E36 oil filter

I found recently there is a ton of E36 knowledge here so I will continue asking new questions. This one I've searched google and bimmerforums with little success.

Recently I changed the oil on my E36 318i (M44 lump) using a new filter I bought from the dealer. When I took the old filter out I noticed the openings in the ends of the new filter were much smaller than the old one in there. I planned to go back to the dealer and complain but bought a new one from pelican parts just so I could get back on the road. I ordered the exact same filter I bought from pelican 6 months ago and when it arrived, again the holes in the ends are much smaller than the old one. I don't remember having a problem like this the last time I changed the oil. I put one of the new filters in anyway but it definitely doesn't go together nicely. Before I go back to the dealer/call pelican parts and make a stink, is this normal?

I don't know for sure......what brand was the old one, oem bmw?

The one I used back in February was a Mahle, the two I just bought were OEM BMW and Mahle. I just don't remember having to crush the ends of the filter so much to get it to fit.

I've never had a problem with the fit. The lid has always just sat flush. Maybe just go to a parts store and look at the ones they have.

I tend to just do the parts store filters (m42 w/210,000 miles), ends up being MAN or Purolator. Never had a fit problem or felt the filter being crushed.

You don't happen to know the part numbers that you used?

Mahle 11-42-1-716-192-M67. I checked my order history on pelican parts and I ordered the exact same filter 6 months ago.

Here's the PN for an m44 - 11421716192 (plastic cover)

M42 PN = 11421727300 (aluminum cover)

There was some crossover between oil filter housings depending on the year.

I don;t remember having any issues last time I changed the oil on the Ti...

I found this picture under the reviews for the Mahle oil filter on pelicanparts.com. I called their tech support and they acknowledged that there is an issue. I don't know why the filter I got from the dealer was the same, maybe BMW OE uses Mahle filters? Thumbs up for pelican CS, they sent out 2 new Hengst filters free of charge.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=11-42-1-716-192-M67&catalog_description=Oil%20Filter%20Kit%20%28for%20Cars%20with%20Plastic%20Oil%20Filter%20Cover%29%2C%20318i%2Fis%2FiC%20with%20M44%20Engine%20%28from%2009%2F95%29%2C%20318ti%20with%20M44%20Engine%20%28from%2009%2F95%29