Cabin filter Mann or Wix

I use WIX for every car I've owned for the past 10 years. Good quality, and not overly expensive

This is my brand. Mann-Filter. Easy to replace.

FCP Euro has a lifetime replacement on parts from them, just buy from them and get free replacements of the currently available filters.

The air in my Arteon is starting to smell so I bought a new fancy Mann cabin filter from Pelican. All good so far.

At 23k miles I figured a cheap fix would be the cabin filter. Swapped in a Wix WP10159 charcoal filter and the smell is gone.

With the special Castrol LL VW 50700 Diesel recommended oil and Mann filter, it costs me $35-40 myself. If you are in warranty though, it may be best to dealer service because despite legislation, it is worlds easier if you need warranty work and can prove you had it done at a franchised VW dealer.

Cabin Air Filters aka the Pollen filter they tried to sell you is remedial classes easy to change in most cars. My MK6 JSW was maybe 5 minutes with no tools? Cost was $10ish dollars for a Charcoal filter too.

Cabin filter I swapped out for a MANN filter so I could enable Air Care.

As for the smell, I would replace your cabin air filter. Your old one might have picked up moisture or some organic material. And if you get an option for it I would spend the few extra dollars and get a charcoal lined one. I should help with future smells.

I use a charcoal Wix filter. It works really nice, even for filtering out smells a bit. And I drive a lot on dirt roads and it helps clean that up too.

One out of two times they gave me the wrong engine filter, even though they searched by VIN number. The second, and last time, I purchased from them, they sold me an aftermarket cabin filter for the same price as OEM.