Non BMW oil filter [Archive]

RTdavey

04-08-2005, 11:57 AM

Twins-
I would advise you to carefully reconsider your choice of Fram oil filters for anything, let alone your BMW. I have performed my own "filter surgery" on variuos filters and Fram is one of the worst!!!
I would suggest you research into the possibility of a Purolator "Pure One" oil filter if you can somehow cross over the thread size etc. to make one fit.
Second best would be a "Mobil 1" filter, but again you will have to find one that will fit the beamer. I plan on staying with the stock BMW filter and use premium oil to protect my twins. :thumb

twins4life

04-08-2005, 12:03 PM

I know about Phram... I cut a few open... yikes... I wanted the Phram number to cross reference and see it I can get one in a brand I trust.

I wouldnt run a Phram in anything, glad to see the word is getting around on thier lack of quality.

RT_guy

04-08-2005, 06:17 PM

The Mobil 1 oil filter is a M1-102.

dano

04-08-2005, 08:56 PM

Go to Wal-Mart and buy their house-brand oil filter. It's called Super-Tech and it's part # is ST-3614.

They are.....ready for this? $1.97 ea. They are identical to BOSCH oil filters.....only less $$.

I've been using these filters for over two years now, and they work great. It was a BMW service tech that told me about them. :thumb

Kaltzg

04-11-2005, 11:23 AM

knary

04-11-2005, 01:37 PM

Hers is a list of aftermarket oil filters that fit the R's.

NAPA 1348
AC Delco PF-53
Fram - 6063 (very hard to find)
Fram - 3614 (I don't like the black grip stuff)
Mobile 1 - M1-102
Wix 51348
WalMart Super Tech ST-3614

FWIW, when people talk about cutting open the Fram equivalent to the BMW filter and it being a complete POS, they're talking about the 3614. It is *not* equivalent to the BMW filter.

John H. Archer

04-11-2005, 11:45 PM

Go to motorcycleinfo.calsci.com. There are numerous filters available. There is more info available at this wev site than you may car to read. Click on "filter info".
JA :thumb

twins4life

04-12-2005, 05:40 AM

Thanks all!

The STP3641 and the ST3614 are identical, the STP is $4.99 at Autozone and the ST is $1.97 at Wally world. Sure is interesting how the pricing varies.

msnden

04-12-2005, 09:15 AM

I can't believe the cost of an BMW oil filter is going to break anyones bank, and if I were looking to save some money. I would look somewhere else. I purchased a Wal-mart Super tech 3614 and just for the heck of it I cut it open and compared it to the BMW. I cut through the 3614 with ease, very little resistance, and not much on the inside, a good coffie filter would provide about as much protection, on the other hand, the BMW filter took some effort to cut, and the inside appeared to be quite complex, (I'm not an engineer, but the inside of the BMW filter give me confidence that it would filter oil). I'm all for saving money, but I will look elsewere to do it.
Den

basketcase

04-12-2005, 09:26 AM

Reading your post closely, I take it that the BMW filter is the one on the left -- i.e., positioned underneath the Super-tech box.

Is that correct?

If so, the photo is a bit confusing.

:type

RTdavey

04-12-2005, 09:45 AM

Inclusive in that list shoould be the "Purolator" PL-10241. This was the highest rated filter in terms of media content and construction. Fred Meyer has 'um for $4.69.
Funny how we want everything to last forever.
Even our "pump" will wear out eventually, hope you're all prepared for that!

cluster148

04-12-2005, 11:32 AM

I've got over 200,000 miles on 1100 GS.All those miles are on Fram 3614 from Walmart.Not one problem........

lkchris

04-12-2005, 01:48 PM

They are identical to BOSCH oil filters.....only less $$.

Don't assume the OEM BMW filter is Bosch.

Don't assume any USA-market Bosch filter is made by Bosch. "Identical to Bosch" in this context is not saying much.

dano

04-12-2005, 03:30 PM

Don't assume the OEM BMW filter is Bosch.

Don't assume any USA-market Bosch filter is made by Bosch. "Identical to Bosch" in this context is not saying much.

Well.....what I can say is this. I've been using the Wal-Mart Supertech 3614 oil filter, since the 3rd oil change on my '03 RT.

