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Old 08-26-2006, 09:29 PM   #1
GD8
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Default Cabin air filter alternative for 04 impreza (may fit other years)

For the guys that doesn't have access to a subaru dealer but have a typical car parts store in your town (ex: Fort McMurray), I have found a solution for your cabin air filter need and save you some $$.

I know for a fact the Subaru Impreza cabin air filter is not made commercially and are only available at the dealer. So I did some hunting around, I went to Nappa, Auto Value etc.. and found nothing. So I talked to the parts rep at Canadian tire and he allowed me to go to his back shelf and try to match an air filter of similar size. One hour later after opening every possible box and found a filter that worked.

Filter made for: Mercedes
Made by: micronAir
Part Number at Canadian tire: 23-3855-4
Filter Model number: MB01137P

When you get the filter you will need to cut one end so it fits in your air filter compartment:

Steps:
1. Take your filter out of box (duh...), you will notice one end of the filter is sloped. (Imagine a triangle glued to a rectangle)
2. What you want to do is to cut out the triangle half leaving you a rectangle shape
2. Measure 12.5 cementers from the bottom edge of the triangle and mark the filter.
3. Cut across the filter following the folds and you got your self a cabin air filter that fits
4. Follow the instructions in your owners manual to install the air filter


Some points: (filter at Canadian tire vs. Factory)
-This filter costs $20, I think the factory one is around $35 ish+
-$20 filter is better quality, denser fibers
-$20 filter is much more rigid in construction
-$20 filter has air flow check flaps surrounding all four borders

Ummm.. I think we have a winner
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Old 08-28-2006, 11:52 AM   #2
bigbear522
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The subaru filter is way more then $35, I believe it was almost $70
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Old 08-28-2006, 02:38 PM   #3
GD8
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^ I knew it was expensive. But I bought my oem filter at cost which was around that price. Trust me this filter is better in every way shape and form.

Last edited by GD8; 08-28-2006 at 02:58 PM.
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Old 08-28-2006, 05:53 PM   #4
benyl
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Does replacing this get rid of the smell when you turn off the air conditioning?
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Old 08-28-2006, 06:32 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by benyl View Post
Does replacing this get rid of the smell when you turn off the air conditioning?
I don't think it will because the smell comes from the evaporator area (mold related I believe). Not even sure where that is in the Subrau. The one in our VW is not accessible and the only (cheap) way that seems to help with that smell is to turn the fan on full blast and spray a whole bunch of Lysol into the AC air intake to try and kill the mold.

There is a commercial product to do this but can't remember the name.

To prevent the smell (mold build-up) I turn off the AC some minutes before my destination and let the fans dry out the evaporator.
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Old 08-28-2006, 09:15 PM   #6
02WHITEDUB
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Default Or...

You can also make 6 filters out of one furnace panel filter. You never see them so who cares about the ghetto mod aspect? It's just an air filter for the cabin.

I got some info from the thread below and decided to try it.

EDIT: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...t=cabin+filter

The gist of that ^ thread:
1: Buy home panel filter - Top rated by Consumer Reports = 3M Filtrete (1250,1000, or 600) <-in that order
2: Mark out 4 shapes of 8.25" x 7.375"
3: Note airflow direction on each piece
4: Cut using heavy-duty shears or snips
5: Wrap edges with duct tape or cloth tape
6: Install

I went to Home Depot today and had 3 pleasant surprises.
First, They had the newest, bestest, 3M 1500 Maximum Allergen
Second, A 2-pack was $42.39 incl. GST
Third, They were oversized @ 25" x 20" (1" thick) so I could now get 6/panel instead of 4!


I cut them with some good scissors I didn't care about nicking up...tin snips were too clumsy. I also peeled/cut back most of the cardboard on the faces of the filters but I left the vertical edge for strength. I've only peeled the left side in the pic.


I little duct tape and here's what I've got. It's pretty rigid!


Perfect fit! Snug on all sides!

I spent $45 for 12 filters. That's $3.75/filter!

