coarsegoldkid Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 I read all that I found on this forum regarding the cabin filter and I can say this forum's members are great. With all the pictures available the PITA filter looks manageable. I intend to get to it. Yesterday I was at my Sub dealer and asked the service writer about the kit and install cost just to hear his response. When I got home I wrote the following email to Subaru. I own a '05 Legacy Sedan GT Limited vin number 4S3BL676354218768. I inquired at my local dealer about changing the cabin filter and if any retro fit kits exist for it. The service writer said No kits. He also told me for $50 for the filter and $85 for labor they will change it. Wow for an air filter. I have read on the Legacy Forum where many owners have replaced the filter but it was unclear as to which '05 Legacys had retro fit kits and which did not. Can you help me figure this out by the VIN number. Oh, why did Subaru make a cabin filter so difficult to change? joe harvey Subaru response Thank you for taking the time to contact us. I am sorry for this experience at Herwaldt Subaru. We do appreciate that you brought this situation to our attention. We do offer retrofit kits for the air filtration system (cabin air filter) for our 2005 Legacy and Outback models. Some of our 2005 Legacy and Outback models are equipped to just accept the air filtration system. Those that were manufactured early in the production year, such as your 2005 Legacy Sedan, there is a retrofit kit. The part number is SOA342L500. This part is available at our Parts Warehouses and can be purchased through any authorized Subaru dealership. With this message, I have attached the installation instructions for this retrofit kit, so that you can see how it is installed. I am sorry, as I cannot advise of why this filter was designed and is installed as it is. Thank you for the opportunity to be of assistance. If you need any future assistance, please let us know. So there we have from the horses mouth. But writers on this fourm that tread the waters before me didn't you discover that the retro fit kit of the part number given in Subaru's response was discontinued. Guess I'll just follow what the adventurous among you did for the rest of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deneb Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Interesting! Would you be able to attach the instructions for this? Out of curiousity, where in CA is Corsegold? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Even with the retrofit kit, it's still PITA to change the filter, about 15 minutes. Being a mechanical engineer, my best guess would be something got messed up during the design phase and the air filter had to be relocated. If the entire assembly was about 5" to the left, the filter would come right out when you pull out the cubby that the owners manual sits in. As far as the filter, some of us just take household HVAC air filter and cut to fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coarsegoldkid Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share Posted January 4, 2007 Coarsegold, CA is about 30 miles due north of Fresno in a wide spot on Hwy 41. Roughly one hour from Yosemite National Park. Attached is the document sent by Subaru. Sorry I'm doing something wrong because the attachement will not attach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zmarko Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Attached is the document sent by Subaru. Sorry I'm doing something wrong because the attachement will not attach. I don't believe you can attatch a document file. Just copy and paste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coarsegoldkid Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share Posted January 4, 2007 The only parts of the document I could copy and paste are below. None of the diagrams could be c & p. Not much help. PART NUMBER: SOA342L500 DESCRIPTION: 2005MY LEGACY AIR FILTRATION CONVERSION KIT KIT CONTENTS: 1) Installation Instructions 2) Filter Carrier (PN: 73553AG02B) 3) Glove Box Trim Panel (PN: 66208AG02B) 4) Air Filter Element Including Service Label and Caution Label (PN: G3210AG000) TOOLS REQUIRED: 1) Slotted Screwdriver 2) Phillips Screwdriver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinjockey Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I thought the conversion kit was discussed a while back... You probably don't need the conversion kit, likely just the filter. You MAY have the Filter Holder/Carrier and the Glove Box Trim Panel won't make it any easier/faster to change the filter. I ended up doing it and found that I already had the updated (later build date - 373xxx than yours). If you have any section of cloth in the back the glove box you most likely have the updated parts. Even w/o it you likely have the filter carrier in there. If you don't have the carrier I've got an extra I could ship you. Also there is an article on how to install the Filter which was better than the write up that Subaru provided... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montana Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 I posted a write up while following the Subie directions and I posted photos from this change and I looked at the difference between our '05 and '06. The black cloth piece covers a hole on the plastic firewall panel that runs from behind the glove box to the floor. If you have this cloth piece, you do not need to disassemble the dash or console at all, you go in from the right edge of the glove box. It's still PITA because the hole doesn't align with the carrier. The engineering concept was obviously to have it slide out but they missed. http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18263 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opie Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 If you want a better fitting and better looking solution to the air filtration difficulty for your early 2005 (and 2006-2007 with the silly cloth cover) you can update all models to the new 2008 style. The 2008 style has an all new molded rear glove box section and a molded plastic door that covers the filter tray area that is held in place with 5 pop-its. Much cleaner looking and more solidly put together. It still takes about 10 minutes to change the filter but is a huge improvement over the 2005 non-design and the '06-'07 hacked-cloth design. I installed all the '08 parts in my early '05 today, took about 40 minutes total (I was taking my time). Didn't get any pic's because I wasn't sure it would work, but since it did I will also be ordering the same parts for my wife Legacy and will photo document the install at that time. 2008 Parts needed: Glove box back panel - 66208AG07A Air filtration access cover - 66241AG29A 5 Clip's (pop-its) - 909140037 Pocket cushion - 66153GA000 2 Tapping Scews - 904500025 and of course a replacement cabin filter - G3210AG000 Total cost (including the filter) was about $100, about the same price as the "Retro" kit from Subaru. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Opie, thanks for this information. Do you have any photos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NutBucket Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Ttiwop!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlJNgmail.com Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Wait, would I still have to rip apart my car to get to the filter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outahere Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 [quote=Opie;1221564................ 2008 Parts needed: Glove box back panel - 66208AG07A Air filtration access cover - 66241AG29A 5 Clip's (pop-its) - 909140037 Pocket cushion - 66153GA000 2 Tapping Scews - 904500025 and of course a replacement cabin filter - G3210AG000 Total cost (including the filter) was about $100, about the same price as the "Retro" kit from Subaru. In addition to the above parts listed by Opie, I also needed: 2pc: 902510011 nut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyeillini Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 My dealer is quoting $80 to replace the filter. I'm thinking it might not be worth it to replace this thing each year. Are there any negative consequences of removing the filter for good? I mean I don't live in a plastic bubble. Do I really care if I ingest some dust in the car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldiablo Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 You will see more dust / dirt in the cabin if you remove it. I noticed a considerable reduction in dust once I finally installed a filter in my early build 05 model. Replace it yourself - it's not hard to do. My VB Garage... Pumping the air back into despair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 Considering how dirty the filter gets over 6 months, I replace mine on a regular basis. Not difficult to DIY and to use your own filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puzzled Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 I bought all the parts needed (minus the subaru filter) and did the swap today. I think it was worth the effort putting all the pieces in. I should be able to swap the filter in about 5 minutes now, compared to 25 before. For the filter media I am using 3M Filtrete Ultra Allergen 1250. A 20x25x1 sheet ($15) makes six filters for the Subaru. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooderson Posted September 10, 2007 Share Posted September 10, 2007 So, What I got out of that email is that some 05 LGTs (earlier production) need the retrofit kit to install the cabin filter. But the later production 05s need just a filter installed? Am I missing something here? Also, how can I tell by my VIN # whether or not my 05 LGT was produced early or late? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby2.5 Posted September 10, 2007 Share Posted September 10, 2007 How often is everyone changing this filter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puzzled Posted September 10, 2007 Share Posted September 10, 2007 How often is everyone changing this filter? I used to change them every six months, but now I am aiming for every three. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsme Posted September 10, 2007 Share Posted September 10, 2007 Can someone post a how-to on the walkthourgh section? Racer X FMIC for '05-'09 LGTs, '08+ WRX and '10+ LGT,'14+ FXT, and '15+ WRX TMIC Racerxengineering.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caramall2 Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 The "search" function is your friend... Here's a walk-thru I did on one I modded myself....but you get the idea (scroll about half-way down the page...pics included). http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34389&highlight=filter&page=2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby2.5 Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 If you want a better fitting and better looking solution to the air filtration difficulty for your early 2005 (and 2006-2007 with the silly cloth cover) you can update all models to the new 2008 style. The 2008 style has an all new molded rear glove box section and a molded plastic door that covers the filter tray area that is held in place with 5 pop-its. Much cleaner looking and more solidly put together. It still takes about 10 minutes to change the filter but is a huge improvement over the 2005 non-design and the '06-'07 hacked-cloth design. I installed all the '08 parts in my early '05 today, took about 40 minutes total (I was taking my time). Didn't get any pic's because I wasn't sure it would work, but since it did I will also be ordering the same parts for my wife Legacy and will photo document the install at that time. 2008 Parts needed: Glove box back panel - 66208AG07A Air filtration access cover - 66241AG29A 5 Clip's (pop-its) - 909140037 Pocket cushion - 66153GA000 2 Tapping Scews - 904500025 and of course a replacement cabin filter - G3210AG000 Total cost (including the filter) was about $100, about the same price as the "Retro" kit from Subaru. Opie did you ever do the write up of the 2008 conversion when you did your wife's legacy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qship Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 ^ +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coarsegoldkid Posted January 9, 2008 Author Share Posted January 9, 2008 Didn't get any pic's because I wasn't sure it would work, but since it did I will also be ordering the same parts for my wife Legacy and will photo document the install at that time. Opie, I was wondering if you ever got around to photo documenting your wife's Legacy glove box conversion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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