Cabin Air Filters Replacement

simpleM3 · 08-05-2016, 11:34 AM

I called up my local dealer to find out if the cabin air filters had ever been changed on my car. Unfortunately, they didn't have any record of it ever being done, so at 45k I figured I should probably get it done. As many of you know they aren't cheap. They're actually over priced if you ask me.

When I got in there I was shockingly surprised at how clean they appeared to be, especially considering they hadn't been changed...at least to my knowledge. It could only mean one or two things - the 30k required change is BS or they had been previously changed. They were a little dirty, but i feel like I could have cleaned off the dirt and reinstalled them. Has anyone every thought about that or actually done it? I don't see why these filters need to be replaced at 30k. Why can't the little dirt that it accumulates be wiped off? Or can it? When I compared the new ones to the ones I was replacing I could barely tell the difference. I think the changing of the cabin air filter, unless it has visible signs of excess dirt and particles, is a waste of money and more importantly a BS maintenance requirement pushed out by BMW.

But before I totally jump to conclusions, what has your experiences with this been like? Has anyone else noticed this to be the case or did mine look as new as they did because they might have actually been?

MSteve5036 · 08-05-2016, 02:59 PM

buy a 4 pack on amazon and do them yourself in less than an hour...they are usually a "yearly" replacement and help filter more than just dust

R3dliner · 08-05-2016, 03:18 PM

I changed mine at 19k when I bought the car. Worth changing imo.
get the micron air one. They are the OE manufacturer and less than the bmw one.

simpleM3 · 08-05-2016, 03:29 PM

Just to be clear, I already swapped them out. I mentioned that in the thread. It was when I did the swap that I noticed that the filters being swapped weren't too dirty. You guys are totally missing what I'm asking here. It's all explained in the OP. There wouldn't even be a point to this thread if i didn't already perform the procedure.

GMWNashville · 08-08-2016, 05:12 PM

They contain activated charcoal which is considered a consumable as it will only absorb so much. Additionally they do also filter out dust and dirt some of which cannot be seen by the eye which also limits the amount of airflow through the system.

simpleM3 · 08-09-2016, 08:28 AM

Interesting. I'm sure you're right, but still can't believe they want $90 bucks for them

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMWNashville

They contain activated charcoal which is considered a consumable as it will only absorb so much. Additionally they do also filter out dust and dirt some of which cannot be seen by the eye which also limits the amount of airflow through the system.

dparm · 08-09-2016, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simpleM3

Interesting. I'm sure you're right, but still can't believe they want $90 bucks for them

Much cheaper on Amazon.

If you don't drive the car a ton, you can go much longer without replacing. Worst side effect is that the AC/heater output will be a bit lower.

su_root · 08-09-2016, 02:29 PM

Swapped mine out with a set from Amazon (Mann CUK 22 008-4)

Smells much better when the blower first kicks ON.

simpleM3 · 08-09-2016, 02:33 PM

Yeah I saw those, but I wanted OEM because I read reviews that the non-OEM one's, even the ones made by the same manufacturer, didn't fit 100%. I put 7k on mine this past year. Now that I have record of the replacement, I change it accordingly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dparm

Much cheaper on Amazon.

If you don't drive the car a ton, you can go much longer without replacing. Worst side effect is that the AC/heater output will be a bit lower.

GMWNashville · 08-10-2016, 05:47 AM

The Mann ones are fine. The oem ones have plastic sides which clip in better but the Mann ones fit and work fine.

simpleM3 · 08-10-2016, 08:00 AM

Noted. I'll look into that next time which likely won't be for years to come.

M3amigos · 08-19-2016, 10:45 PM

After several years, mine looked pretty clean too. I wonder if you use the recirculate button all the time, it just bypasses the filter. Anyone know?

I did replace mine with the amazon Mann filters and they fit well enough. Didn't really notice any difference so I'm not sure I'd rush to swap them next time.

simpleM3 · 08-22-2016, 01:48 PM

I never really pay attention to whether or not I have the air recirculating or not, but im with you. I am going to put more than 30k on mine before I swap them. At the minimum I will inspect them first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3amigos

After several years, mine looked pretty clean too. I wonder if you use the recirculate button all the time, it just bypasses the filter. Anyone know?

