Mercedes-Benz oil filter consensus

[bugnautica]

I’ve seen a few old threads about Mercedes oil filters and wanted to get some opinion?
Right now I run Mann filters HU 718/5 X on the older cartridge applications and HU 7025 Z on the M276 engines. I know Mann meets Mercedes specs, but I’m just curious what people think is truly the best option overall.

For general use on Mercedes-Benz engines, what filters do you consider the best? Is there any real advantage to glass-fiber media over the standard fleece filters, or is fleece perfectly fine for most applications? Do you stick with Mann, or prefer Hengst, Mahle, OEM, or something else?

Just looking for general consensus on what people trust most for Mercedes-Benz.

 

[wings&wheels]

Wasn't Purflux OEM?

Either way, I'd sleep happily with Mann & Hummel (European), Hengst, Mahle and Purflux or MB OE of course. No need to stray beyond. That being said, some Mahle filters are China COO and the parent of Purflux was sold to a PE firm a year or two ago. The China COO Mahle's appear excellent as you would expect so quality is not an issue (I avoid China COO when I can, but not for quality reasons), and Puflux is still a major OEM and their quality appears unchanged.

I would worry more about counterfeits than the quality of the filters themselves.

 

[Chris142]

The Mann filters fit the best followed by Mahle and Xengst in that order.

 

[JohnnyG]

Genuine MB, made in Germany. A 270 180 01 09 for my 2.0T. Yes, they are a bit expensive, like $18.00 each delivered from the jungle store.

 

[BHopkins]

It depends upon the application.

For the M273 in the '07 SL550 that I used to drive, I used the Mann HU 718/5, and was very happy with the quality of the filter, and how well it fit in the filter housing. Mann was OE for the M273.

When I did the first oil change on the M276 in my '14 E350, I was going to use a Mann HU 7025 Z, but I was disappointed in how poorly the o-ring on the end of the plastic extension, fit. It was not snug. It probably would have been fine, but I took it out, and put in a Purflux L394 instead. Since then, the Purflux L394 is all that I have used in that application. At first, I was unsure about the zigzag pattern of the synthetic polyester filtration media. But it has held it's shape very well, even after 10k mile oil change intervals. Again, the Purflux is OE for the M276.

I generally have a high opinion of European manufactured Mann filters, and the HU 7025 Z is the only time I have been disappointed. I have had good success with selecting OE filters for my Euro cars. FCP makes it easy to identify the OE filter, and it is also easy to confirm it, by comparing the Mercedes filter to the OE filter, both typically offered at FCP. But I have also been pleased with UFI, Mahle and Hengst.

The only disadvantage, if you could call it that, to UFI is that they don't offer many OEM filters, from what I have seen at least. The vast majority of UFI filters are OE. So if you ever service a car where an UFI filter is offered, it is a great choice.

 

[CleanSump]

Mann, Mahle, Hengst, or Perflux are all I will use and I've owned Mercedes since the 1980s. They all provided factory filters. Mann is usually the least expensive when I go shopping. Perflux doesn't make one for my application, but I would try them if they did.
For me it's about fit in the housing more than efficiency ratings. As for which is "best" I can pick pepper out of soup, but why bother, it's still tastes good.

 

[Fair enough]

I think Mercedes calls the synthetic white one with mesh backing the fleece filter. It is a little puffier than the standard paper filters, but not fleece puffy, like the sheep.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fleece

 

[CleanSump]

I think Mercedes calls the synthetic white one with mesh backing the fleece filter. It is a little puffier than the standard paper filters, but not fleece puffy, like the sheep.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fleece

The "fleece" filters are synthetic media. The older diesels called for a paper media and MB said not to use the fleece filters in them. MB didn't expound on it, the manuals just said don't use the fleece in diesels. I don't know what the latest diesels call for since my newest is a 2008.

 

[kschachn]

Yeah Mercedes-Benz doesn’t “call for” anything in this application except perhaps for their own branded filter. After that it’s an aftermarket application.

 

[Andyd95]

Purflux in 276, Mann in almost everything else

 

[mougly]

Mann is the cheapest because it isn't as good as Knecht/Mahle.

Mann is an urban legend that just won't die, but no one has really conducted a serious test. Everyone confuses Mann with OEM specifications and aftermarket Mann products.

 

[JHZR2]

Not all MB boxes OE filters are Mann.

 

[Chris142]

Mann is the cheapest because it isn't as good as Knecht/Mahle.

Mann is an urban legend that just won't die, but no one has really conducted a serious test. Everyone confuses Mann with OEM specifications and aftermarket Mann products.

The Mann filters I install always fit well and seem to last the recommended oci ok.

 

[kschachn]

Mann is the cheapest because it isn't as good as Knecht/Mahle.

Mann is an urban legend that just won't die, but no one has really conducted a serious test. Everyone confuses Mann with OEM specifications and aftermarket Mann products.

Thanks for the warning but I think I’m just fine.

 

[si1491]

For my M133 engine, I use either the MB AMG one or a Hengst "upgraded" synthetic filter media. Maybe check FCP euro for options. Here is a link to the upgraded one for my vehicle: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mercedes-engine-oil-filter-genuine-mercedes-1761800800

 

[CleanSump]

Not all MB boxes OE filters are Mann.

Mann, Mahle, Hengst, and Perflux have all supplied MB.

 

[mougly]

Wouah... Well, yes, fortunately the filters all last quite a long time, but what matters is the filtration quality and keeping pressure drop to a minimum. All the manufacturers mentioned have supplied Mercedes, okay, but again, they supplied filters that met Mercedes’ specifications—filters with the Mercedes logo. Anyone can meet a set of specifications, yet the same suppliers may manufacture or sell products of lower quality or with defects. This is well known in Europe.

For my personnal use :
Oil filter = mahle/knecht/purflux/hengst
mann = never, unless a rigorous test shows that these filters are just as good as Purflux or Mahle

 

[Fair enough]

Wouah... Well, yes, fortunately the filters all last quite a long time, but what matters is the filtration quality and keeping pressure drop to a minimum. All the manufacturers mentioned have supplied Mercedes, okay, but again, they supplied filters that met Mercedes’ specifications—filters with the Mercedes logo. Anyone can meet a set of specifications, yet the same suppliers may manufacture or sell products of lower quality or with defects. This is well known in Europe.

For my personnal use :
Oil filter = mahle/knecht/purflux/hengst
mann = never, unless a rigorous test shows that these filters are just as good as Purflux or Mahle

Just a question though, doesn’t a company like Mercedes rigorously test the oil filter they use on new cars and for service? Maybe their choice disagrees with the internet.