Air Filters - how do you buy them?

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Sun Sep 24, 2017 11:56 pm

How do people buy their Air Filter elements for their Mazdas?
Have just spent a couple of hours on the net checking out the correct part numbers for our Mazdas (MX5, 6, & 3.) and then looking at the listings on ebay as well as Supacheap.
The local stores here in the country often don't have specific items (MX5 for example) so I probably won't be able to buy them off the shelf from an auto store.
ebay seems about $10. to $20. cheaper than anywhere else, although the prices vary a fair bit from seller to seller.
Have had a lot of grief in the past buying stuff direct from big-city-based shops that don't answer their phone or reply to emails.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:52 am

I buy from a Mazda dealer or get Ryco from Repco (RACQ discount) or Supercheap (when things are on sale). You replace them so infrequently a couple of $$ here and there is not worth the hassle for me. I generally restock when there is a sale on and have a set ready on the shelf.
Ryco listings here:http://www.rycofilters.com.au/catalogue/application/index/vehicle-type/LC%2CPA%2CSU/make/MAZDA/model//series

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:55 am

I usually just go to bursons or repco.

They carry a LOT more stock than Super cheap, and tend to be a little cheaper too.

Plus their employees (Bursons mainly) tend to have a bit more knowledge, compared to supercheap where half of them aren't even old enough to have a licence.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 8:08 pm

I just bought air intake filter and also a fuel filter for my MX-5 NB . I do what I usually do ie try a few sources- I checked Repco, Bursons Supercheap and another local supplier who does oils and filters mainly for trade buyers. I ended up getting the both items at 1/3 of Repco standard price -from my local suppler. Some people don't change filters because they do are so exxy- we are not driving Mercs or Jags. Supercheap had a poor range - mainly Ryco which is the dearer product. If one is not doing mega kms then perhaps you buy a cheaper brand of filter i.e. oil , air fuel etc. Bursons offered alternatives and they were also way better than Repco. I reckon Bursons will not sell filters to the trade which are "duds" . Experts here may say they are not all equal but how many K's does one do - you do change oil filters annually regardless of KLM.

You can also buy on line but for me that was not cheaper and as convenient. I reckon Bursons offer alternatives and they are the biggest supplier to the trade. You go to Burson you talk to counter staff who do this work day in day out to the Trade.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:02 pm

Suppliers are a bit limited up here in the sticks - No Bursons - and Repco & Supacheap carry stock limited to the most common vehicles.

On ebay I am seeing names like 'Brintech', 'Sakura', 'Ryco'.
In terms of price, the differences in the above three for the Mazda 6 is: $15, $32, $43.
For the MX5 : $12. $22.,$40.
I am wondering if there is a difference in quality across the various filters.

Also, which listing on the RYCO site refers to my car - which is a 2001 build NB8B with an Engine number starting with the letters 'BP'.
I assume it is the first of the NB listings although I'm not sure what the "ZE [JC] " bit is about (and what the "B8" variation of MX5 is and why it uses the "A1206" filter rather than the "A1620" filter.)
http://www.rycofilters.com.au/catalogue ... hicle-type

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:22 pm

I wouldn't buy the cheaper ones.
I've purchased K&Ns for both my cars, one pod and a flat panel. Got both from Supercheap - one on sale and the other from their online store. The quality is OK but they do have loose rubber bits and wires (emailed K&N in the US and they brushed me off).

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:28 pm

The "JC" seems to refer to DOHC MPFI 16 valve = Ryco 1620. See how it compares with the original in your car. SuperCheap will be able to get it in for you if they don't have it in stock.

The guys at Repco will be able to get Ryco or Repco brand filters - worth checking what one they reckon is correct.

Alternatively, your friendly Mazda dealer.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 2:17 pm

The brand makers love that you spend a lot more for a brand name like Ryco which is made 0/s now anyway. I will stick the $50 or $100 in my pocket. I still don't think the resellers sell dodgy brands i.e. these will be fit for purpose. You can do the same for oils- i.e. pay far more than you need to just for a flogged Brand- users never know the difference anyway. Supercheap are not there for the trade and that tells you something. Just to make the point again- you change oil filters and oil at least yearly even if you do only say 3000 klm.

As for interchangeability the sellers usually have the cross references or model look ups.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:10 pm

Sakura brand is equivalent quality to Ryco but typically a fair bit cheaper. Both are Indonesian makers now and there's buggar all difference really, but watch out for these http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2237748. I've been using Sakuras on all our cars for a few years now with no problems. I just order them in from my local speed shop.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 4:15 pm

After further exhaustive research, I think I will order Sakura Air Filters for all the vehicles off the Supercheap website.
The prices are as good as any of the on-line stores on ebay and I can get them all at the one spot.
Supercheap tell me they don't keep any Sakura products in stock on site.
They had Ryco Air Filters for the Mazda 6 and 3 in stock but they are more expensive than the Sakuras.
(Ryco Mazda 6 - $64. Vs $30. and Mazda 3 - $38. Vs $27.)
Nothing in stock for the MX5, of course, but price difference was $45. Vs $28.
I have made my own careful measurements and the Sakuras appear to be within one mm on Length & width and 7mm on depth - which IS a 'quality parameter' I guess. Less filter for your money.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 4:42 pm

But in reality the actual size may vary again. Air filters are bendy.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 5:37 pm

Yeah, true Bruce, but after having pulled all the filters out of the cars a couple of times to measure them, I would say that they wouldn't have to be more than a few mm to big in one direction before you'd have trouble getting the air box shut.

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 5:46 pm

True, but remember the edges of them are rubber, so there's always going to be a measurement difference depending on if the rubber sticks out more or not.

Once fitted it gets squished into place by the airbox anyway.

But yeah, some I've found need a little prod to not get pinched.

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 6:22 pm

I agree with Manga -- Sakura is being used around the traps including me for the MX-5. My seller actually references the Ryco nbrs but the products are substitutes. SCA mainly stock Ryco - handy to check their listings- and few alternatives . If the products are said to be equivalent at least in dims then they should fit and if they don't you should get a refund. My guess is that with some of the products the dearer ones may be a superior specification or an alternative filter medium or construction but you weigh up the price diff and the criticality and usage. And lets face it some folks could not care less what they pay.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 7:24 pm

Mr Morlock wrote:My guess is that with some of the products the dearer ones may be a superior specification or an alternative filter medium or construction but you weigh up the price diff and the criticality and usage. And lets face it some folks could not care less what they pay.

There was a guy on youtube a few years back buying boxes of oil filters of various brands and cutting them up to see how they were made. He was comparing filter areas, filter mediums, general manufacturing quality and valve quality. Basically he never found any correlation between price and quality. Some of the Sakuras were better made than bigger name brand filters costing 5 times as much. Basically all filters, including those sold by Mazda Australia as genuine OEM, are now made in similar low cost Asian workshops and the price is set purely by how big a bullshit story the seller is prepared to spin about the product.