT the OEM required min specs are in fact exceeded by their own filters, all Mann has to do is meet them to satisfy the German equivalent of Iffy lube in terms of not offering a poor quality product. The supply contract is exclusive so they can't sell the exact same filter and have some chap doing full particle counts point out the filters are the same after he rips them apart and checks with a microscope etc.
I spent some time trying to ID my own Volvo oil filter from a friends particle counts and I failed as although I know it's a Mann, it does not match the figures for the Volvo one. The air filters seem to be a different story as there seems to be no difference in performance in Silicon terms as I tested by swapping several times, although the design of the seal lip is fractionally different.
Always check if it says made in Germany, as it means just that even if the plastic parts were imported. I steer clear of anything that says made in Austria.
 
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I was always a OEM parts type......with the typical 20-30% off the counter.

But WHOA, I just went to OE suppliers and was blown away at *how much* cheaper this stuff was. Well, not oil filters, but other stuff as well...
 
Originally Posted By: skyship
Agreed BUT the OEM required min specs are in fact exceeded by their own filters,

Does BMW make their own filters?
 
What I meant was filters sold by the manufacturer, I don't think any of them make their own filters, BUT they all sign exclusive contracts, BUT to confuse the issue Ford and VW are shareholders in some of their parts suppliers, so might in effect have control of the filter manufacturer.
The German auto companies are all very friendly with one another and I've never heard of a German parts supplier trying to pull a fast one on a main manufacturer, as they would get black listed by them all. Once a parts contract is signed it won't be breached within the EU.
If I buy a Mann oil filter recommended for my Volvo, what I get is the same one as they sell for a Renault Laguna that has the same block! If I go to Volvo and buy their filter I get a Mann filter, BUT the element quality is better. Same game for fuel filters, although the design of the element is different.
 
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Personally, and it's only MY opinion, it appears the Hengst boxes are sealed up a little better....I've used both in my 528i and the MANN filters were always packaged in a cardboard box, like Hengst but with the flap "unsealed" so to speak, i.e. not glued. The Hengst boxes were glued shut. I now use Hengst on my X535d for the same reason.
 
Mann, Mahle & Hengst... all fine

I just order whatever is cheapest for my VW.

I'm a tad skeptical of the Fram one though....the Chinese made ones with the plastic end caps.. used it once and the way it was crushed compared to their old "Made in Germany" Mann or Mahle filters..made me stop buying Fram.
 
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I like the US-made Hengst cartridge filters for my Cruze. They're constructed much better than the Chinese-made filters that Champ Labs and Fram sell under various brands.

If the filter housing is stamped with a maker, using that maker's filter makes intuitive sense to me.
 
I only know about what the German auto folks do in the EU, the dealerships are independent companies in the US, so they do their own thing in many cases as regards oil and filters, hence the Audi turbo failures and the current thin oil game. There is nothing to stop another filter company producing a better filter and selling it in the same market, but the Germans act as a team and any company doing that knows it will be shooting itself in the foot in terms of getting future contracts from the main manufacturers.
Nearly all OEM parts are supplied through exclusive contracts here, I was even trying to find an alternator rectifier for my Volvo last year and I had all the part nos, knew the maker in France (Valero), BUT could not get one even on Fleabay as they are only sold to Volvo, BMW and Renault. Not one of the three sells a rectifier unit, only new alternators so I finished up buying a Chinese recon job.
 
Originally Posted By: UG_Passat
Mann, Mahle & Hengst... all fine

I just order whatever is cheapest for my VW.

I'm a tad skeptical of the Fram one though....the Chinese made ones with the plastic end caps.. used it once and the way it was crushed compared to their old "Made in Germany" Mann or Mahle filters..made me stop buying Fram.


If there is one item in a car worth spending money on it's the oil filter, as it will probably make more difference than the actual oil quality in most cases.
 
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