I did replace mine with the amazon Mann filters and they fit well enough. Didn't really notice any difference so I'm not sure I'd rush to swap them next time.

Flying Ace · 08-22-2016, 02:55 PM

question is, do we have 4 filters or just 2? It's weird b/c two of them doesn't seem to do anything.

simpleM3 · 08-23-2016, 08:42 AM

There's 4. 2 for use and 2 for just owning the car

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

question is, do we have 4 filters or just 2? It's weird b/c two of them doesn't seem to do anything.

Flying Ace · 08-23-2016, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simpleM3

There's 4. 2 for use and 2 for just owning the car

Kind of like a kidney?

simpleM3 · 08-23-2016, 09:54 AM

HA!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

Kind of like a kidney?

Richbot · 08-23-2016, 03:07 PM

I changed back to OEM filters over the weekend and my valvetrain seems quieter, MPG has gone up and my rod bearings smell much better inside the cabin

simpleM3 · 08-24-2016, 01:00 PM

Interesting. Personally, if I'm going to change mine it has to be OEM. As much as I hate shelling out the cash, its little peace of mind. On some occasions I've gotten lucky found stuff for cheap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richbot

I changed back to OEM filters over the weekend and my valvetrain seems quieter, MPG has gone up and my rod bearings smell much better inside the cabin

Helmsman · 08-27-2016, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richbot

I changed back to OEM filters over the weekend and my valvetrain seems quieter, MPG has gone up and my rod bearings smell much better inside the cabin

Ha, for that value one better stay with OEM!

WingZeroX5 · 08-27-2016, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simpleM3

Interesting. Personally, if I'm going to change mine it has to be OEM. As much as I hate shelling out the cash, its little peace of mind. On some occasions I've gotten lucky found stuff for cheap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richbot

I changed back to OEM filters over the weekend and my valvetrain seems quieter, MPG has gone up and my rod bearings smell much better inside the cabin

There are many other things to use OEM than cabin air filters. Hate to break it to you but of you are paying >$50 for these then you're just wasting money...unless otherwise

Richbot · 08-29-2016, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WingZeroX5

There are many other things to use OEM than cabin air filters. Hate to break it to you but of you are paying >$50 for these then you're just wasting money...unless otherwise

Just did a post-OEM cabin air filter replacement UOA and my results say otherwise, lead down, MPG up, great results, OEM cabin air filters A++++ would buy again

08-05-2016, 11:34 AM	#1
simpleM3 Major 164 Rep 1,396 Posts Drives: 06' E46 M3 ZCP Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Fairfax, VA iTrader: (13) Garage List 19’ BMW M5C [0.00] 2007 E61 530XI [0.00] 2006 E46 M3 [0.00]	Cabin Air Filters Replacement - Is it really necessary? I called up my local dealer to find out if the cabin air filters had ever been changed on my car. Unfortunately, they didn't have any record of it ever being done, so at 45k I figured I should probably get it done. As many of you know they aren't cheap. They're actually over priced if you ask me. When I got in there I was shockingly surprised at how clean they appeared to be, especially considering they hadn't been changed...at least to my knowledge. It could only mean one or two things - the 30k required change is BS or they had been previously changed. They were a little dirty, but i feel like I could have cleaned off the dirt and reinstalled them. Has anyone every thought about that or actually done it? I don't see why these filters need to be replaced at 30k. Why can't the little dirt that it accumulates be wiped off? Or can it? When I compared the new ones to the ones I was replacing I could barely tell the difference. I think the changing of the cabin air filter, unless it has visible signs of excess dirt and particles, is a waste of money and more importantly a BS maintenance requirement pushed out by BMW. But before I totally jump to conclusions, what has your experiences with this been like? Has anyone else noticed this to be the case or did mine look as new as they did because they might have actually been? __________________ 19’ F90 M5C \| Signature VS-104 \| M-Performance \| IND \| H&R 06’ E46 M3 ZCP \| Karbonius \| Ohlins \| Vorshlag \| Turner \| Kassel \| IND \| Status Gruppe \| Macht Schnell 03' E39 M5 \| 100% Stock
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

08-05-2016, 02:59 PM	#2
MSteve5036 Captain 125 Rep 713 Posts Drives: 08/99 M3s Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: PA iTrader: (1)	buy a 4 pack on amazon and do them yourself in less than an hour...they are usually a "yearly" replacement and help filter more than just dust
	Appreciate 1 Atomicteal_M3744.50 Quote

