Leakage at the cabin filter enclosure

[Liam Z]

Mine does not have the filter with water traces on it , or marks, that may suggest some water dipping over. Also, no water inside; and was some rain in past few days.
Mine was bought in Netherlands mid-September 2025 but a sticker on a part in the car has a date with mid-April 2025.
Maybe some manufactured lot had a problem.

Side question since we look at the filter; as we see the box can host two filters (!) and in some pictures I saw indeed two. Do you have the same in a new car ? It is meant to have two when new ?
I guess we can add a second one if needed (for ex one with carbon) but I'm curious if a new car comes with two.

Actually the filter enclosure is desgined for 2 filters while I guess as a VAVE cost reduction purpose since it's a economic car, the 2nd filter is not equipped.
I found the filter is eaxactly the same as the one in VW ID series, ID3 or ID4, actually the MG4 Mulan & S5 are a SAIC version ID cars. The filters in ID3 are 2 pieces, one HEPA one carbon filter, you can just buy the 2 of VW ID3 and put them in the S5, it fits perfectly, I already did that.

For your reference.

 

[Liam Z]

View attachment 44816

Congratulations!
To be on the safe side, I suggest to do a rain test since the leakage only happens in certain circumstances.
1. Turn the air conditioner into external circulation------Must do and shall keep monitoring since sometime the car will swtich it back to inner.
2. Use water gun to splash heavily towards to the edge of the rain collection plastic cover as shown in my 2nd picture for at least 5 mins.
3. Wait for 5mins and open the filter enclosure and check the filter if it is wet.