Oil filter Hengst or OEM Mazda

In terms of filter and oil, I have an NA and I personally like to buy the OE filters from Mazda and for oil I just use the oil recommended in the owners manual, id assume the ND uses different oil so I’d say just check that.

I have had good results with the Hengst. Recently ran a Hengst to 20,000 miles. It’s was a bit crispy but was doing just fine.

YES! My 2012 Skyactiv is at 233K miles, and has always had the Mazda Moly 0W-20 (with the exception where I was able to get the Idemitsu version, which is the same stuff, but without Mazda's markup. Sucks that it isn't available anymore. ) and I'm not about to chance running a different oil.

Always run a Mazda filter too. The quality seems better than most.

I use OEM Mazda filter. Synthetic oil, Kirkland brand or Castrol since i think thats who makes the Mazda oil.

It’s easy peasy to DIY at every OCI (5k mi or 6 mos whichever comes first, 2014 Mazda6 Touring 6MT). Been doing it, for decades (various makes; at times with an oil boy vacuum fluid extractor). Will be changing mine tomorrow. This time, will try Kirkland 0W20, with a German Hengst oil filter (identical dimensions/specs Made in Japan OEM Mazda PE01-14-302) plus Lubro Moly MoS2 (molybdenum).

Oil service has been done every 5K since then using Liqui Moly Molygen Full Synthetic 5W-40 and Hengst filters.

My E550 gets M1 0W40 every 5k, with a new fleece Hengst filter. I don't drive it hard until I see past 80C on the water temp (I don't have an oil temp gauge- only the E63s do). Basically the same procedure I use on my S54 BMWs, and every performance car I've ever owned

I personally do an old and filter every 6-7000 km. I do it so frequently because, 1) I do it myself, so cost is down and I make sure the job is done right. 2) the sky active engines are known for carbon buildup, so more frequent oil changes should help. 3) Longevity, I want to see 300,000 or more on the dash one day.

Official VW filters are Hengst's with a little VW logo and part number printed on the end just note that the filters do not include the gasket for the oil-can drain plug (dunno if that's on the mkIII's, but it's on the mkIV's). Just means you can't really drain the can, just unscrew it and be quick to minimize the amount of oil that goes flying

since vw started using the synthetic material i am very fond of using oem. ive never seen the synthetic material deteriorate or crush in the housing between oil changes. ive also seen the plastic on those types of hengst filters break apart and that scares me to use.