A Better Quality Cabin air filter?

[Buzzer777]

Has anyone ever located a higher quality cabin air filter for the CX-5?
I used to buy from www.filterheads.com but they do not appear to have one for the newer Mazdas...I find the quality of the oem filter INSULTING!
I do not mind paying for quality, but these are complete rubbish!

 

[brillo54]

I see that napaonline.com has a replacement in their Gold series (usually a WIX filter). I haven't tried it, so I can't speak to its quality but it's an alternative.

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/Cabin-Air-Filter/_/R-FIL4103_0503207466

 

[Buzzer777]

Thanks Brillo...

I see that napaonline.com has a replacement in their Gold series (usually a WIX filter). I haven't tried it, so I can't speak to its quality but it's an alternative.

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/Cabin-Air-Filter/_/R-FIL4103_0503207466

Might give it a try but It really appears to be like the oem...was hoping for heavier duty, and maybe Baking soda and/or charcoal.

After examining the current filter, it appears that Mazda cut a few more corners (cost) to save the outer cover/door present on most other brands, in favor of a funky clip affair attached to the front of the filter (like a poorly designed handle?). That makes it unique and we can't use a more universal filter shared by other autos! That is probably why we do not have many other choices.(low volume with not fitting other cars)

Just spoke with Filterheads and they say they will have a CX-5 available by the time I change out the next time...Maybe 6-12 months..
The air gets really dirty around here as the seasons change and the wind picks up..especially with the dry conditions caused by the drought.

To make matters worse, the desert air is filled with very fine dirt, and soot from the fires in California...
Luckily I have electrostatic filtration for the house + a portable Austin Hepa filter (I think the best available)

 

[MikeM.]

Might give it a try but It really appears to be like the oem...was hoping for heavier duty, and maybe Baking soda and/or charcoal.

Baking soda/charcoal is mostly a gimmick. The volume of air that passes through a cabin air filter is so large that it would take impractical amounts of carbon and or soda to avoid becoming loaded up and ineffective in a short amount of driving time. Unless you are a hypochondriac and don't mind replacing the expensive filter every month.

After examining the current filter, it appears that Mazda cut a few more corners (cost) to save the outer cover/door present on most other brands, in favor of a funky clip affair attached to the front of the filter (like a poorly designed handle?).

IMO, this is good engineering because it reduces the part count of little parts subject to breakage like hinges and latches while simultaneously making filter replacement quicker and more fool-proof. And yet it works just as well as units that use a hinged door.

That makes it unique and we can't use a more universal filter shared by other autos! That is probably why we do not have many other choices.(low volume with not fitting other cars)

It's true, there is a very large variety of cabin air filters but this is not unique to CX-5 or Mazda.

The Napa filter referenced above has a proprietary bacteria/mold inhibitor. If you don't want that you can buy a GKI brand air filter. Or, maybe you would like one made by OEM for only $11 https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

Or you might prefer an actual Mazda OEM filter. The choice is yours. Maybe you only want to spend $9.87 and get AmazonPrime free shipping? Then the EcoGard for the CX-5 is your obvious choice: https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

Maybe you want one offered with a little more upscale name like "Hastings" and believe you always get what you pay for? At $22 the Hastings AFC1588 fits the bill: https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)

Perhaps you are a Wix man? Go for this one under $20: https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)


But maybe you just like to b**** and moan about a problem that doesn't exist. Whatever you do, don't roll your window down because then you will be breathing the same unfiltered air you were breathing before you got in your car (unless you make it a habit to wear one of these 24/7)

 

[VETJAZZ]

$16.38

http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2015/mazda/cx5/air_intake/cabin_air_filter.html

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

After this week I will be swapping mine out with this WIX 24103 I picked up on eBay.

 

[old-school]

Buzzer777:

Haven't replaced ours yet and the CX-5 is out of town right now so I don't have access to it to see what it's made of.

