Not as bad as I thought it would be. The air quality here is generally not very good. I was expecting dead rodents in there.

The recommended change interval is every 15,000 miles. I'll try and remember to change it in 30,000 miles.

 

I did mine for the 1st time @ 60K and it looked about like yours. That 15K interval is total BS unless you regularly drive on unpaved, dusty roads. Pure dealer profit driver. That's why they make sure to ask every time if you want it changed for $120 w/ labor. Not only that, but the design is a joke anyway. It doesnt even have a proper gasket to seal against the housing. Probably 20-30% of the stuff blows right by.

 

$120?

Hah. You can pick one up for $50 and install it yourself. If you take the time to read it, you save yourself from having the dealership do it.

There are many production cars today that don't even have the cabin air filters installed, even though they have the appropriate housing for one. It's purely profit like the fellow above me mentioned. The filter costs Infiniti roughly $10-$15, and they re-sell it to you for 1000% that price.

Don't believe me? I have an account with an auto-parts store and it costs me a fraction to get these filters. Just go and buy them yourself.

 

There is actually a member here who makes a filter with inpregnated activated charcoal in it. Much superior to the oem version. Also if you run your car with the HVAC set to recirculate the in cabin air instead of pulling in outside air your filter will not be as dirty. Personally I always prefer to run my HVAC sourcing from outside the cabin because it is less noisiy.

 

i know you can get the same thing at auto zone for about $20, i'll see if i can't find the link

 

$50, hah
If you go to the Nissan dealer, it's half the price, and the same part #.

 

Or Napa Online:
http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...bin+Air+Filter