Hallo,
maybe you have only seen the US made Mann "ML type" of their "budget overseas filter line" ,
Here you can see the US made Mann Filter, these are not the excellent German made ones.
They are okay but there are better Manns around here in Europe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqosalQDQ-A
Only the "W" "Micro top" (Please notice the difference in colour and stamping of the case)
http://www.van-cafe.com/shop/images/DSCN0090_edited-2.jpg
http://www.scheer-heizsysteme.de/re...NN-Grossflaechenfilterpatrone_und_Adapter.png
filters are those excellent longrange German made filters.
W type Mann filters have stamped "made in Germany" on the case,
(and the printed barcode on the case beginns with a 4 on all German made filters !)
the ML type filters are Made in the USA or Brazil, those are not made by
Mann Stuttgart themself they are contract manufactured by another US Company
maybe Champion labs...those are mediocre.
You can use them but the real German ones from Stuttgart are much better!
In Germany we have tested all kinds of filters, believe me, the only
excellent crafted Filters with the largest filter media surface and best working anti drainback valve are
GERMAN MADE Mann, Bosch or Knecht / Mahle....some SCT are also nice.
But Mann Filters are most common here and well regarded by European sports car enthusiasts.
Attention also with Bosch "Premium" Filters in the USA they are also not the German ones,
just like the Mann filters overseas they are made by a US or Brazilian Company and those are mediocre as well.
You can also use them, but they are not the German HQ ones.
In Germany Bosch Filters are made by Mann, and even Purolator Filters are made by Mann for the European market ;-))
Regarding UFi, open one, in the past they were good, today they look different and share some Quality issues
with the Frame HP1 filter (The better Fram line) but instead of the paper endcaps they have metal endcaps
so they might come from another Asian Source than those Chinese Frams we see everywhere now...
I have seen Frams with "MADE IN CHINA" inscription. Dont want "Made in China" on my Ferrari.
Best regards