Foam for Air Intake Panels

[PaulP38a]

While I've got the beast off the road (in the garage, not on the dirt unfortunately), and am waiting for other replacement bits to arrive, I figure I might as well do some "roundtuit" jobs like replace the foam stuff in the area between the bonnet and windscreen.

Is there a suitable aftermarket material I can use (i.e. something from Clark Rubber or similar) that anyone has tried and tested?

Cheers, Paul.

[p38arover]

I bought some very similar stuff from Clark Rubber (Para Rubber in NZ).

[Hoges]

Yep Clarke Rubber... think it's called "duck pond filter" foam. Plus, I also added a single layer of fine weave black fibreglass flywire mesh (also from Clarke rubber) over the top of the duck pond filter material -it sits between the foam stuff and the plenum grid... works a treat! Use the wire frame as a template.

[p38arover]

I am just doing mine. I've just been to Clark Rubber and this time they sold me a piece the right size. I didn't need to buy more than needed. Cost $10 - which may be more expensive than the genuine LR item BTR9548.

It is called airconditioning filter foam.

[Hoges]

Quote: It is called airconditioning filter foam

Bl***y heck... now the duck ponds are air conditioned? :eek: :cool::wasntme:

[MoodyBlue]

To replace the remains of the foam on my Rangie I used Blue scouring pad material. I reckon it will last forever and is solvent proof. It helps that I have a sheet of the stuff 8 feet square:p

Cheers

Jeff

[Scouse]

Jeez - how big is your kitchen sink ?

[wayneg]

Is this an easy thing to replace, I had a quick look at mine which is disintegrated but its not obvious how to replace it.

[Scouse]

You need to remove the scuttle panel itself (just a few screws & wiper arms to remove then ease the panel out from under the A pillar trims).
The foam is secured by a wire frame under some clips.

[p38arover]

To get to the upper screws, you need to first remove the lower windscreen finisher trim which clips into place. RAVE says to remove the A-pillar trim but it's not necessary on a warm day as the windscreen finisher trim will flex enough to come out.

Recover the clips from the plenum chamber covers and refit them to the windscreen trim.

I knew I should have taken some pix today.

[p38arover]

Quote: It is called airconditioning filter foam

Bl***y heck... now the duck ponds are air conditioned? :eek: :cool::wasntme:

:D

Well, it was called air conditioning filter foam in Clark's price list and on the sales docket.

[PaulP38a]

I got a couple of metres of the 6mm black a/c foam filter stuff from Clark's Rubber yesterday.

I'll take some pics and publish the procedure on paulp38a.com when I get around to it...

Thanks for tips blokes.

Cheers, Paul.

[Hoges]

Take a look at Intake plenum filter replacement (Range Rover 4.0/4.6/p38) (http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/hevac/plenumfilter/plenumfilter.html)

cheers

[p38arover]

Take a look at Intake plenum filter replacement (Range Rover 4.0/4.6/p38) (http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/hevac/plenumfilter/plenumfilter.html)

cheers

You can skip half those steps - no need to remove the A-pillar trims nor the door seals.

[PhilipA]

You can buy air con filter material from Godfreys, as vacuums use it.
Its not foam but a sort of woven stuff.
Regards Philip A

[PaulP38a]

Take a look at Intake plenum filter replacement (Range Rover 4.0/4.6/p38) (http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/hevac/plenumfilter/plenumfilter.html)

cheers

Sweet, I'll take pics anyway... and only write it up if I find an easier way to do it... such as Ron's suggestions.
Cheers, Paul.

[Kalincho]

When I had the car apart I took the oppurtunity to do it too, I used a large pond filter and sliced it up to fit. Seems to work well.

Lots of other good suggestions too. ;)

Kalincho.

