I went to the Chrysler dealer a few weeks ago to buy a filter, and they tried selling me the one that had just two plastic straps around the filter element. It just didn't look like a "quality' part. The straps were even crooked. I went over the Mercedes dealer and picked up one that had the continuious thread wrapped around the element, part # A 000 180 26 09. This will be the 4th filter that I've purchased from them in 15k miles.
On a side note. I've been changing my oil around every 3,500 miles, and my engine has been as quiet as a church mouse. But the last time I decided to take it to 5k before changing. When I went out to start it after sitting for a few days, there was alot of "clicking" going on (sounded like lifters) that I've never heard before. Finally after it ran for a few minutes it quieted down.
I'm going back to my original plan of changing the oil and filter at every 3 or 4k miles.