08-05-2016, 03:18 PM	#3
R3dliner Lieutenant Colonel 935 Rep 1,930 Posts Drives: 18 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: NYC iTrader: (5)	I changed mine at 19k when I bought the car. Worth changing imo. get the micron air one. They are the OE manufacturer and less than the bmw one.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-05-2016, 03:29 PM	#4
simpleM3 Major 164 Rep 1,396 Posts Drives: 06' E46 M3 ZCP Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Fairfax, VA iTrader: (13) Garage List 19’ BMW M5C [0.00] 2007 E61 530XI [0.00] 2006 E46 M3 [0.00]	Just to be clear, I already swapped them out. I mentioned that in the thread. It was when I did the swap that I noticed that the filters being swapped weren't too dirty. You guys are totally missing what I'm asking here. It's all explained in the OP. There wouldn't even be a point to this thread if i didn't already perform the procedure. __________________ 19’ F90 M5C \| Signature VS-104 \| M-Performance \| IND \| H&R 06’ E46 M3 ZCP \| Karbonius \| Ohlins \| Vorshlag \| Turner \| Kassel \| IND \| Status Gruppe \| Macht Schnell 03' E39 M5 \| 100% Stock
	Appreciate 1 PandaM3470.00 Quote

08-08-2016, 05:12 PM	#5
GMWNashville Colonel 172 Rep 2,373 Posts Drives: 19 G05, 16 F80, 10 E70x5D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (2)	They contain activated charcoal which is considered a consumable as it will only absorb so much. Additionally they do also filter out dust and dirt some of which cannot be seen by the eye which also limits the amount of airflow through the system.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-09-2016, 02:29 PM	#8
su_root Lieutenant 168 Rep 405 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: CFL iTrader: (0)	Swapped mine out with a set from Amazon (Mann CUK 22 008-4) Smells much better when the blower first kicks ON.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2016, 05:47 AM	#10
GMWNashville Colonel 172 Rep 2,373 Posts Drives: 19 G05, 16 F80, 10 E70x5D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (2)	The Mann ones are fine. The oem ones have plastic sides which clip in better but the Mann ones fit and work fine.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2016, 08:00 AM	#11
simpleM3 Major 164 Rep 1,396 Posts Drives: 06' E46 M3 ZCP Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Fairfax, VA iTrader: (13) Garage List 19’ BMW M5C [0.00] 2007 E61 530XI [0.00] 2006 E46 M3 [0.00]	Noted. I'll look into that next time which likely won't be for years to come. __________________ 19’ F90 M5C \| Signature VS-104 \| M-Performance \| IND \| H&R 06’ E46 M3 ZCP \| Karbonius \| Ohlins \| Vorshlag \| Turner \| Kassel \| IND \| Status Gruppe \| Macht Schnell 03' E39 M5 \| 100% Stock
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2016, 10:45 PM	#12
M3amigos HP addict 37 Rep 321 Posts Drives: 2008 Jerez Black E93 6MT Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0)	After several years, mine looked pretty clean too. I wonder if you use the recirculate button all the time, it just bypasses the filter. Anyone know? I did replace mine with the amazon Mann filters and they fit well enough. Didn't really notice any difference so I'm not sure I'd rush to swap them next time.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-22-2016, 02:55 PM	#14
Flying Ace Lieutenant General 4985 Rep 11,891 Posts Drives: G05 45e, 997.1 & 991.1 GT3s Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: SF, CA iTrader: (5)	question is, do we have 4 filters or just 2? It's weird b/c two of them doesn't seem to do anything. __________________ 22 Phytonic/Coffee X5 45e (CoVID-free) 08 Speed Yellow 911 GT3 Sharkwerks 12 AW/Cinnamon X5d Sports Pkg (retired) 14 AW/Beige M6GC ZCP, MPE, V2 steering wheel, vorsteiner (retired) 08 SSII/Black E90 M3 (retired)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-23-2016, 03:07 PM	#18
Richbot Major General 2759 Rep 5,484 Posts Drives: Jerez Black E90 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: STL iTrader: (5)	I changed back to OEM filters over the weekend and my valvetrain seems quieter, MPG has gone up and my rod bearings smell much better inside the cabin __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote