An oil filter is not a type approved item and manufacturers don't approve anything. Self certification is the US model.

The manufacturer makes the vehicle and must then present it to a technical authority. VCA in the UK, RDW in the Netherlands, one of the TUV's in Germany etc. They assess the vehicle for compliance against their interpretation of the EU and national standards. This allows for some variation, the Spanish for example being much faster and less picky and TUV Wolfsburg being the place to go for emissions checks

An oil filter would never be failed as a stand alone item. The vehicle might be failed if something risked cutting open the filter or the function caused emissions or noise problems.

A parts supplier mostly has no requirement to do any approval, you can fit a Chinese bean can stuffed with rags instead of that oil filter in most EU countries . A inspection might fail it for leaks or emissions, but if knock offs work you can use them . On some products like tyres and brake linings you have to do testing to show you meet the same criteria as the OE fit, a component approval . The component manufacturer does this, usually by back to back testing. Most vehicles are type approved with two or more of these in case a supplier burns down. Mostly the controls are on advertising descriptions , you can offer can-stuffed-with-rags legally but not Honda oil filter.

Where the EU is heading is stopping this and not letting you legally fit the Chinese rubbish oil filter regardless of if yours happens to work.

Why would BMW help you fit Michelin tyres at £60 a go when its then illegal to fit anything except the Conti's they or Continental themselves only have available at £200 each? The chip in the tyre is coded to the TPMS and that must work. Intellectual property rights reinforce their right to refuse to hand over the chip code to Michelin. A monopoly on spares is created. BMW isn't going to do the work to approve an extra knobbly set of tyres for a handful of buyers who want to go off road.

Andy

We've had this conversation before, and I will say it again: the EU is the one that's actually preventing monopolies like that.

Travelling from the UK to Australia using a standard-tanked R100 BMW we ran out of fuel just once - slap bang in the middle of the biggest railway level crossing I've ever seen, near the Hooghly railway staion in the middle of Calcutta!

We did carry a couple of 5 litre jerry-jugs, (later replaced with a couple of 5 litre wine bags) for the long runs but other than down the Stuart highway they were rarely filled. Oh, that reminds me: We ran out of fuel along there too, but SOP was that the petrol stove always got refilled after use and emptying that back into the tank was just enough to make the 2-3 miles remaining to the next roadhouse; as with you in CR, it spluttered as we turned onto the forecourt and a promptly engaged clutch allowed us to roll up to the pump.

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BobnLes

My laser printer knows when I have a generic cartridge in but it still works. If they were allowed to switch off the printer I suspect that they would as they make their money from selling the replacement cartridges rather than the printer. I suspect that the same is true if automotive industry - the EU is stopping them exploiting their position.

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You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey's end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.

Isn't that what happened with some inkjet printers about 10yrs or so ago - they chipped the cartridges to stop you using either aftermarket ones or refilling your own. How did that work out?

The EU told them they couldn't.

That's a fair assessment.. there isn't that many places where you need 250mi+ range. Still IMO 701LR got it right. For one, even if gas available there could be issues with quality, and on some remote vistas you not only need fuel to get there, but also need to carry extra to be able to turn back at any point.

Good result then. Been a while since I had to buy any.

Ink cartridges aren't safety items.

Andy

Clearly you have never seen my wife when the printer stops printing. That is a safety item.

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You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey's end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.