So the last filter I fitted didn't seem to fit especially well. I think it was a MANN filter from ECP at the time. I wasn't overly thrilled by that so immediately popped to the dealer and bought an original one, which was much better.
So this time around I thought I'd do some digging as I didn't want to pay 40 quid for a filter this year. I think I must have got a GTI filter (for my ED30) by mistake.
So here's the rub:
GTI - OEM 06F133843A, or Mahle LX 1262 in the aftermarket.
Edition 30 - OEM 06F133843B, or Mahle LX1751 in the aftermarket.
GTI = 405mm x 173mm x 37.3mm
ED30 = 405mm x 173mm x 32.3mm
Mahle are the actual filters VW use, as confirmed by my measurements and look/feel of the OEM filter vs the Mahle aftermarket one I bought this year. Other brands fit, obviously, but the OEM one fits snugger in the air box in my experience.
So basically they are the same apart from ED30 being 5mm thinner. As for why that is, the logical answer must be to account for the extra flow of the K04 turbo without going to the trouble of making a larger air box. 5mm shaved off the entire surface area must be the calculations VW arrived at to improve flow, without sacrificing too much filtration area.
Or it could be a way of charging you more for a smaller air filter
Although weirdly, if you want an OEM ED30 filter for peanuts, this is crazy cheap:
https://www.deutsche-parts.co.uk/06f133843b-air-filter-new-genuine-part.htmlVs GTI which is a lot more money!
https://www.deutsche-parts.co.uk/air-filter-06f133843a-new-genuine-part.htmlI think they've got that the other way round by mistake!
Whether or not it actually makes a difference in the real world, who knows, but both fit both air boxes, so not the end of the world if you choose the wrong one. Just thought it would be an interesting share
Anyway, threads without pics are boring (even more boring than air filters?), so here's what a 20K old OEM filter looks like compared to new. You can clearly see the air distribution through the air box is pretty crap
