My 04 ls has 60 k or so on it and the ac filter reminder came on. Is there aftermarket filters worth buying to save a few bucks? Is there another filter besides the air filter I will be changing also, cabin filter or something. I have the base model. Thanks this is a very helpful source!!!

 

the car has both an air filter and a/c cabin filter. as far as the filters go, i would recommend going oem. this is just my opinion and others may see it differently.

 

im currently using wixx.. still on the fence about it. need to compare to new oem filters before i decide which one i like. so far the wixx has been okai. so ill reserve my judgement for now. but here are some links for cheap oem filters. the cheapest i found so far. its cheaper than most filters i have seen online vs. non oem.

cabin filter:
http://www.factorylexusparts.com/ser...BIN-AIR/Detail
air filter:
http://www.factorylexusparts.com/ser...-FILTER/Detail

 

I guess I don't understand the logic of trying to save five or ten dollars by buying a filter that might or might not be as good as the OEM filter when you're going to install it on a car that had an MSRP of $50k or more. I realize many of us (myself included) buy our LS430s used so we don't pay anywhere near the new price, but that's beside the point. Lexus and MB and BMW design their vehicles as a system where the filtration parts and the way they work are part of the system. Maybe I'm naive, but it seems foolish to me to skimp a buck or two on a filter when the outcome could be the early breakage or wear out of a very expensive piece of machinery. Am I the only one of us that thinks that way? That's why I always use OEM or factory approved replacement filters.
There is a similar debate going on in one of the Mercedes forums (I also have an '04 S430) about whether to use the Mobil 1 synthetic oil recommended (there are other brands approved) or not. It's an extra few bucks an oil change that occurs every 10k miles or so. What kind of sense does it make to use something not approved by the company that built the car for the sake of saving the cost of a couple of Starbucks? I just don't get it.

 

I'm right with you. Even though I only paid 1/2 for the vehicle, I'm still going to baby it to get the most and best out of my LS430. For me, I've used Mobil 1 for all my vehicles and none of them have failed for the engine.

What's the use of saving a $0.01 to spend a $1 later?

I'm not saying always get "the best" as in most expensive, but a $20 filter is doing to be better than a $5 at the same store and this is just simple rule of economics. There isn't a free meal...

 

Well I made my own custom filter out of common parts that can be found at Home Depot. Similar to the one used here in this GS thread:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ts-of-pix.html

I actually doubled up on it but it handles pollen, dust and dander sized particles from .3 to 10 microns. It's also a reuseable permanent filter which you just wash and reuse it as much as you want.

Our car uses a filter pretty much as the one used in homes.

This is the one that I used:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...3+90401+500387

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...cStoreNum=8125

Company site:
http://www.webproducts.com/Detail.bok?no=37

 

I'm sure I already replaced both of these filters (less than 6 months ago)... but i'm getting A/C filter light. Is this a different filter???

 

thats the cabin filter. hold down the (fan)off button for more than 4 seconds to reset it. if they replaced that filter they forgot to reset it. it triggers after a certain amount of miles. its worth a check though to make sure they did replace the filters.

to the responses of the saving a buck or two. i dont, what i do is compare and see what works better for my car. yes the car was built as a system but sometimes some aspects can still improve the system. rarely would i skimp on maintanece. prime example is i been using amsoil full syn for my oil changes and wixx as my oil filter. i heard those are amongst the best to use. like everyone else i shop around alot to see where i can find the best deal for the part i need.

 

as with many items you can improve the original with some thought,, even Toyota (Lexus) has different grades of oil filters, are you using the best one they have available,,???

have looked for the filtration (particulate) ability of the OEM main cabin filter and never can find, would agree that you can use some aftermarket units and have one that filters smaller particles while still offering the same CFM flow,,

Lexus does not recommend a synthetic oil which we all "know" (most of us) is a higher quality lubricant than the dino oils but many do not use,,

makes ya wonder at times,,

Derry