Changed the oil and filter today at 9000k miles since the last mileage interval service and noticed the filter used by the VAG specialist has a soft seal, whereas the Bosch one I bought doesn't. Any thoughts on this guys? 

 

Great observation Jon. My initial thought is:- should there have been a rubber seal ring in the box with the filter? Someone been there before you with this particular filter? 
If this were mine:- Talk with Bosch Technical and get their view via. the same photo.

I seem to recall it being mentioned ( by Steve Y?) that things may be changing with trusted brands such as Mann? - or indeed was it Bosch as well? Excuse my ‘improving forgetory’! So could this be a cost saving ploy, and we might be told it doesn’t matter? 
I guess there isn’t any chance of getting the brand the independent used - ? 
I think it’s over to Bosch Technical.

Perhaps you could let us know what develops Jon, and many thanks for airing this.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

The Bosch filter box was sealed, and had a replacement o-ring for the filter housing cap.

I went back to ECP and they confirmed the other Bosch filters they checked at random were the same, however the MANN version does, so I've fitted that instead.

I've emailed Bosch and will report back if it yields a response.

 

Thanks Jon, that’s great. Could you come back to us with the outcome. 
 

To Steve Y. Apologies Steve, but did you refer to Mann possibly not now being what they were, or was it Bosch - or indeed both? 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

I changed to cabin/pollen filter too, for a Bosch version and could literally smell everything the roads had to offer during my drive in to work yesterday.

Needless to say I've refitted to old one until I get a replacement. Incidentally, that was a VAG part too (fitted by the dealership) with MANN branding. 

Thanks Jon,

So to sum this up, we have a Bosch oil filter without the sealing ring, and a Bosch pollen filter which doesn’t seem to be doing much air filtering. Not what Bosch used to be -? 
I think Steve Y commented on Mann possibly not being what they were, but need Steve to confirm I’ve got that right.

If so, we seem to have lowering of standards? on the two trusted filter aftermarket brands I’ve been using for years. 
Worrying! 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 
p.s. Nothing back from Bosch Technical yet Jon? 
 

That's the summary of Bosch. And no response to-date.

The new MANN pollen filter however is performing as you'd expect.