Aftermarket air filters are more cost-effective than the OEM models; ours is made to exceed their standards, which means it will remove more particulate from the air and prevent it from getting into your engine. The air filter is the first line of defense when keeping foreign containment from gumming up your motor. Will your golf cart run without it? Maybe, but not for very long, if it does at all. Plain and simple, the engine needs to be clean to work correctly. The EZGO and Columbia air filter cleans the incoming atmosphere so that dust, sand, grime, or whatever else does not bog down the pistons and fuel delivery systems, just to name a few victims.This OEM replica air filter will work for Columbia or Harley Davidson 2-cycle carts between 1971-95. The OEM # is 29131-71, and for the E-Z-GO 2-stroke, as long as it runs 1976-93 and that OEM # is 14416-G1. Call Buggies Unlimited today and get an aftermarket replacement coming your way.