Just changed my fuel filter for second time during my ownership this morning before work. Dont know what all the fuss is about.

The new filter (Mahle KL 581) came with 4 blanking plugs to blank off the 4 fuel pipes when disconnected. Put new filter in vice to hold it steady, then attached a length of fuel hose to the largest male fuel union on the filter, connected a small funnel to the hose, slowly filled it with fuel until it came out of the female connection, fitted it back on the car, removed the blanking plugs from hoses, reconnected them and started it up. Job done. It took me 24 minutes from start to finish.

Yes, but some don't know that those 4 little plugs (especially the one on the feeding line) are crucial in order for the fuel to not run down/back to the tank and therefore end up with an empty pipe, full of air...

I just stuck my new filter in a bucket of fuel, until bubbles stopped.
Total filter change about 23.5 minutes from start to completion

I live in a no fuss enviroment.

Joe Fix it until it's broke !

Forgot to say, my 24 minutes included going to the cafe for a full English breakfast.

Presumably the baked beans assisted the starting process, were you standing near the air intake after breakfast?  3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Cheers for the info guys, copied joe's idea

After I'd put it all back together I noticed in the manual it shows a drain pipe for the water drain off on the bottom of the filter, does this pipe need to be pushed back in to the bottom of the filter because I can't remember seeing it when I took the old one out? (No. 6)

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Thought it would be interesting to see what a 4 year old fuel filter looked like on the inside, very dirty, defiantly needs changing at the designated time.

Click image to enlarge

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