If it's a polyester filter you can get away with a wash/rinse/dry/reuse to give it an extra round, mabye two. Try it before you poo poo the idea. We've done this with our well water filter and with a non essential filters on the Escape hybrid (260,000 miles) with no issues. I would caution against doing this with the intake filter, ok!!!!!

On the other hand just buy the cheapest that will fit and replace as needed. Or try Med Center for OEM parts, good prices and free if you order $100 of goodies, oil change or two, couple intake and cabin filters ought get to you there.

 

[Buzzer777]

Thank you old school

Buzzer777:

Haven't replaced ours yet and the CX-5 is out of town right now so I don't have access to it to see what it's made of.

If it's a polyester filter you can get away with a wash/rinse/dry/reuse to give it an extra round, mabye two. Try it before you poo poo the idea. We've done this with our well water filter and with a non essential filters on the Escape hybrid (260,000 miles) with no issues. I would caution against doing this with the intake filter, ok!!!!!

On the other hand just buy the cheapest that will fit and replace as needed. Or try Med Center for OEM parts, good prices and free if you order $100 of goodies, oil change or two, couple intake and cabin filters ought get to you there.

I was able to vacuum out the larger debris from my oem filter, but what I was after was something with more filtration. The air is really on and off (good-poor) due to the huge fires in California. If stagnation were to occur in the valley, we get a temperature inversion trapping ALL the dirt down low. That happened a couple of years ago and it was really hard just breathing for weeks! It was so bad, that I would only let my dogs out for a few minutes at a time to relieve themselves. This time (so far) the air is still moving so air quality has not gotten that bad yet!

I really want to have a spare cabin filter on hand, just in case and am willing to pay for it! (Better quality that is). I am still doubtful as to the oem's abilty to filter out the really small stuff... Does not look like I will locate a Charcoal/Baking Soda one though.

When this filter is pretty far gone, and I replace it (probably w/ Wix or Napa Gold), I will try to wash it and see.(I think it is probably NOT poly though). I will also purchase a 3m Filtrite house furnace filter and cut it down, to see if that might work better...Have done it before with decent results)

BTW...I would never try that with an engine air filter...I replace those usually at 12 months or 20k miles...(not about to risk that fine engine). They are not expensive and our engines have to breath too!! LOL (Would not use K&N either!!!) Even without the fires, desert air is not the cleanest!
Thanks again,
Regards...

 

[Buzzer777]

Hi Kedis82ZE8:

How do you like the quality of the Wix? Wix usually sells decent stuff...
Your picture appears to be similar to the oem filter, element wise...
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Off Topic:
I would have to use another source, since I unloaded Ebay and Paypal years ago, due to a massive identity theft attempt on me! That was pretty scary and the attack came from Eastern Europe (organized)...(long story)...Forced me to begin using 1password for the PC, Imac, and IOS devices!
BTW: I installed Win10 on one PC and a laptop...Better than 8.1 but...OS X still wins IMHO.

 

[old-school]

Buzzer777:

Nice, like the idea of alternative sources. Mind sharing your thoughts on the house filter. I can see some advantages. Cold air returns want high volume - low velocity, while many claim to filter pollen, dust etc... Sealing may be an issue in the alt fitment?

 

[MikeM.]

I really want to have a spare cabin filter on hand, just in case and am willing to pay for it! (Better quality that is). I am still doubtful as to the oem's abilty to filter out the really small stuff... Does not look like I will locate a Charcoal/Baking Soda one though.

The Corteco W0133-1940039 (linked to above by VetJazz) is activated charcoal even if it does cost more than the others. But, like I mentioned, it's mostly a gimmick due to there not being enough charcoal to last long enough to make much of a difference unless it's changed all the time. Before it was legal to grow the green herb, growers used to use activated charcoal filters to filter the EXHAUST air from their grow rooms. My friend worked in a (legal) factory in Seattle that manufactured these charcoal filters. If I recall, they had around 20 pounds of charcoal in each filter, cost around $80 each (would be double that today) and needed replacing every couple of weeks when the plants were flowering. This was for a bedroom sized operation. But, if replaced regularly, they did remove most of the fragrance from the exhausted air which helped keep the rip-off bandits and law enforcement at bay.


