Choice of oil filter on the M54 engines
 

Mann
Hengst
Mahle/knecht
Bosch

Wondering what is the preferred brand you guys use of the 4...thanks much.

OEM from the dealer only for me. Just not worth the trouble to buy anything different when the price is competitive at the dealer, and you don't know if the alternate products are built to the same spec or not. Mann and Mahle are examples of companies that build for both BMW and for aftermarket sales. There are many examples of filters being made (in the same physical size) to two different specs by a filter manufacturer, one for the OE supplier and a different spec for the aftermarket sale. Unless you have a way of determining the micron rating there is no way of knowing.

OEM here

Only use OEM. People have had oil pressure problems with other filters on start-up.

Speaking of oil delivery issues with aftermarket filters, I just worked on what is usually one of my favorite cars. E39 540i w/6 speed manual. Black on black. (beautiful car) Started it up, horrible rod knock! Sounds like the engine is about to shoot into pieces! Look on the windshield and see jiffylube/5 minute oil change type stickers... look at the oil filter, fram. The oil looked like it had more copper/brass colored metallic flakes in it than on the bottom of a bass boat... Put up the estimate on a longblock, the aftermarket warranty company denied the claim! Said the cost of repairs was higher than the worth... something tells me that is one person who is pissed with their warranty company. And hopefully they learn the importance of OEM filters and OEM quality oils from the approved list.

If I was awarded a lifetime of free oil changes from a quick change type oil service store I would turn it down in favor of buying OEM oil and filters.

If I had the extra money I'd offer to buy the car and spend $2700 putting an engine from LKQ in it. But I will end up at least turning them on to that option.

How would one know without an oil presuure gauze? Does the idiot light come on upon start up? Isnt it's purpose is to solely filter the oil only? Btw since I do 4 k oils changes ( and I most likely will recieve some flack on this for doing 4 k changes - as a it is supposely a waste of money) - but remember those 540i sludge problems? I am meticulous when it comes to fluids and so I take no chances- oil and filter cost to me is $50.00- using mobil 1, a seize motor is 5-6 grand......
Hengst is my preffered filter and have had no issues at all. And if Imay add , I have compared an Oem filter to a Hengst and they is no apparent difference.

People here the tapping from the head. Pretty obvious oil starvation.

but how can they tell what symtoms are they experiencing- there is No oil pressure gauze on this SAVs ?

Knocking= lack of oil pressure. If you want to use aftermarket oil filters, go for it..it's your engine, do what you want with it.

Hows this, if you have an aftermarket filter and want to check if the oil is bleeding down, before starting it in the morning pull the oil filter cap and see if the filter housing is still filled to the top with oil or if it bleed down over night. The OEM setup does not bleed down and stays full, so not a dry start in that aspect. Also note that most engine failures I see in the shop have aftermarket filters and use cheap oil. Yet I've seen numerous BMW engines (I4, I6 and V8) go well over 300k with no engine troubles and still driving great just following the OEM guidelines for services. I worked on an E36 318ti (92-93ish) semi-recently that was pushing just over 480k miles on the original engine, had original manual transmission, and was still in overall good shape. Purred like a kitten.