CONCLUSION AND WRAPUP

OK - for the one person that may be interested in this small but puzzling problem, here is the wrap up.

Back ground - 2005 Crossfire Base with 70,000 miles. Owned since 6,000 miles. Decided I had abused it long enough and decided to change fuel filter.

1) Installed new Mann filter - WK120 (Made in Germany). Used Oetiker clamps. Fit perfectly, but now the car cranked for an excessive period of time before firing. Ran fine once started.
2) Discovered Filter is more than just a filter. It is also the fuel pressure regulator and check valve assembly.
3) Bought and Installed OEM Mercedes filter - A 002 477 30 01. No change in operation, still excessive cranking. BTW, the Mann was only a few bucks cheaper than the MB and in hindsight the filter was not the problem so this is NOT a slam at Mann.
4) More research and trouble shooting. Oh yes, fuel pressure tester is vital! getting correct adapter caused a bit of a delay. Had I the adapter on day one, I likely would have gone directly to replacing pump.
5) Troubleshooting indicated probable issue was pump with its check valve. Bought and installed Bosch pump - 0 986 580 372 from German Auto Parts in Charlotte NC. $145 delivered. BTW, stock pump was a Pierburg stamped with the MB star and number 000-478-00-01.
6) Car now starts normally. Not at all sure why the fuel pump went bad simultaneously with changing filter. Best guess is somehow a bit of debris got dislodged and ended up in check valve. I just really hate a coincidence like this.

Probably 99% of filter changes won't have this problem, but one piece of advice is that this is more than a filter so the bargain basement things on eBay might not be such a bargain. Ditto on the pumps - I found some pumps on eBay for $19.99. Retail on the MB pump is over $800. Bosch retail is in the $250 range. $145 was best wholesale price I could find from a reputable vender I had dealt with in the past.


Thanks for all the helpful comments as I slowly made my way through this mess.