Bosch premium oil filters w/ WS part number suffix

[Exit32]

I ordered a couple of Bosch 72209 Premium oil filters online, but I received two Bosch 72209WS oil filters instead. With Bosch filters, I always thought that the "WS" part-number suffix indicates a WorkShop filter -- engineered, cost-reduced, and manufactured for quickie oil-change shops.

On the filters I received, the weird thing is that even with the "WS" suffix on the part number, both the box and the filter itself have the words "Premium Oil Filter" imprinted on them. Filter says "Made in USA" too.

I called Bosch and asked why a WorkShop filter (according to the part number) would also be imprinted with "Premium Oil Filter." The Bosch guy said it's just a packaging change and that what I have is really a premium filter. When I questioned the accuracy of the info presented at the Bosch website, he said that the website is out of date.

Anyway, I thought others here would like to know that Bosch "WS" filters are apparently now the same as their premium filters.

 

[Sayjac]

Hmmm, verry interesting. So 'they' are saying the WS is supposedly the same as the Bosch Premium filter sold at AZ? Or, the WS filter is the new premium filter by Bosch and the Bosch Premium is no longer sold?

Does the Bosch WS suffix have a silicone adbv like the BP? Because the WS advertises 97.5% efficient, and the Bosch Prem. is currently 99.9%. So compared to Purolator the WS would be similar to or same as the Classic, and the BP has long been considered a P1 clone.

Curious where you ordered the WS from. Also curious where you called and who you spoke with. I ask because the "Bosch hotline" has been associated with the Puro Response Ofice (PRO) and those guys have been consistently incorrect in the information they have provided to members including myself.

Doesn't look to be anything wrong with the Bosch WS filter, but to say it's the Bosch Prem is simply incorrect. Based on the specs and appearance (nitrile adbv) the WS is new Classic(Puro) of the Bosch line. That's my take.

 

[Exit32]

I don't know who or what to believe. I ordered my filters from an Amazon seller called Summerland Auto Sports. I sent an e-mail to Summerland to complain that I did not get the Bosch Premium filters as they had advertised, and I received this reply:

"please send them back for credit, 72209 is the same filter as 72209WS no difference what so ever, we do not have 72209 also we can no longer bring it because it not longer available to us from Bosch. you are welcome to send them back for refund"

Their response is consistent with what I was told by Bosch tech support. When I called Bosch, a young lady listened to my story, then had a product specialist call me at home to discuss the issue. Sorry, I don't recall their names. But I do know that when the product specialist called me, he called from 855-267-2483 which is not the same as the contact number at the boschautoparts.com website.

The filters I ordered are probably not that popular, so my guess is that Bosch wasn't selling enough of these to justify producing and packaging both the WorkShop and Premium versions for this application (primarily Jaguar and Land Rover). What I still don't know for certain is whether the "premium" filters I received are the equivalent of the now-unavailable Bosch 72209.

 

[Sayjac]

You can believe yourself and the current as written Bosch website on the matter. You are correct, you did not receive 'the' Bosch Premium filter that has long been sold at several places including Auto Zone, in a black box. I believe Wally Canada now sells them too.

Also another indicator is the adbv, if the WS filter has black nitrile, the BP uses a red/orange silicone which is considered more durable/reliable over a longer oci's, though nitrile has worked fine in some applications with longer oci's. And as I mentioned, the current Bosch Prem. has been rated 99.9% efficient (on box) as opposed to the 97.5% for the WS as shown on the Bosch site now.

As you mention, several things could be going on here. Perhaps in the 72209 there is no Bosch Premium filter available for this application. Or perhaps Bosch is discontinuing the true Bosch Prem. line. The latter seems improbable to me, checking AZ occasionally will tell.

As it was sold on Amazon, in my experience sometimes what is received may not be exactly what is described. If there is no Bosch Prem application for the 72209 then the WS would be the filter shipped for this application. Seems I remember reading something similar here about being sent the WS filter for a lightly used application.

