Product review (3 stars): Having a really good grip on the filter seemed to help
As other reviews have indicated, this filter is extremely difficult to install. I was ready to give up and return the filters to Amazon when I decided to give it one last try. After reading advice from other reviews, I put on a pair of rubber gloves, aligned the filter and gave it a hard turn.  Lo and behold, it worked! I didn't modify the plastic bits, and I am not entirely sure if this was a total fluke. Having a really good grip on the filter seemed to help.