Has anybody ever used a 'Hengst' brand cabin air filter as a replacement? Bought it from Pelican Parts as an OEM replacement and can't get this damned thing to fit in the plastic frame. The old, original Porsche brand filter fits perfectly. According to the Hengst web page the filter should fit all 997.1 and 997.2 models....any suggestions before I start a bonfire with this POS filter?

 

How does the replacement compare in size to the OEM - have you measured?

 

I just measured the filters and the box that holds it...
-The plastic box that houses the filter is 319x158mm
-The original Porsche brand filter is 316x156x33mm
-The Hengst filter is 317x161x34mm

But after a bit of comparing and tinkering it finally fit in the box. I had to break off four extra plastic tabs on top of the Hengst filter (who knows why they are there, the original doesn't have them). The tabs were preventing the filter from sliding all the way in the back of the housing. And I had to remove the foam seal on the long sides of the filter element to compensate for the excess width of the replacement filter. The new filter is a mighty snug fit into the plastic frame anyway and I don't think there's room for air to bypass the filter.

The curious thing is that the specs for the Hengst filter on their web page are different from the actual element that they sell. According to their online catalog the filter should have the exact same dimensions as the original. Go figure....