Last edited by 02WHITEDUB; 09-04-2006 at 02:01 AM.
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Old 08-29-2006, 02:04 PM   #7
GD8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Airboy View Post
I don't think it will because the smell comes from the evaporator area (mold related I believe). Not even sure where that is in the Subrau. The one in our VW is not accessible and the only (cheap) way that seems to help with that smell is to turn the fan on full blast and spray a whole bunch of Lysol into the AC air intake to try and kill the mold.

There is a commercial product to do this but can't remember the name.

To prevent the smell (mold build-up) I turn off the AC some minutes before my destination and let the fans dry out the evaporator.
SOC also have something that gets rid of the AC smell. But be very very careful. I go them to do it once and it took paint off the interior trim. SOC had to replace the trim.
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Old 09-04-2006, 02:05 AM   #8
02WHITEDUB
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^^Updated post 2 up^^

Works great! No noticeable loss in fan pressure.
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Old 09-12-2006, 11:25 AM   #9
VoltesV
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"02Whitedub" that's a great mod to replace the cabin filter. The only question I have is that what is orientation of the fiter, with respect to air flow of the A/C system? Is the filter installed with the airflow pointing down? It would help if the airflow directions that you marked were visible on your picture when you showed the filter installed.
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Old 09-15-2006, 02:25 AM   #10
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Just did this tonight! So simple! THANKS!
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Old 09-18-2006, 12:21 AM   #11
02WHITEDUB
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VoltesV View Post
"02Whitedub" that's a great mod to replace the cabin filter. The only question I have is that what is orientation of the fiter, with respect to air flow of the A/C system? Is the filter installed with the airflow pointing down? It would help if the airflow directions that you marked were visible on your picture when you showed the filter installed.
Airflow in the car goes from top to bottom of the slot.
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Old 09-18-2006, 01:27 AM   #12
Chp_Stix
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ohhh SNAP subaru house hold filter FTW!!
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Old 03-15-2007, 02:03 PM   #13
lh0628
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bump to a good thread.
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Old 03-15-2007, 02:52 PM   #14
02WHITEDUB
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w00t

I'll be changing my first one out pretty soon - I'll take a pic of the used one.
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Old 03-15-2007, 02:53 PM   #15
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Where abouts does this filter go? I would like to replace mine as I never have in the 1+ year I have had my car. I dont know if the previous owner did it either.
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Old 03-15-2007, 03:30 PM   #16
GrantC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pee_Sack View Post
Where abouts does this filter go? I would like to replace mine as I never have in the 1+ year I have had my car. I dont know if the previous owner did it either.
Behind your glovebox.

2 (i think plastic rivet things)

7 (i think screws)

voila!

While you're in there you can disable your DRL too.
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Old 03-15-2007, 03:46 PM   #17
tscanuck
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Do 2.5i's have this filter too?
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Old 03-15-2007, 03:47 PM   #18
02WHITEDUB
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^^Almost certainly^^
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Old 03-15-2007, 04:00 PM   #19
GrantC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tscanuck View Post
Do 2.5i's have this filter too?
I believe they have the holder for it, but it may have not had a filter in it. As it was an option on the non-turbo models.
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Old 03-16-2007, 01:40 AM   #20
lh0628
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I think there are a total of 9 screws and one plastic thing on the right.

I've seen two ways with this though. Some claim to put the filter above the blower fan like this post. And some say that they put two filters (one on top of each other) on the left of the blower fan.

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Old 08-05-2007, 09:12 PM   #21
02WHITEDUB
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Now with more clunks!

Default Update:

So I changed my first DIY cabin-air filter today:

19,000 kms - 10 months

Before:



After:

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Old 08-06-2007, 11:43 AM   #22
Zuffy
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Nice! Looks like they really do catch a lot of crap. Gotta do that too now.
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Old 08-06-2007, 02:05 PM   #23
02WHITEDUB
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zuffy View Post
Nice! Looks like they really do catch a lot of crap. Gotta do that too now.
If you do install one, make sure to change it semi-regularly. My fan pressure increased quite a bit after putting in a clean one. It had weakened so slowly that I didn't notice it was kinda weak until I put in a new one.
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Old 02-23-2008, 02:27 PM   #24
BruceDude
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...
...
...

Last edited by BruceDude; 04-11-2021 at 10:13 PM. Reason: ...
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Old 02-23-2008, 03:31 PM   #25
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Daytime Running Lights.
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