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When searching for the OEM air filter parts to prepare for the job (4G43-9601-AB-PK) something cropped up from a company called Blue-Print. I had never heard of Blue-Print before but the filter looked identical in pictures. I did a little more digging and it turns our that this brand is actually Bilstein.
The set was a lot cheaper and Bilstein is generally a reputable manufacturer, so I took a chance and ordered it. There were no US sources I could find but a number of sellers on eBay shipping out of the UK.
I replaced the air filters on my car this weekend (what a job!) and had a chance to compare them side by side. If not for the part numbers and the dirt, you wouldn't be able to tell them apart. Looks to be a high quality part and made in exactly the same way as the OEM but at 1/3 the cost. Final tally for the Blue-Print filters was $49 including Fedex shipping from the UK vs over $150 + shipping for the AM version.
The only issue was that they are a pretty tight fit and I needed to stretch the filter opening a little to get it to pop over the flange on the end of the intake tube.
Looks like a good find. Air filter quality is all over the map. A great YouTuber is Project Farm who tests a plethora of tools and equipment and he is extremely thorough in his methods. Below he is testing car filters.
When searching for the OEM air filter parts to prepare for the job (4G43-9601-AB-PK) something cropped up from a company called Blue-Print. I had never heard of Blue-Print before but the filter looked identical in pictures. I did a little more digging and it turns our that this brand is actually Bilstein.
Great find.Blue Print is one of the Febi/Bilstein Group companies. Bilstein is German based but Blue-Print was British from Kent, not sure if the filters are made in country. They have a wide variety of Aston parts in their catalog. BP claim the air filter is a direct fit.
Unfortunately I didn't check the new filter closely to see if it had a country of manufacture stamped on it and the box does not specifically indicate. The Bilstein Group website seems to imply that the manufacturing is in Germany, although does not directly say.
These very filters are sold at AstonMartinBits.com as "pattern" parts. I have two on my vehicle accidentally, because I didn't know what a "pattern" part was, but they fit well and seem to perform just fine.
i bought a set of these on ebay at the price mentioned. in my case they were mailed from riga latvia! (i'll be adding another country to my 'ebay sellers' list. ) and yes they are tight. a little swipe of grease on the inside of the opening did the trick. they looked identical to the original (!) 2007 air filters that were on the car when i purchased it with 11,000 miles on the odometer.
i have to confess to being a carrier of the unflattering 'cheap SOB part finder's gene'. as a believer in ben franklin's maxim "a penny saved...", i've found that at my age, being retired and all, it's about the only way i can legitimately make money these days. god knows i have the time to spare...
Just received word, directly from Bilstein, that the ADJ132232 Blue Print filters for our cars are made in China. Not passing judgement, just information.
the bridgestone potenza tires on my 2007 vantage may well have been manufactured in shenyang, tianjin, wuxi, or huizhou. all are in china. automobile manufacturers buy parts from all over the world. it's not a river rouge operation anymore. ...more information.
At the end of the day, we're talking about air filters here. That said, I've seen the quality of products from historically dependable German suppliers decline over the past few decades. It used to be you could make your selection by name alone. Now, not so much...
I don't have any particular worries about parts that come from China. Decent quality stuff can come from anywhere these days and it all comes down to how the factory it is made in is run. It happens I work for a big multinational semiconductor company that has factories all over, China included, and in our case they all operate to the same specs and standards no matter where they are located. By appearances, Blueprint must have decent quality control standards.
I will admit the Bilstein name did persuade me to risk the 50 bucks to order them but the decision to put it on the car and post a positive experience here was based 100% on my own inspection of the parts in hand and comparison to the original. If they had turned out to be crap I would have rounded up an OEM set to use on my car and posted a "don't ever buy these" thread.
no complaints from me... i should mention that when i put on the second one (after about a six month recuperation period from putting on the first one ) the car stumbled for a few seconds on startup for the very first time. within seconds it was running as good or better than ever. i suspect the induction system was adjusting itself to proper breathing again, inasmuch as that second filter i removed (after 15 years of use) was pretty filthy.
BTW, the ones i purchased for about $45 a pair from latvia are still available on ebay, but i notice that there's a new kid on the block from fram too. two for $20. --> https://www.ebay.com/itm/163870655864?fits=Make%3AAston+Martin&epid=7427348 8&hash=item262773c578:g:Qz8AAOSwjOtdSc65]FRAM Air Filter, NOS -- CA3565 **LOT OF 2 (Aston Martin, Lotus, Renault, | eBay
here's the lowdown from fram --> https://www.fram.com/parts-search/CA3565/]EXTRA GUARD Round Plastisol Air Filter CA3565 | FRAM
Last edited by GT3 Chuck; May 31, 2021 at 06:39 PM.
No issues after this many months and several thousand miles. Car runs great and fuel trims are very near zero, so all seems to be in good health.
*disclaimer* I have not physically opened up the air box again and inspected them but as it stands today, I would not be afraid to use the Blueprint brand again.
) and yes they are tight. a little swipe of grease on the inside of the opening did the trick. they looked identical to the original (!) 2007 air filters that were on the car when i purchased it with 11,000 miles on the odometer.
