Oil filter OEM BMW or Hengst

Since I've owned it, I've performed all the work listed below with genuine VW parts when possible. I've also flushed the oil with Liqui-Moly engine flush, and performed a Seafoam cleaning. Afterwards, oil was changed to Liqui-Moly 5w40 Synthoil Premium and new Hengst oil filter.

I ordered from ECS Tuning - Got 5 qts of Mobil 1 ESP, oil filter, fuel filter, air filter, DSG filter, magnetic oil drain plug for $100 shipped. All Hengst or Mann filters.

My lovely girl friend has a 2 door BMW 1997 325i. It's a very pretty car with 176k miles on it. We drove it all over and one day it hit me, when was the last time the oil was changed? She thought her parents maintained it, but after some digging the oil hadn't been changed in 1 1/2 years and possibly 30k miles. I pulled the filter out and it was worse than this, and just fyi BMW filters like these do it kinda often from what I have read.

Then engine had 2.5 out of the 7 quarts it is supposed to have. (poured the oil in a 4 quart jug to see). I have absolutely no idea how it lasted so long. It was a ticking time bomb. So after 6 quarts of oil and the seventh being sludge cleaner, the engine has no more ticks and runs very well.

The Hengst filter is great.

That is the filter you need, and the only one you should use!

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.