Upgrading the pollen filter / cabin filter

I can't help but notice that my T6.1 Shuttle is totally useless at filtering out outside pollution, smell and smoke compared to my wife's T6 California Ocean. Is there any reason for this and is there some way I can make my T6.1 shuttle better at filtering out outside crap?
 
I know when I’ve fitted cabin filters to other cars before, they do a cheap white one, and an activated carbon one. The carbon one is much better.
 
Hi, looking to change both the air and pollen filters, does anybody know the part numbers for each please?

Thanking you all in advance.
 
 
I know when I’ve fitted cabin filters to other cars before, they do a cheap white one, and an activated carbon one. The carbon one is much better.
Can second this. Called TPS for a cabin filter today, and they had two. I went for the pricier one, which I believe is activated carbon. (Roughly £20 versus just over £10.)
 
I managed to do this yesterday and fitted the carbon one. Apparently should be changed every 2 years. How to replace this is very straight forward and I did't need to remove the glove box or any upper trim as it suggested on previous posts. Remove the black lower trim, remove the 6mm screw at the end of the filter cover and depress the release catch and pull down. Take out the old filter noting the airflow arrows and replace with new and complete the process in reverse. You will need to make sure you get the tab that locates out of sight in the right place or the filter cover won't stay snug. Diagram taken from the other posts show these bits.1.JPEG2.JPEG3.JPEG4.jpg
 
Prompted by this thread, I’ve just ordered the carbon antibacterial one from Half***s. It came up as needing replacement, but VW wanted £85 to do it with the last service, and I had a stingy attack. £28 for the fancy one and hopefully easy fitting seems like a better idea. Cheap ones available for less than a tenner.

 
Hi this link does not work .. I’ve been searching but still cannot find the correct pollen filter for a t6 .. anyone have a working link so I can buy one ?
 
Odd the Half***s link doesn’t work for me either now, and I posted it! I’ve gone for the one with the antibacterial treatment on as well.

IMG_6064.jpeg
 
The activated charcoal/carbon is the antimicrobial element. The ECP one above isn't badly priced at all but some outlets charge silly money simply because of the word "antimicrobial", when in reality the activated charcoal/carbon is quite normal and inexpensive.
 
The activated charcoal/carbon is the antimicrobial element. The ECP one above isn't badly priced at all but some outlets charge silly money simply because of the word "antimicrobial", when in reality the activated charcoal/carbon is quite normal and inexpensive.
The charcoal adsorbs gases, but the anti microbial feature is some silver ions which reduces fungal and other microbial growth. Charcoal can be a substrate to grow bugs on:

Pietikäinen, Janna, et al. “Charcoal as a Habitat for Microbes and Its Effect on the Microbial Community of the Underlying Humus.” Oikos, vol. 89, no. 2, 2000, pp. 231–42. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3547317. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
 
Activated carbon is structutally different to straight carbon (or charcoal).

It would need to be in a granular form to support microbial growth without other external support.

The paper you cite give examples where carbon overlies a rich source of forest litter and humus which acts as a source of nutrients. The synthetic matrix of a pollen filter provides no such lower trophic level of nutrients.
 
I believe part number is 7E0 819 631.

Easy enough to find online it seems. Can recommend TPS if you have one nearby.
 
A chap called Sergio Gabor had a lovely YouTube channel where he would compare headlight bulbs, air filters, cabin filters and the like.

His last video on cabin filters is Here

It’s a couple of years old but he found the Mahle the best. The one VW fit and take a premium for was pretty poor. The fact at one service the main dealer just flipped the filter over and rammed it back in, while charging for a new one still haunts me - annoyed I didn’t spot it sooner but should you have to double check everything they do? Needless to say I’ve never been back.

EuroCarParts sell three Mahle versions for my T5.1…
As I understand it there is a basic version, a carbon version and a carbon with anti mould treatment. The carbon mainly just captures odours but can still go mouldy and smell musty after a while. Hence one with extra treatment.
 
Wrestled the new one in. I ended up taking the glovebox off as it was blocking the way in for the new filter.

The synthetic matrix of a pollen filter provides no such lower trophic level of nutrients.

There was plenty of organic matter stuck in the old one! Having seen what was in there, I’m glad I replaced it.

IMG_6084.jpeg
 
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