I enjoy economical motoring, thats why I bought a panda diesel. I dont suffer from hayfever, so why do I need a pollen filter? The book says that they take 0.2 hrs to fit, and at dealer prices cost maybe £15-20? So can I save money by not having it replaced, or if they clog and spoil ventilation performance, can I remove it completely?

They don't only filter pollen, but also regular dust. So if you end up behind some old Transit diesel, or similar, at a traffic light, it'll filter out some of the particle matter. I think it's worth keeping it.

Interesting one this................

MY b/f has had Astras for years, the leasing company always refuse to replace the cabin filter so after a while it becomes clogged and soaking wet, causing the car to steam up, so he then throws it away and it does without one.

Also the 'ram air' effect goes if you have a pollen filter, ie you have to have the fan on 1 or 2 to get any air through, whereas with no filter just the airflow as you drive will suffice, making for a quieter journey.

Soepy said:

They don't only filter pollen, but also regular dust. So if you end up behind some old Transit diesel, or similar, at a traffic light, it'll filter out some of the particle matter. I think it's worth keeping it.

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I mainly drive in rural Norfolk , do occasionally follow a tractor, but to me it seems of little real benefit.

I've just been told that my Panda, because it does'nt have air-con, also does'nt have a pollen filter. Great, another reason not to have splashed out on air-con.

Paul Jaggard said:

I enjoy economical motoring, thats why I bought a panda diesel. I dont suffer from hayfever, so why do I need a pollen filter? The book says that they take 0.2 hrs to fit, and at dealer prices cost maybe £15-20? So can I save money by not having it replaced, or if they clog and spoil ventilation performance, can I remove it completely?

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0.2 hours is 12 minutes.

£15 isn't much, ask for discount at the parts department.

Fit it yourself.

Sorted.

If you remove the pollen filter and a leaf gets stuck in the aircon system and irritates the life out of you - I guess taking apart the air vents will cost more than £15 and 0.2hours.

How do you know if they even change the pollen filter.
I changed the air filter on the Doblo a few weeks ago & one bolt was particularly hard to get to & on taking the filter out & looking at the amount of insects etc I don't believe the filter had ever been changed.

On the Alfa 145/6 with aircon the pollen filter was listed in all the parts lists, and the service book said to change it, but there was never one fitted, at least to rhd cars. I often wondered if the dealers still charged as it was on the standard list of things to service......

when mine was serviced they never changed it... told them they have to as its part of service! the one thing they do well is stop all that dust collecting on your dash, saves a bit of cleaning.

if you dont have air con you dont have a polen filter with the panda if you want to check if it has been changed during a service you will need a 5.5mm socket yes .5 not jus 6 this will round of the nuts

also a contorcionist may help if you have an auto it is easier to get out than the maual because of the cluch pedal geting in the way

anyway back to finding it on the side of the heater box to the left of you under the center console aboth and to the left of the cluch pedal their is a panel about 1" by 8" with 2 5.5 self tapers holding it on you can undo these and pull the panel off it will also be cliped on so dont be afraid to pull it if it wont come

then you can slide the filter out and inspect it for dirt and dust you will have to kind of twist it a bit to get it out round the cluch pedal

if you dont have one ie non aircon this panel is simply glued inplace with no screws

as for wether you need a polen filter well imho yes you do

this is due to the way aircon works
as the air con chills the air coming in any water vapour in the air subsoquently condensec and drops onto a trof and is directed out of the car throu a small tube (hence pudles of water under your car in the sumer mistaken for coolent leaks)

howether if dust is not filtered out of the air before it is chiled it will also fall into the trof along with the water as it condences and falls this could potencialy block the drainage and fill your car with water (this is worst case cenario althou i have seen it hapen on a kia picanto as they have air con but no filter cos their cheap and s h i t e)

but also with all this dust faling and colecting in your heater system you start to get bacterea and mold growing in it wich then causes your car to smell absoloutly roten asive something died in their

Thanks for that detailed info. As it happens, I dont have aircon, but that did'nt stop my dealer fitting a new filter!
I have received a refund for the part, but did they charge me for the fitting time?
Another suggestion for economy minded owners, is to fill up the washer bottle, then you should'nt get charged £2 for fluid.(at 65mpg thats fuel for another 30 miles or so!)

just talking to our aircon expert at work and you can also contract a potensialy fatal disease from aircon that has started growing spores and such

called Legionnaires disease how about that has happened in a few office buildings in the past due to poor maintainance

littlepip17 said:

just talking to our aircon expert at work and you can also contract a potensialy fatal disease from aircon that has started growing spores and such

called Legionnaires disease how about that has happened in a few office buildings in the past due to poor maintainance

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Phoooah Glad I have'nt got aircon!