Okay, today I decided to change my oil and filter on my 1980 SL for the very first time on this car. Should be a simple task. Seems easy but again I ran into a problem trying to remove the inner spring. I've read all the threads here and I see others had the same problem. I had to gently tap the long bolt downward to remove the spring as it just can't be pulled out. Now I wonder what the hole at the tip of the long bolt is made for, uh-mm. I believe the last person who installed the filter had it wrong as the spring appears to had been placed upside down and now when Im replacing it I need to know if it's correct. I notice "nobby's" pictures, but they do not show how, when ressemble, which side of the inner tapered spring goes in first, even the diagram I notice in another thread that "rowdie" provided, the spring in the diagram does not show a tapered spring, so which way does it go?. In the pictures below I've taken the way I think by looking at the diagram that "rowdie" (thank you) provided is the correct way. Here's what I assume is the right way the filter assembly goes, Large bolt held in hand, copper (seal ring), oil filter canister, spring with large diameter first, flat metal washer, oil filter cartridge, placed large O-ring on the end of the oil canister, then mount to engine. One side of the hole in the Bosch filter is larger than the other, the smaller hole in first, Am I correct ????....
Thanks,
carltwo