The information I have posted regarding 'the' Bosch Prem' is correct based on the current website and all the BP dissections and filter studies (including river_rat's) that have been posted here.

All that said, the WS should work fine. Now as to whether you are satisfied with what you paid for the WS as opposed to thinking you were getting a Bosch Premium is another matter. Your call.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
I believe Wally Canada now sells them too.

Maybe Bosch is changing things up and dumped all the old stock on us.

 

[Sayjac]

^^^^^"Maybe", but at this moment the Bosch Premium is still stocked/sold at AutoZone and Rock Auto in the US. Also I'd think similar to Purolator there is a date code on them. If similar to Purolator it can be deciphered. In any case, the quality of the BP is unlikely to be affected.

I also suspect that if the OP gave all the information up front regarding the Amazon purchase to whoever he spoke with at Bosch, their response that the VS is the same as the BP was to protect a seller of their oil filters saying the same thing. Having also viewed the Amazon page the OP purchased from, what he received is not that the BP shown on the page.

Their answer unfortunately also follows the pattern of the PRO of providing information that is directly disputed by website information. Because of that until 'proven' otherwise, I'd trust the Bosch website for authoritative information over some unknown rep on a phone. The WS as clearly described on the website, is not 'the' Bosch Premium filter.

 

[Exit32]

FWIW, I decided to take photos of the label on the box and the information imprinted on the filter itself. Note that both box and the filter say "Premium Oil Filter" but I tend to agree with sayjac -- these are not the same quality as the black-box Bosch Premium filters sold by AutoZone. That means the word "premium" is meaningless when it comes to Bosch oil filters.

 

[Garak]

I must say, it is a strange case. I suspect it's much ado about nothing and could be an error along the way or Bosch doesn't supply two lines of that filter.

Walmart Canada would be unlikely to enter their arrangement if supply were questionable. In any event, other retailers' supply of Bosch in Canada was impacted by Walmart adding the line, so I would assume that Walmart made sure they could get what they wanted. Other suppliers are finally able to get their hands on Bosch filters once again.

 

[Sayjac]

Thanks for the pics. Would like to see the base end though just to confirm that it is a nitrile adbv, not 'the Bosch Premium' silicone. But like the Bosch Premium box efficiency, 99% sure the WS is nitrile.

Agree that using the word 'premium' on the WS filter is inappropriate and confusing considering the original black box Bosch Premium has long used the term Premium in it's filter name.

But similar to the PRO responses, the information on the website is correct as a reference when compared to the answers provided by the Bosch CSR's. I agree that it's likely a case where the 72209 is not available in 'the' Bosch Premium.

 

[Exit32]

Here's a pic of the base of one of my Bosch "Premium" 72209 filters, sayjac. I hope you can tell me more about what's inside. Let me know if you need a better photo. Thanks!

 

[Sayjac]

Nope pic is fine, as thought it is a nitrile adbv which as said makes it similar to the Purolator Classic as opposed to 'the' Bosch Premium which is silicone red/orange like the Pure One.

There's nothing "wrong" with the WS, just as website states, it's not 'the' Bosch Premium filter.

I did some more research though, in the Purolator L15137 is the direct cross for the 72209 and it shows a filter that looks to be made in Germany which is not typical of a Purolator Classic. It lists a Pure One but shows no picture so I'd be skeptical.

Again, I believe this is just a case where it such a lightly used application that there is no true Bosch Premium in this filter.

That said, I'd use with no worries. You are just wiser now to what you received.

 

[Exit32]

I appreciate your wisdom, sayjac, and plan to use these new Bosch "premium" filters per your recommendation -- one for my Jag XJ8 and the other for my wife's '02 Thunderbird. With Mobil 1 5w30 in the pans, I'll get 5K miles out of each of these Bosch "premium" filters then maybe find a better filter for the next change. No worries.