My one concern with any non-OEM filter is that it not be overly restrictive. This can increase the load on your climate control fan and reduce airflow. But it's fairly inconvenient to measure this without specialized equipment.

 

[Buzzer777]

Thanks MikeM

The Corteco W0133-1940039 (linked to above by VetJazz) is activated charcoal even if it does cost more than the others. But, like I mentioned, it's mostly a gimmick due to there not being enough charcoal to last long enough to make much of a difference unless it's changed all the time. Before it was legal to grow the green herb, growers used to use activated charcoal filters to filter the EXAUST air from their grow rooms. My friend worked in a (legal) factory in Seattle that manufactured these charcoal filters. If I recall, they had around 20 pounds of charcoal in each filter, cost around $80 each (would be double that today) and needed replacing every couple of weeks when the plants were flowering. This was for a bedroom sized operation. But, if replaced regularly, they did remove most of the fragrance from the exhausted air which helped keep the rip-off bandits and law enforcement at bay.


My one concern with any non-OEM filter is that it not be overly restrictive. This can increase the load on your climate control fan and reduce airflow. But it's fairly inconvenient to measure this without specialized equipment.

Know what you mean...I have an Austin Air REAL Hepa home air filter (not like the BS Honeywell units!)...The element has a 5 year lifespan and weighs a ton! It also has a rather Heavy Charcoal layer in it, before the air gets to the Hepa element! Yeah, they are expensive, but IMHO, well worth the $$. They even have a core charge when you replace the element...like a battery or radiator!

When it comes to my comfort, I spare no expense...ie: the unit is now over $500 (I have owned the same one for over 15 years!), and the filters are a bit over $200!!! But damn...I put it in the bedroom and the air is sweet, as the REAL charcoal layer strips out all odors! (wish there was something like it for the CX-5)

 

[Buzzer777]

Buzzer777:

Nice, like the idea of alternative sources. Mind sharing your thoughts on the house filter. I can see some advantages. Cold air returns want high volume - low velocity, while many claim to filter pollen, dust etc... Sealing may be an issue in the alt fitment?

As far as the house filter, I have a pair of (non-electric) electrostatic furnace (A/C) filters in the ductwork. Have had them for over 10 years and they are washable to boot. When it gets really bad, pollen etc, I break out the Portable Austin Air Hepa filter, which does about 1000 sq ft and is on wheels. They are very pricey (over $500) but built like a tank!! We are talking some really serious filtration. (see my other post above). BTW: Austin Air builds the entire unit including metal bending in Austin Texas! Not in China!!!
http://austinair.com/

 

[Buzzer777]

thank you VETJAZZ

$16.38

http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2015/mazda/cx5/air_intake/cabin_air_filter.html

Thanks for the link...Forgot about Partsgeek...They have a nice selection and I will try the Corteco.
Despite what MikeM says, it is worth the shot for a couple of bucks!

MikeM ...lighten up...as some of us get a bit older, sometimes simple things ,like breathing, become a bit more difficult...especially at higher altitudes! (we are above 5000ft above sea level here, not to mention my trips to Lake Tahoe...like 7000ft+)

 

[MikeM.]

MikeM ...lighten up...as some of us get a bit older, sometimes simple things ,like breathing, become a bit more difficult...especially at higher altitudes! (we are above 5000ft above sea level here, not to mention my trips to Lake Tahoe...like 7000ft+)

A cabin air filter, no matter how much charcoal it has, is not going to help with altitude induced breathing difficulty. For that you need an oxygen tank which comes with it's own fire safety and cost issues. But if you need it, talk to your doctor. It might be worth it. Medical grade oxygen is well filtered too.