I recently purchased a Wix 49247 for my Mazda3. It is by far the worst filter I have ever seen in person. I think there is a real possibility it is a knockoff and not a real Wix filter. I have contacted them to see what they have to say but I thought I'd throw this warning out there for others in the meantime just to be safe.
Things wrong with the filter:
- Made in South Korea. This isn't really "wrong" but they don't have a plant in South Korea. I am assuming this is an item that is subcontracted out and just rebadged with a Wix sticker. There was nothing on the filter itself saying Wix or providing any information.
- The gasket was made of plastic and not rubber. It had limited malleability but that isn't the worst part.
- The short ends of the gasket, the top "flap" for lack of better word was torn off or broke off so it didn't seal at all to the air filter housing on the ends.
Here are some pictures of the product:
Here you can see the shadow of the edge where the gasket is torn going around the end:
Here you can see the top flap missing from the entire end of the filter:
Things wrong with the filter:
- Made in South Korea. This isn't really "wrong" but they don't have a plant in South Korea. I am assuming this is an item that is subcontracted out and just rebadged with a Wix sticker. There was nothing on the filter itself saying Wix or providing any information.
- The gasket was made of plastic and not rubber. It had limited malleability but that isn't the worst part.
- The short ends of the gasket, the top "flap" for lack of better word was torn off or broke off so it didn't seal at all to the air filter housing on the ends.
Here are some pictures of the product:
Here you can see the shadow of the edge where the gasket is torn going around the end:
Here you can see the top flap missing from the entire end of the filter: