Serviced my 606 transmission the other day. When I opened the Mann box with the filter, I noticed that the filter was "Made in China." The one I took off was from Mercedes and "Made in Germany." Since I haven't added fluid yet, I'm wondering if I should just spend the ten bucks and get a filter from Mercedes again. I'm leaning to doing that, since this filter will likely need to last me about 15 or 20 years. I do my transmission service every 50,000 miles and will likely put on less than 5000 miles a year, probably much less.

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Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

I'd probably return it and get one from MB that's not made in China. Even if its only on principle. I've done it before....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

The problem with Chinese manufacturing products is where in China they are made, who makes them and who supervises quality.

When Chrysler created a joint venture with Beijing Auto works to create Beijing Jeep, quality control and production / supplier management were Chrysler's responsibility, with a BAW counterpart watching how it was done.

The vehicles were pretty good.

Without adequate controls, it doesn't matter where the stuff is made, it will be junk.

Norinco always made pretty good machined products, good enough to equip the People's Liberation Army with 2 million AK-47s.

In Yugoslavia, the country that gave us the Yugo, other factories like Zastava produced AKMs and RPKs and RPDs and very classy sniper rifles.

So what's the quality of the VWs made in China? Who manages that operation?

I can see that companies might set up semi-high-tech product manufacturing in a foreign country to keep costs down, without impacting quality.

Some of Chrysler's best trucks in the 90s were made in Lago Alberto, Mexico.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

Exactly, made in china doesn't mean bad quality. I'd probably have no issue using it.

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2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

From my perspective, the issue with "Made in China" is that I can't figure out how to know who is doing the making and who is on top of quality control. BluePrint Engines, for example, uses Chinese cylinder head castings that they machine here in the USA. My buddy at BluePrint says that the castings are top notch and they've had pretty much zero issues with them. Somewhere between many and most speed parts are now made there and they seem to be OK but the speed part companies (Mr. Gasket, Moroso, etc.) know that their reputation and therefore their company depends on quality and they don't leave it to chance. However, we've all heard and/or had the horror stories especially with smaller parts like fuel filters, etc.

Tough to know who - and what products - to trust. Seems like if Mann puts their name on it it's probably OK.

Dan

Mercedes makes whole cars in China so the filter you get from the dealer will also likely be made in China on the same assembly line. You'll just pay more for it.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Dont be to fast returning it .My MB filter was made in Spain..

My MB canister fuel filter for my '98 e300td was made in South Africa.

Whole Mercedes cars have been made in South Africa since 1954. In general, they were top quality although that might have dropped somewhat in recent years.

It's funny, but some of the Mercedes with the most problems were built in the USA. The M-Class.

It's surprising that we don't see Chinese made whole cars here yet. Just a matter of time.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

I have several Mann PF 1055/1X that are made on Czech Republic.


Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

You mean the one that was called " The Alabama trash can?"

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

I've used oil filters and brake pads that were made in Czechoslovakia. My chrome front wheels sure turned black in a hurry, though.

-c-

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"I applaud your elaborate system of denial"

How do you spot a real mann filter vs. a fake one?

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'85 300D Cal 280,000 miles
'14 GLK 350 60000 miles

I doubt that's because they are bad quality, Textar, Padgid, etc do the same thing

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

Funny this thread popped up,
my Dad has a W210 ('02 e430) and we're giving the A/C system a overhaul but anyways we ordered a new drier and the BEHR/Hella one came in and it said right on the side "Made in China"! My Dad took a look at that and said "We're ordering a OEM one." soo the OEM one came in and it's a Hansa and says Made in Germany right on the side...

BEHR one was $30
OEM was ~$120

The quality doesn't look too much different to be honest,but cutting them both apart would tell the tale. One thing interesting is that the Hansa one has the brackets spot welded on giving a cleaner look,while the BEHR one the entire bracket is welded on.

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84 190D 5spd - 878K
87 300E -157K
87 300TD VIN 0007 - 298K
93 FUSO FE-HD 15' - 198K
05 158" Sprinter 2500 - 270K

"Ich mag die Dieselgeräusche"
https://youtu.be/YjrxHqNy5CQ
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