i hate to link to other sites, but this needs to be seen

http://www.indygamers.com/vB/s...=4488


FRAM filters are total crap, cmprosing mostly of paper and other crappy materials, and then these materials fall apart in your engine, they can wreak havok!


This filter cartridge has a small outside diameter with a rather low filter element surface area (193 sqin), and features cardboard end caps that are glued in place. The rubber anti-drainback valve seals against the cardboard and easily leaks, causing dirty oil to drain back into the pan. If you have a noisy valve train at startup, this filter is likely the cause. The bypass valves are plastic and are sometimes not molded correctly, which allows them to leak all the time, but they often leak anyway. The backplate has smaller and fewer oil inlet holes, which may restrict flow, and is made of thin material.

The telltale signs for a Fram Extra Guard are: It has 8 small holes for the oil inlet and a thin, cheap-looking backplate, and is currently stamped with a “2Y”. There are 5 very small crimps holding the gasket in place. If you look into the center hole all the way to the top of the filter, you will see a kind of “button” in the end cap of the cartridge (which looks like it's made of metal from there). This is the plastic bypass valve.

 

I have used FRAM filters my whole life and have NOT run into any problems yet. FRAM OEM BMW filters tend to be paper also, Never had any problems with those either.