I changed my cabin A/C filter today....and found the new filter was much less robust than the one coming out. I ordered both the old and new from Sewell Lexus. Has the part changed? The old on had a nice solid plastic frame and dense looking filter medium. The new one had no frame and the material appeared much less dense..Has the part changed? Or, maybe I got the wrong one?

I think next time I will just buy some high density furnace filter and cut it to fit.

edit: This is for an 06 IS350

 

yes it has change. the new one does not have the carbon in it. it is cheaper. the only way to get the old ones is to find yourself an indy shop that still have them in stock, thats what i did anyway

 

They say that they no longer carry the carbon impregnated ones due to multiple customer complaints of a musty odor in the cabin

 

WIX Part # 24511 at rockauto.com is like $10 each and is charcoal impregnated and IMO better than the lexus part.

 

Wow I wish I never saw this post. I bought one from a local auto parts store for like 50 bucks

 

I just changed my cabin filter just recently too and got the new, cheap filter. I liked the old one better.

 

I thought the musty odor was caused by condensation/moisture in the evaporator.. growing mold that causes the smell..

I still cant believe our cars have this problem. Turning off the ac and leave the fan on couple mins before your destination to dry out the moisture is a sad way to avoid the smell. My previous 1993 Prelude or my wifes 1998 4runner doesnt even have this smelly problem. WTF Lexus?!

 

Bosch has one for the IS....~$20 from autozone.....

 

so which one is better, a carbon or non carbon one? i have the smell problem sometimes and want a filter that helps combat that--i am not ready to do the whole turn ac off blocks before thing...

thanks

 

The carbon would be better which would some of the smell - I currently have carbon in mine. Now if you have moldy like smell from the AC, consider getting mist service done to your car to eliminate what is trapped in the air system.

 

There are various filters available from Toyota/Lexus that will fit in the car, about 4-5 part numbers. The original Japanese-made Charcoal filter is still made, and is still available (at least in Canada). I just put one in last week.

87139-07010 - Factory USA-made Pollen Filter (Replaces Japan-made 87139-30040)
87139-50060 - Factory Japan-made Deodorant Filter (Charcoal)
87139-YZZ08 - MVP USA-made Pollen Filter
87139-YZZ10 - MVP USA-made Deodorant Filter (Charcoal)

87139-02090 - Factory USA-made Pollen Filter from other cars that happens to be the same size (Replaces Japan-made 87139-52020)

(MVP = Market Value Priced, they are cheaper than the factory filter alternatives available from Toyota/Lexus).

Jeff

 

http://www.amazon.com/Wix-24511-Filt...ar=1&carId=001

^ That's the one i bought. Fits perfectly and no more odors. Best $12 i ever spent on my car

 

+1 I ordered two (when they weren't on sale) and got free shipping. Ended up being cheaper than the sale price + shipping.