NO, it's not a "defect" if you have the correct tool to remove the filter.
Check with the techs at your dealer and have them show you what they use to
get the filter off... and BTW you need to remove it from under the car.

"Rich Wales" > wrote in message
g...
>I did my first (5K mile) oil/filter change on my 04 Golf today.
>
> Or, at least, I changed the oil. I couldn't change the filter
> because the old filter (the one originally installed at the
> factory when the car was assembled) was on so tight that I was
> absolutely unable to remove it, even after three hours' worth
> of trying numerous tools and all the brute strength my arms,
> legs, and (poor aching) back could muster.
>
> I had already drained the crankcase before discovering that
> the filter had been installed by a gorilla with power tools,
> so I ended up (for the time being at least) putting in new
> oil, but keeping the old filter.
>
> Has anyone else encountered a similar problem? How did you
> deal with it? Did you get VW involved? (I'm very seriously
> considering raising a stink over this with VW -- arguing that
> the unreasonably tight oil filter is a defect that they have
> an obligation to rectify, without charge, under the warranty.)
>
> Rich Wales http://www.richw.org
>