STP oil filter ok??
 

Picked up some gc0w-30 today at autozone and the salesman talked me into an stp oil filter. My concerns are proper fitting, filter material, and diameter of the o-ring. Am I being ridiculous or should I make a special trip to the dealer and pick up a Mahle?? tks

Personally, I don't buy anything but BMW OEM filters. Why tamper with the success of the engineers that built the engine to save $5 on a filter..

To me it's like using regular gas...

However, everyone is entitled to and should express their opinion (especially if it agrees with mine :bustingup)

Cheers !
Ed

Maybe to the STP, but not my first pick...
Here's an excellent and recent thread on OF brands,
easily copped via the Search Tab.
GL,mD

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...4-engines.html

I'll put it this way... most, if not all of the failed engines that come through the shop have had aftermarket oil changes with aftermarket filters installed. Yet all of the vehicles that are well over 200,000 miles that come through and run great have OEM filters and oil.

With something as important to the engine as oil, and the filtering of said oil... Why risk it with anything less than what is proven to be the best option?

Take it back. IMO, it wont filter as well as OEM. Especially if you are pushing the typical 15,000 oil change intervals. The BMW filter was better desiged for that long of an interval.

Also, 0w30 is not the BMW recommended SAE class of oil. Use what BMW recommends as far as oil weight. Check your owners manual.

Ok so icksnay on the stp....thank you for responding. Whats wrong with the gc0w-30?

Here is the link to a really good thread, IMO. The first half is about filters and the second is about oil. It should answer all of your questions.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ngine-oil.html

0w-30 is not the SAE recommended by BMW for any e53 that I am aware of. Oil has an API rating and an SAE rating/weight. You need to be sure you are using what BMW recommends for both. (Actually, you will see in the the above attached thread that newer API's can supersede what BMW originally recommended for your car due to advances in oil technology).

Open your owners manual to the index and look for oil. Go to that section and it should tell you what SAE is recommended for your particular year and model. 10w-40 or a 0w-40 is common for a 3.0/4.4.

I buy Mahle, Bosch or Mann filters, they are about $10, compared to $40 or so at the dealer.

I just paid $17 for a filter and $56 for the oil...so it is really not that bad considering its OEM...After 10k use, i must say the oil and filter looked pretty good.

Great, I say to myself, an oil and oil filter thread! Then I see MD's post (yes, that was a good reference thread). Then I see FSETH's post (an excellent reference thread). So, since I had nine posts in those threads, I have nothing to add. Darn, I thought we were going to get to discuss oil and filters.

OEM filters. API SM synthetic oil in the approved weight.