[wayneg]

Finally got around to changing my Plenum foam. I bought a piece of fish tank filter from e-bay. Unbelievably it is the perfect size and only the hole for the Wiper stub needs to be cut out. It is also about 2 1/2 times as thick as the original but has no impact on the fitting. Cost me A$2.20 shipped.
The job took less than an hour thanks to the instructions available and is well worth the effort

Had a quick look and its now A$4 buy now..............
Aquarium Fish Filter Carbon Biochemical Bio Sponge-AR94 - eBay, Cleaning Water Treatments, Aquarium Fish, Pet Supplies. (end time 12-Oct-10 14:57:45 AEDST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Aquarium-Fish-Filter-Carbon-Biochemical-Bio-Sponge-AR94-/360299855807?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e38b7fbf)

[p38arover]

Cost me A$2.20 shipped.
The job took less than an hour thanks to the instructions available and is well worth the effort

Had a quick look and its now A$4 buy now

A lot cheaper than Clark Rubber!

[Junosi]

Well today I learned that there's meant to be foam stuff in there ! Mine was empty when I bought it. How many of those foam thingos did you need Wayne - just the one ?

[wayneg]

Just the one, You can buy the genuine Land Rover part if you like. The Fish Tank filter looks exactly the same to me just thicker.

[PaulP38a]

"Range Rover" and "Fish Tank" in the same sentence brings back bad dreams :p

Pleased to report that my duck pond A/c filter is still holding up ok after a year, even though it seems now that I paid too much compared to Wayne's find.

[Steinzy]

Just purchased the fish pond airconditiong foam as this is one of thoses jos I have been putting off for ages now I know its an easy fix i will get it sorted

[wayneg]

Anyone tempted by the fish tank filter do a search on e-bay for

Sponge-AR94

Make sure the settings are worldwide search. Today they are back at just over A$2 shipped, obviously they will go up if there`s a rush to bid

[PeterH]

I replaced mine with a Genuine LR one 2 months ago, can't remember the price off hand but it was pretty cheap and pre cut to size.
You've probably already seen this guide, it was a big help to me, I printed it out for reference when I did the job:

Intake plenum filter replacement (Range Rover 4.0/4.6/p38) (http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/hevac/plenumfilter/plenumfilter.html)

Be careful of the little clips as you slide the lower windscreen trim strip out, otherwise it's a pretty straight forward job.
Cheers, Pete.

[PeterH]

Oops! Didn't see that link was alreday posted by Hoges.

[lgjonesxjs]

I bought some from Clark rubber, took the original with me cut to size and all good.

[3toes]

Looked at this about 12 months ago and decided to leave alone as my local (UK) Land-Rover dealer wanted £58 for the part. Said that had to sell me the whole panel with foam fitted as Land-Rover do not sell the foam as a separate item. Interesting that you have a part number which my local dealers parts department claimed did not exist.

[p38arover]

I have definitely bought the foam as a spare part. I have the packet in the garage.

Have you tried entering BTR9548 into MicroCAT?

[DT-P38]

I bought one by itself too Ron. Mine came from uk and was a genuine item.

Big Toes story doesn't surprise me, my local dealer parts depart insisted they could only sell me an entire mirror assembly at around $600 when I broke my mirror glass and retaining clip. I bought those replacement parts on-line (e-bay UK) for a grand total of $20 delivered to my door.

Following numerous dubious charging experiences over the last 8 odd years of P38 ownership, GOUGING is the term I best associate with most LR dealers and many second teir (specialist but not genuine LR) repairers.

[wayneg]

Thank God for e-bay, web forums like this and aftermarket sellers who make owning these cars a bit more affordable.

P38 Range Rover Air Intake Plenum Foam Filter Finisher on eBay (end time 06-Nov-10 15:49:51 GMT) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/P38-Range-Rover-Air-Intake-Plenum-Foam-Filter-Finisher-/140462991500?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20b43f288c)

[3toes]

With the part number I might go back to the dealer if am passing near with some time to kill and see what the responce was this time. Trouble is you have to present yourself at the dealer as they will not give you a price over the phone. If decide that it really needs doing am not likely to go there though will just buy some foam and cut it out.

Land-Rover dealers have a global reputation. Have previously priced the gas struts for the top half of the tail gate. Dealer wanted £20 each. E bay provided 2 at about half the price of one from the dealer. Spark plugs are another item with a similar mark up. Troulbe is if you can see this kind of market up on items which can be easily compared against similar equal quality parts it gives you no confidence in those you cannot price check. To be fair most manufacturers are the same. It does not help though when the cheaper sensible option is there just the dealer will not offer it.