Info on GTI VR6 Oil Filters

OEM oil filters for VWs are made in Germany by Hengst. Sometime in the middle of 1996 model year, VW changed the design of the oil filter.

Look for your engine's number, on the passenger end of the valve cover.

Engine numbers up to 176889 uses oil filter part number 021-115-562, like the one in the pic on the left. It has metal end caps. (My car, an US-spec 1995 GTI VR6 built in Oct 1994, engine number 126493, uses one of these.)


Engine numbers from 176890 uses 021-115-562A. It should have black plastic end caps with felt rings. The hole on the bottom is bigger and surrounded by platic clips. On the left are pics of of an oil filter for a 1998 VW GTI VR6, showing its top (the end towards the engine), and its bottom (the end towards the ground), showing the plastic clips.
(Thanks to David Fuerte, davidfuertehotmail )