I dont know where the first one of these went but I'll give you what I know but I don't have the pictures or anything of how to get to the OEM Air Filter and honestly don't feel like typing it out step by step and all that jazz. Maybe someone else will
Ok, I replaced my OEM Cabin Air cleaner/filter with a NON-OEM filter b/c the stock one is a total joke, its nothing but cheap Cardboard that's about 1" thick roughly. If you ever looked at a cardboard box and noticed how at the ends it has a honey-comb or Truss type of construction that is all this stupid OEM filter is, it's a total Joke and is WAY expensive for what it does, NOTHING.
Its only there to stop big things like leaves from getting into your car or AC system, a total joke. So things like allergens (pollen, mold, yada yada yada...), insects, bugs, spiders, moths, etc... all get in your car nice and easy like, hardly any resistance at all! What I did was go down to Home Depot to the Home Furnace Air Filter section. I suggest two they have there, one is low priced and will make lots and lots of filters and is also washable and reusable, the other is a bit higher priced and will easily make 4 filters, more than that and you need to have some good skills also it is not washable and reusable.
Before installing the new filter make sure to use your vaccum to clean out the whole area inside/near the blower, get all the leaves & junk you possibly can, you'll thank me later for this.
Filter #1
I don't remember the name, but it is a plastic like material (some sort of synthetic fiber of sorts) it is
BLUE in color (
color may vary) costs about $4 each and is a cut to fit type of filter. It only comes in one size for the home so people that buy it for their Furnace cut it to match the size of their old filter. It is very sturdy and looks to be quite well made. It will trap allergens & critters much much better than the OEM filter and has higher airflow and costs less, and is much much better than the OEM filter
Before installing the new filter make sure to use your vaccum to clean out the whole area inside/near the blower, get all the leaves & junk you possibly can, you'll thank me later for this.
Take your old cabin filter out, it's about 1" thick and is a pretty simple design. Put the OEM filter in one of the corners of the new filter, take a black sharpie pen (or other color easy to see) and trace the layout of the OEM filter on to the New filter with the sharpie. When done with that take your scissors or shears or whatever you have and cut it to fit. Be very careful with your cutting on this, you want it to be as close as possible to the OEM one, it's better for it to be 1mm larger than the OEM than any smaller/shorter/whatever. Your ready to install the new filter, have fun and enjoy better breathing & better AC flow.
Before installing the new filter make sure to use your vaccum to clean out the whole area inside/near the blower, get all the leaves & junk you possibly can, you'll thank me later for this.
Filter #2
At Home Depot for about $8-9 you can get the base line or "
RED" 3M filter home ac/furnace air filter. With this filter you get 4 chances at making a replacement filter to get rid of that crappy OEM filter wannabe. You might as well get the biggest size filter of that level,
remember to get the RED and RED only class filter by 3M, none of the others I saw at Home Depot were sturdy enough to make this project work. They all should be the same exact price for this level of filter from 3M, at least it was at my Home Depot. Anyway, you need to take the old OEM filter out and place it on top of the new 3M filter in one of the 4 corners. It has a arrow showing the proper direction of airflow, if memory serves me the little wire mesh backing goes towards the blower motor itself, or towards the passenger side of the car on G2 Legends. Since this filter or any other like it isn't sturdy enough on its own to hold up to the forces generated in any Forced Air system, it has cardboard backing all the way around it, as well as some little cardboard strips going over the entire filter in a X type of pattern if my memory serves me.
Before installing the new filter make sure to use your vaccum to clean out the whole area inside/near the blower, get all the leaves & junk you possibly can, you'll thank me later for this.
You want to make this new filter so that the bottom and the back of the New filter has the hard cardboard backing on it so it will slide in really easy and not get caught up on anything or not cover the entire distance of the opening. So when you place your OEM filter on the 3M filter keep that in mind before you mark or cut anything. If you have to, visualize it in your head or sit inside the car while you do this so you don't forget which way it goes in. Also remember to make sure your following the airflow pattern properly (pretty sure it's with the wire mesh towards the Passenger side door or towards the blower, mind you I only know for the G2 Legend), trace your OEM filter onto the New 3M filter with your sharpie. Cut it with a pair of scissors or shears or whatever you have that will make a nice clean perfect cut line. The cut phase is so very important, if you cut it with the wrong side facing up or make a sloppy cut your not going to get a good seal & your wasting your time.
It is very important that you leave ALL the cardboard material that supports the filter on it, do NOT remove it unless you are very clever and creative & good with your hands b/c you'll need to reinforce it some other way if you take the cardboard off it. This includes the cardboard on both sides of the filter going in an "X" pattern (pretty sure it was an X pattern) leave it on as well, do NOT remove ANY of the cardboard unless you want more work cut out for you. Now your ready to install the filter with the cardboard on the bottom and the back, it should slide in tightly but w/o problems Just don't push it in by holding onto the filter part of it use the cardboard to use as a push device.
Before installing the new filter make sure to use your vaccum to clean out the whole area inside/near the blower, get all the leaves & junk you possibly can, you'll thank me later for this.
YOUR DONE!!! Enjoy nice, clean, allergen-free breathable air. If you would rather have me make you one and ship it to you just email me and we'll work something out. If I get enough requests I'll split the costs up between those interested.
whatac[email protected]
If your a very daring kind of guy and are very good with your hands & at making precision things you can remove all the cardboard backing & make a wood frame that is EXACTLY the same size as the OEM filter dimentions, it's not very easy and it'll take some thought into it, but if your good at making things out of wood & are good with your hands, have a creative mind, etc... you'll be just fine. email me if you have any questions or concerns.
OEM Cabin Air Filter Replacement with NON Oem Filter
haha
About the only other way to get a better smell is to be out driving after the rain has been pouring down for more than half an hour 
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