Aftermarket Gen 4 Cabin Air Filters available in 3 years?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by davide, Aug 19, 2017.

  1. davide

    davide Junior Member

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    It would be nice to replace my 2012 Prius C with a brand new 2017 "Liftback" Prius, but that's not realistic right now. Let's say I buy a used 2017 model in 3 years. I've learned that Cabin Air Filters for Gen 4 models (2016-2017) are available only from dealers currently---at high prices.
    What do you think, folks: Are Gen 4 cabin air filters likely to be available in the aftermarket---I'm impressed with the Bosch brand---3 years from now? :rolleyes:
     
    #1 davide, Aug 19, 2017
  2. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    Perhaps you were given an installed price. The original cabin air filter for a 2016–2017 Prius or Prius Prime, Toyota part number 87139-28020, has a list price of $20.99 and is sold by several U.S. dealers for $15 or so.
    They are available now in Japan from three different suppliers, as I mentioned in a previous thread. As for Bosch, I’ll say only that we’ve amicably resolved our differences, and while I suppose I might buy a copy of their Automotive Handbook or other technical books, I’m unlikely to purchase any of their products for my car.

    It’s windshields that should interest you, by the way, if you’re concerned about service parts availability.
     
    #2 Elektroingenieur, Aug 20, 2017
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  3. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Senior Member

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    Yeah, dealers will charge you $75 or so to do 2 minutes worth of work involving the cabin air filter. Learn to do it yourself and save some money.
     
    #3 CooCooCaChoo, Aug 20, 2017
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are you really making your car buying decisions based on availability of aftermarket cabin filters?:p
     
    #4 bisco, Aug 20, 2017
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  5. davide

    davide Junior Member

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    Good point, Bisco! I just want to have alternatives when it comes to parts.
    Without opening a new thread, let me ask this:
    How easy/difficult is installing (DIY) a new Cabin Air Filter in a Gen 4 Prius? (I ask because I just went through installing a Bosch filter in my Prius C....Even though there was a helpful YouTube video, I had to ask my car-savvy neighbor to do it for me....He's younger & stronger, and even though he had a little "crowbar" to use on the glove box's left side, even HE really struggled before finally disconnecting the glove box!
     
    #5 davide, Aug 20, 2017
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Wait a sec, you're supposed to change that filter? I've taken ours out and knocked the junk off it a couple times now.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Aug 20, 2017
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if you're going to all the labor to get to it...:cool: but as far as gen 4, i hope it's easier, i hare doing mine. feel like everything is going to break.
     
    #7 bisco, Aug 20, 2017
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  8. davide

    davide Junior Member

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    Mendel, you gotta realize: We don't live in pristine B.C. Real soot---what Al Gore calls "black carbon"---comes out of bus tailpipes down here! My car's maintenance guidebook recommends that we "replace cabin air filter" at 30k or 36 months. Though I've got "just" between 36k & 37k miles, it's been almost exactly 5 years since I drove my beloved Prius C home from the dealer.
    I just checked my trash basket. Assuming the filter's pleats were white originally....it's all very dark grey now, with some little leaves stuck in there. IMHO, it was time to protect this baby-boomer's "precious bodily fluids" (in my lungs) with a really good filter!
    Maybe it's too early to get responses from owners of Gen 4 cars as to whether it's any easier to disconnect the glove box.
     
    #8 davide, Aug 20, 2017
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Precious bodily fluids...: watched that one the other night. :)

    Hey where's Major Caan??!
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Aug 20, 2017
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  10. Tbkilb01

    Tbkilb01 Active Member

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    Start at $3 on RockAuto...
     
    #10 Tbkilb01, Aug 20, 2017
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  11. davide

    davide Junior Member

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    Mendel, I have a serious question: I saw your post from last January saying "Every year or two I take (the cabin air filter) out and blow some compressed air through it." I live in an apt. Where do you go to get compressed air? A friend who works at Canadian Tire?
     
    #11 davide, Aug 21, 2017
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Wet/dry vacuum on blow. A proper compressor would be nice though.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Aug 21, 2017
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  13. davide

    davide Junior Member

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    Elekro: I wasn't aware that Bosch was involved in that despicable Volkswagen scandal. I pursued that link you provided and read through some of the legalese, but couldn't find a description of exactly what Bosch allegedly did. Did they provide the "defeat device software" to Volkswagen?
     
    #13 davide, Aug 21, 2017
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  14. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    Not too early at all—I had no trouble doing it, using the procedure in the Repair Manual.
    That’s what the plaintiffs claimed. From the court’s May 17, 2017 order (PDF) approving the class action settlement:

    “As alleged, Bosch worked closely with Volkswagen to develop and supply the defeat device for use in Volkswagen’s vehicles. Despite having knowledge of Volkswagen’s illicit use of the defeat device, Bosch continued to work with Volkswagen and even concealed the defeat device in communications with U.S. regulators when concerns were raised about the emission control systems in certain Volkswagen vehicles. While Volkswagen has publicly admitted wrongdoing, Bosch continues to deny wrongdoing.”​

    Without admitting liability, Bosch paid $327.5 million (plus certain administrative expenses) to settle the matter.
     
    #14 Elektroingenieur, Aug 21, 2017
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  15. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO: car-savvy and can't even do a 10 second job like take out the glove box without a struggle and a crow-bar ! :eek:
    I wouldn't let him do any work on my car. :cautious:
     
    #15 kithmo, Aug 21, 2017
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  16. pilotgrrl

    pilotgrrl Senior Member

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    I know there has been much dislike expressed for K&N, but they do make cabin and engine air filters for the 2016 Prius and on.
     
    #16 pilotgrrl, Aug 25, 2017
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  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    keep in mind, a cabin filter impregnated with charcoal is grey from the factory.
     
    #17 bisco, Aug 25, 2017
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