K&N Panel filter should NOt be difficult to install

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MSP & MS3
yet, for me, it proved to be sort've a b****. I mean, it still only took me maybe 3-5 minutes... but logic suggested it should only take 30 seconds!! Every other car I had got the same treatment. (why keep buying those crummy paper ones at jiffy lube?) And they were a piece of cake!! snap snap... insert.... snap snap done! hmm... sounds like a date I had once!! anywayz... after unsapping the 2... snaps on the right hand side, I began lifting the cover off.... because of the design on the left side, I had to first pull it to the right... no big deal. at least, not yet. I could only lift it off maybe a couple inches... just enough to grab the existing one and pull it out. as I did, the cover came slamming down! there's that much tension!! I thought nothing of it... I then slid the K&N in there. (model # 33-2134 like everyone has advised) I DID notice it seemed to be a tad thicker than the other... but didn't care.. until that part proved to be the b**** of it all!! after positioning it properly, I tried to put the cover back on the way it was. its' hard to describe but I know most of you know what I'm talking about! those freakin arch-like things on the left side of the box where you insert the piece of plastic that fits into them (see, I told you it would be hard to explaint) THAT is what caused the biggest problem! It just didnt' want to fit properly. I took the filter out and the thing went back together with ease. I infered it was obviously due to the thickness of the airfilter. I brought it back and they confirmed it's the right one. Well.... with some force, I at least got one of the 3 aformentioned archy things snapped in as well as the 2 clamps on the left. (that was the easy part) The question is... is that ok???? I'm sure it is... thing's pretty tight. certainly won't unclamp itself while driving or whatever... a little dissapointed this thing didn't pop in as easily as my other 9 million cars but oh well. Well that's all I have to say about that.
 
LOL. Same here. I fought those damn arch things for so long I was dripping sweat when I finished. What I did was, first I removed the MAF sensor tube from the airbox, then, braced the left side of the airbox with my left hand, angled the tabs kind of downward into the arch thingies, and pushed down and in while wiggling the lid a bit. Finally, it snapped into place in all three arches.

I had the airbox lid off without replacing the air filter, and it's still a b**** to get back on, even with the stock filter.

As far as it being OK to have only one tab in the arches, I dunno. I think I'd try to get 'em all in there one more time.
 
i had the same problem ya'll did but i can't leave thing's half assed so i kept playing with it and now the air box close's perfect but it's still a pain when i take it out.keep messin with it it will fit.try to flex the top of the air box so it's at an angle with "the arch's"
 
Guess I'll have to deal with this when I get back from florida and my box from Jegs is here :D I'm going to have a ton of parts sitting at home when I get home from my trip. I will have to make an "mod day" and put it all on hehe
 
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