Help with oil filter removal

I have a 2004 C320 4Matic. I turned the oil filter cap and pulled out the filter. It came out with a long plastic stem. How do I get the filter separated from between the long plastic stem and the filter housing cover? I tried turning, pulling gently, I don't want to break anything!
Thanks!

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I got lucky from extensive searching and found the answer to my question. I'm posting it so that other newbies, like myself, won't have such a hard time adjusting to tooling around our Benz.
As I thought, it ended up being very easy. All I had to do was to twist and pull the filter straight off the long shaft. Then slide the new one back on. Very simple!

Hopefully, you oil filter "kit" came with the three O-rings that go on the black plastic long tube.
It isn't life or death if you don't replace them, but why not. A little oil on them makes the job easier.

When you buy the filter does it come as a kit? Can you get it from a regular autoparts store? What brand is best or trusted for Mercedes?
 
My mother has a C230 that is now out of warranty serrvice. I plan on doing all the maitenance for now on as the car will become my daily driver.
 
Where is everyone getting manuals for their Mercedes? Helms?

Yes, when you buy the filter, they give you the O-rings. I buy Hengst filters on the web. I can't buy them here in the local auto parts store, and even if I could, I don't think I could get them for the price I pay on the internet, since I usually buy a few at a time or with something else to avoid shipping charges. I think I pay about ten bucks each. You can look them up at www.autopartswarehouse.com if you want to.
If you need any tips for changing oil or fuel filter, I have posted on this site and you can do a search. Hope this helps.

You can order Mann filters on the Web from www.germanfilters.com  Excellent service and prices.  Mann is an OEM for M-B.  The oil filters are designed to last for extended periods to handle full syntheic oil extended range oil changes.