Mahle now selling oil filters made in China ?

[atlex]

I've always kind of idolized MAHLE as the peak of quality, so I'm genuinely confused by a sub-standard chinese copy actually stating Made in China. And they're using the same EAN numbers as the good ones.

If it is Mahle, they really letting their name down. If it isn't original Mahle, why aren't the fakers doing a better job at Faking it by stating it's made in Austria ? get-past-customs-export reasons ? It's a big grey area.

 

[drtyler]

I've always kind of idolized MAHLE as the peak of quality, so I'm genuinely confused by a sub-standard chinese copy actually stating Made in China. And they're using the same EAN numbers as the good ones.

If it is Mahle, they really letting their name down. If it isn't original Mahle, why aren't the fakers doing a better job at Faking it by stating it's made in Austria ? get-past-customs-export reasons ? It's a big grey area.

For Euro cars, the Mahle filters we get in the USA are usually made in Austria. If the car is not European, I've seen them made in either Austria, Mexico, or China. The Austrian made filters seem to be best quality of the bunch, but I've seen no particular issues with the others.

 

[atlex]

Update from Mahle:

"Our product manager for oil filters have checked the sent pictures.
As already informed the filter OC196 is currently produced in China.

Based on the sent pictures the oil filter seems to be original."

 

[Sayjac]

Good for Mahle for responding and confirming genuine. To use a cliche now, it is what it is. Honestly imo, new coo Mahle in pics don't "appear" bad to my eye. More proof would be in post use appearance.

 

[nthach]

Good for Mahle for responding and confirming genuine. To use a cliche now, it is what it is. Honestly imo, new coo Mahle in pics don't "appear" bad to my eye. More proof would be in post use appearance.

I wouldn’t hesitate to use a Chinese Mahle. FWIW, Mahle has a presence there to serve the Chinese OEMs and their joint ventures with VAG/Daimler/Honda/Hyundai/GM.

I’ve seen OE VW filters from China and South Africa as well.

 

[K.Aoi]

I pre-emptively (when I still planned on changing out the FF early) purchased the VW/Audi oil change kit from FCP Euro, and that also came with a PRC made Mahle OC977/1, so this doesn't seem that unusual now. No concerns about the quality however. On the FCP Euro site it explicitly says the COO is China.

Audi VW Engine Oil Filter - Mahle 04E115561T

Audi VW Engine Oil Filter - Mahle 04E115561T

www.fcpeuro.com

 

[930.engineering]

Interesting. Seems CoO doesn't follow any kind of 'pattern'. The OE EA888 3G filter element is still made by Mann and production went from Czech Republic (back) to Germany:

formerly:

current:

Audi OEM vs Fram Titanium Cartridge Filter

triple post ... the board went wonky. :sneaky:

bobistheoilguy.com

 

[Zee09]

Interesting. Seems CoO doesn't follow any kind of 'pattern'. The OE EA888 3G filter element is still made by Mann and production went from Czech Republic (back) to Germany:

formerly:

current:

Audi OEM vs Fram Titanium Cartridge Filter

triple post ... the board went wonky. :sneaky:

bobistheoilguy.com

Baldwin is now making one for the above application that are made in Taiwan and not too surprising they look better than the typical Baldwin.

 

[930.engineering]

I'd love to try it or at least get one to compare it to the OE Audi/Mann.
That's all from Baldwin I was able to find for my GTI:

Air	PA10102
Cabin Air	PA10404

 

[Zee09]

I'd love to try it or at least get one to compare it to the OE Audi/Mann.
That's all from Baldwin I was able to find for my GTI:

Air	PA10102
Cabin Air	PA10404

 

[Zee09]

Hastings and Baldwin are one.
Baldwin box but Hastings supplied with different model #
Taiwan which I do like...
Fits according to them your filter # and my VW Arteon.

 

[Zee09]

@930.engineering
43 pleats in case it helps.

 

[CleanSump]

Just checked and I'm down to one Mahle for Mercedes and it was made in Austria. When I had a Jetta the Mahle I bought were sometimes from Mexico. The irony is that my "Wolfsburg Edition" Jetta was Hecho en Mexico anyway. Out of dozens over the years the only filter failure I've had was a K&N on No 1 Girl's BMW. It tore.
I've got a Hengst fuel filter made in Bulgaria.

 

[930.engineering]

@930.engineering
43 pleats in case it helps.

Thanks for that information and for your picture.
Unfortunately I missed to check the OE Mann for number
of pleats but I'll to make up leeway before my next OC.
Yes, same type of OF for all EA888 3G regardless it's a VW
or an Audi (or Seat, Skoda, Porsche Macan 2,0T).
.

 

[Johan1]

Going to bump this thread. Just got 4 OC338 filters for my 09 Mazda 3 2.0

Made in China. I posted a comparison pic with the OC264 I have for a 2014 Jetta 2.0 that's made in Austria. I also cut open the OC264 and posted in a separate thread. It'll be a while before I cut the OC338