No problems or concerns to report, what-so-ever. And yes, the little $$ saved by buying after-market oil filters over the OEM, won't account to much over the long-term picture.

But.....the $$ saved.....is $$ spent on gas. What better way to invest....huh? :D

msnden

04-12-2005, 03:47 PM

Rick, sorry for the confusion, but each filter is under the correct box.
Cluster, I hear ya, I have put a lot of miles on cars using Fram filters, just sold a civic with over 275, 000, that, except for the early miles, had nothing but fram, so who knows? if it screws on, and it dosn't leak, we assume it is working and that can be said of any of them, BMW included, My conclusion came when I cut them in half. it became very clear the BMW was a better built filter, does that mean it is a better filter? I don't know, But BMW thinks it is. and that is good enough for me. I would rather run the BMW filter a few extra miles than use a super tech. Thats just me, I still run Frams in my cars, and with all the miles I have put on over the years, It would be hard to convince me they are no good. BTW is the Fram 3614 the same as the Super Tech 3614? The one I cut was a Super Tech. Den

dano

04-12-2005, 06:12 PM

I'm not endorsing FRAM in any way. All that I'm saying, is that I've used them for over 35 yrs., and not one negative experience. :clap

Hmmm.....maybe I am endorsing FRAM. :dunno

There's a lot of things in life, that cost way too much!

BMW motorcycles spring to mind........... :D

RTdavey

04-12-2005, 08:35 PM

mn-
First of all,your presupposition is wrong. Cost is not the factor. What is, is what we are paying for. I bet we wd. all pay $10.00 for a filter that was built to "work" like cost wasn't a factor.
However, I drive my RT like it was built for it. No wussy driving for me. I save that for the suburban.
I want oil and a filter to take the hard stuff. Fram is ****. All the ancedotes don't mean dick when you perform surgery on one compared to Mobil and Purolator and others.
Next time you get a hack saw in your hands, cut it horizontally around the filter and pull the guts out. Then compare apples to apples. Sectioning like you've done only shows metal thickness, so what???

lorazepam

04-12-2005, 08:55 PM

I can see a bypass valve, and the filtering medium as well from that picture. Cant see what the filter medium is made from but there seems to be more of it in the BMW filter. I am not going to get all worked up about 5 dollars more for a filter and stick with what the factory wants me to.

twins4life

04-12-2005, 09:05 PM

Interesting read oil oil filters in general.

http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=next_topic;f=6;t=000978;go=newe r

If the BMW filter has a bypass then that is the only way to go even if they cost a little too much. Sure looks like a bypass valve, anyone know for sure?

Would definately be a bad idea to take off on a cold morning and have the filter media rupture because of the lack of a bypass valve, assuming there is enough oil flow to cause a media rupture.

I'm strongly leaning back the the OEM $13 filter... Or find one that has a bypass valve in the ST or STP branding.

twins4life

04-12-2005, 09:37 PM

More:

http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/partsubs.html#R1100oilf

Napa GOLD#1384, I'll go by tomorrow and see if it has a bypass valve.

Napa GOLD is a premium filter and available readily.

EDIT: unconfirmed specs on the NAPA 1348:
OD 3", H 3 23/64", THREAD 3/4" -16 Straight Th'd,
RELIEF VALVE 9-12 psi,
ANTI-DRAIN valve YES (doesn't matter),
filter style 1 (to accept socket, though a slightly smaller one than the OEM socket)

Kaltzg

04-14-2005, 09:00 AM

With all the talk about different oil filters and the growing list of useable filters, there appears to be several options out there. Believe it or not, the biggest problem I’ve been having is locating a socket wrench to remove/install the filter. I live in a rather rural area where the auto suppliers carry only a couple of different sizes. None seem to fit any of the various filters discussed here. With that in mind, I found and application chart and a supplier for wide variety of filter wrenches. I haven’t purchased anything from these folks so I can comment on the quality of there product or their service, but this is the only place that I’ve found that has and application chart. So, for your perusing pleasure, here’s a link to their site.

http://www.ctatools.com/catalogs/ritefit_appguide.pdf

Gail