I've just been servicing my car this week. Got almost a full tank of petrol so I'll have a week before I attempt to change the filter

 

Needless to say the securing screw on the plastic housing will need drilled off. I am also puzzled by the large rusty circlip. Is it holding the filter on to the plastic bracket too? 

 

Any advice from anyone would be appreciated. I get the idea with the fuel lines, so hopefully they'll detach ok, but any advice on the bracket, or more importantly re-securing the bracket (esp after drilling screw head off..) appreciated. Thanks

 

 

Looks to me like the clip is part of the filter, possibly holding in a pressure regulator valve.

That clip doesn't come off.

Remove the black clips at either end of the fuel filter and put the new one in its place.

Thanks for replies

 

Well, unfortunately I ended up putting the old filter back in place just now

 

Drilled the rusty screw holding the plastic housing, that went ok. Got the single pipe off one end of the end of the filter with just the one pipe ok, but I couldn't get the blue marked pipe off. Grrr! Ended up trying thin pliers but no help. Now got a bit of an indentation in the release "button." Had a few tries using just fingers and some strength but no luck. Dare say could've forced it but felt pretty unsure if it'd re-fit without leaking.

 

It appears to still be tight from leaks than goodness after some messing about....

 

They are odd slightly fragile looking clips within the pipe fitting (I got a good look at the one which came off ok). I dare say it might seal on ok if I had forced it off, but I dunno. Dunno what is best now. Probably leave it alone!!