S40 V40 Cars: Fuel filter starting problem

[Richie sussex]

Volvo V40 1.9 TD 2004 - My problems started with the engine cutting out randomly and then after a few minutes restarting. Ok
I thought maybe the fuel filter is blocked as I’ve never changed it before seemed reasonable. So I bought a Bosch replacement and fitted it no problem. This was in the spring of 2021, all ok and no more cutting out, but I noticed it didn’t start up on the button as it did before.
I thought I would check the glow plugs. All had failed apart from one that got slightly warm. So I thought I’d cracked it, changed all 4 great ,but still a little hesitant to start. I started to think about fuel pressures and new pumps etc etc but I realised it all started with the new fuel filter, was it the right one?
I checked again and the Bosch one was correct for the model and normally it’s a good make for most things. Anyway I splashed out on a genuine Volvo one ( x4 times the price) and changed it again together with all the new seals.
Hooray, this has fixed the starting problem and I think it’s probably the seals rather than the filter itself. The Volvo ones seem a tiny bit thicker ( I couldn’t be sure) and I think the Bosch ones may have been sucking in a little bit of air when the car was parked up. Not sure but lesson learned…….get the Volvo original part (when you can afford it)