The factory install what will work and is cost effective for them to ship the car out and still turn a profit. A factory filter
will do but you can do
far better just as you can with tires, bumpers, skids, seat covers, floor-mats, lighting inside and out, exhaust, lubricant as well as cosmetics.
I would not sell myself on a factory style filter in this day and age. In your head, think of the aftermarket products that became factory installed parts. The list is long and endless. Most recently remote starters. But go back when people were installing fuel injection aftermarket, now almost everything come factory that way. Just a few to get you started. A factory filter is junk when compared to what is out there now. The particles that make it through that filter end up on your oil. You keeping that engine or depending on it?
I paid what $50 or so for a (Junk) K&N and it's out after I did some reading on filters. It will jack up the MAFS and promote dirt in the Throttle Body which will jack up your Idle sooner of later. Plus, they don't filter like they should, Great for a one day Race application but not to good for everyday running. I'm not going to get into it. But if you do some reading or even shopping you will see they are going away from "Oiled" filters and soon it will all be dry Like the Amsoil filter or the one that comes with the AIRHOG. DRY and more surface area to create more flow rather than larger holes to create more flow. Make offer on my K&N used 5K miles shipped in the box. (If you are not convinced.)
But, seek the info out on your own.
I'm not up for a bashing this week.
Here is a picture of a AMSOIL filter VS a K&N You can see the increased height (Thickness) that allows more airflow by increasing the surface area. I top view would also show that the Amsoil filter has 2 to 3 times as many fins also, further increasing the flow. So more filtering, same flow less particles in your oil. And when you are changing out oil once a year that's pretty important. Maybe not so much so with K&N and 3K per change but who wants to do the work when you don't have to?
Yes I am an Amsoil dealer, but I decided not to sell it based on the fact that 90% of the people
think they can't afford it or think Mobile is as good. Castrol comes the closest to it for your info. Buy that.
I go by test results from a independent lab. Not Bob nor Amsoil. And before you ask, yes an Amsoil oil filter also. My whole x besides the trans fluid will be Amsoil. Amsoil has a warranty on the extended oil change. No one has made a claim in 30 years. Not Spam! I'm not selling it I am buying it! Everything I have will be 100% Amsoil.
MC