I personally don't like the longer filter body hanging down. But SSEi'* are about a half inch lower than SE'*. For me, it would bug me knowing it was closer to the road.

So I run a premium filter instead, OEM size.

Good point willwren, I actually had seen a Bonneville with a smashed filter. Someone had installed the 52 and it was either hit by road debris or bottomed out on a large dip in the road. Not sure what the cause was, but none the less the filter was smashed open and leaked all the oil out.

This is something to be conscious of if using the longer filter.

92-99 SSEi'* have a 3-core radiator which includes an oil cooler. The oil filter adapter on the SSEi puts the oil filter lower than an SE, SLE, or SSE. To make it worse, the SSEi'* have FE2 suspension, which has springs that are a half inch lower on install height.

Double hit. I don't suggest 92-99 SSEi'* use the longer filter.

The above statement is partially correct.

92-95 SSEi'* had the oil cooler. 96-99 do not have the oil cooler.

(C'mon Bill..you need an S2 so that you can learn the differences )

52'* don't stick below the subframe on my vehicle.

I don't like K&N because i can't use my oil filter "socket" tool on it. Napa Gold, or Wix is what i prefer to run.

I pour in 5 quarts with a WIX 51040.

just to be clear, there shouldn't be any lenght issues with a 52 on my 89 would there? Is it really a big deal? is there some serious improvement over maybe flow or filtration?

Get under your car and measure. The 52 is 1.5 inches longer.

Is the 47 going to cause engine failure? Probably not.
The 52 MIGHT give you greater peace of mind if you go longer intervals with Mobil1,
but my first two UOA'* after switching showed no ill effects of 5k on a K&N 47 filter.

would you know what engines normally use the PF52 so that i can see what the part number is for a Mobil 1 in pf52 size? IIRC the GM 350 uses it right?

Edit: found it, the GM 350 does use it.

IIRC, most of the 4.3'* also. But it may vary by body. Some had remote adapters placing the filter behind the headlight, and ran a shorter filter.