DIY: Charcoal Cabin Filter Replacement

[Dirty Cash]

Originally Posted by Kzang

Damn.. dealer quoted me $199.99 for the cabin air filter and labor to change it.
$33 for the air filter on amazon.. can I just buy 2 for both sides or are each sides different filters?

Dropped mine off for service this morning and I was quoted $347 for the cabin air filters. Needless to say, I refused that portion of the service and came straight to this forum and looky, looky!!! Complete step by step write-up w/pics, $31.99 for the filters on Amazin (Amazon) and a fraction of my time...job’ll be done!



On a brighter note, I was given a ‘19 50i as a loaner. Doesn’t have the M-Sport package, but she’s not lacking for creature comforts or power! The lane keeping assistant through me for a loop the first time the lane stripes weren’t perfect in my area, damn car gave me a quick arm workout forcing the steering wheel and consequently the car back to lane center.

Wasn’t expecting that at all!

[TikiTembo]

It was a bit of a bear trying to change the cabin air filters under the hood, particularly because there was one permanent plastic bolt which I couldn't remove for the life of me and caused a screw to pop off as I tried reinstalling everything.

I'm guessing these instructions are for an F15 X6 and not X16? Frustrating, for sure.

[CatalinP]

You'll find the replacement procedure in newtis.info

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by TikiTembo

It was a bit of a bear trying to change the cabin air filters under the hood, particularly because there was one permanent plastic bolt which I couldn't remove for the life of me and caused a screw to pop off as I tried reinstalling everything.

I'm guessing these instructions are for an F15 X6 and not X16? Frustrating, for sure.

It's for an F15 X5/x6 as that is the forum you're in right now. Lol. What's an X16?

[TikiTembo]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

It's for an F15 X5/x6 as that is the forum you're in right now. Lol. What's an X16?

My bad ... I meant F16.

[Capttom500]

had one of those plastic push rivets on my '16 x5. gotta pull center out first to get rivit to come out.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by TikiTembo

My bad ... I meant F16.

Got a pick of what you're talking about. Engine bay is the same as F15...can you compare the pics I took to what you have and see a difference? Maybe the 50i engine is different for the set up then what ever engine you have? Idk other than that.

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by Kzang

Damn.. dealer quoted me $199.99 for the cabin air filter and labor to change it.
$33 for the air filter on amazon.. can I just buy 2 for both sides or are each sides different filters?

THIS is exactly why they get labled as "Stealerships and Vampires".

I am a firm believer in "Honest pay for Honest work". But this sort of shit just pisses me TF off!

On a related note... This car is MUCH easier than my F01 which I have done before and is due now. You have to contort your body (which is not easy for a 6ft 235lbs guy like myself) upside down under the passenger dash, remove the air bag, disconnect a plethora of wires and connections and various tiny ass screws. That took my ass an hour to do. My back was foking killing me! I will go to an indy this time....

[TXSTYLE]

Thanks OP!

[KESX5]

My X5d just hit 70,000 so I decided to replace the 3 cabin filters and engine air filter my self. Parts $82 from AutohausAZ (recommend for parts). This was my first time replacing filters on my X5 and it took 32 minutes start to finish. Dealership did the las replacement for $311.

Should also add that the engine filter looked like it could use replacement with 17K in miles but the air filters could have waited another 17K.

[aldouk]

Thanks for the write up.

I'm gonna take a look at mine before ordering new as I'd like to think these were changed on the last service (done on previous ownership.)

Car has just hit 50k miles now

Cheers

[M302_imola]

I'm having an issue with my front defrost. Instead of it blowing out violently like normal, it's not blowing out at all. You still get the loud build up of air, but it sounds like it's stuck inside and won't blow through the vent. Haven't changed my cabin air filters in forever. Could this be the issue? Heat and air work just fine, it's just a front defrost issue.

[TheMane]

I was having some unrelated work done at the dealership and they offered to swap out the air filters. I didn't think much of it and said "sure"-- only to see it billed on the invoice as parts + labor = ~$300!

I rarely complain at the dealership, I know what I'm getting into when I'm there, but this was so egregious I demanded to talk to the service manager to have him justify an hour+ of labor billed for the work.

After arguing with him about how long it takes I finally offered to literally pay another hour of labor for them to re-do it, just so I can sit and watch his guy try to take that long with the job.

He huffed something about the book labor rate and then deleted the labor from the bill.

Ridiculous.

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by TheMane

I was having some unrelated work done at the dealership and they offered to swap out the air filters. I didn't think much of it and said "sure"-- only to see it billed on the invoice as parts + labor = ~$300!

I rarely complain at the dealership, I know what I'm getting into when I'm there, but this was so egregious I demanded to talk to the service manager to have him justify an hour+ of labor billed for the work.

After arguing with him about how long it takes I finally offered to literally pay another hour of labor for them to re-do it, just so I can sit and watch his guy try to take that long with the job.

He huffed something about the book labor rate and then deleted the labor from the bill.

Ridiculous.

[screaminfast]

Thanks for the write-up! Anyone see that K&N makes a "washable" set for the ones under the hood. I'd imagine they're not activated charcoal if they are washable.

https://www.knfilters.com/bmw/x6/3.0l-l6-gas/2017/

[MH20jy]

Originally Posted by screaminfast

Thanks for the write-up! Anyone see that K&N makes a "washable" set for the ones under the hood. I'd imagine they're not activated charcoal if they are washable.

https://www.knfilters.com/bmw/x6/3.0l-l6-gas/2017/

You can get filter from fcpeuro and they have lifetime replacement policy as long as you mail them back the original one you purchased.

[CYPER]

Is this considered a dirty filter? I believe it's still original. Needs changing?
X6 50i

Air Filter

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by CYPER

Is this considered a dirty filter? I believe it's still original. Needs changing?
X6 50i

I don't see any dirt, grime or debris in the folds of those filters. If those were my filters...I would continue to use them for a few more months/miles. The darker areas on the filters in your video are due to them being a filter with a layer of activated charcoal woven into the filter media fabric.

I just changed my interior micro filters a few weeks ago...and though they weren't completely filthy...there was visible debris between the folds.

[TXSTYLE]

While we are on the subject...

I had mine recently replaced and although they didn't look too dirty (very hard to see when they are already dark GREY!) I noticed that the AC started to blow much better and colder! So that in itself is a reason to change them out. 💯

[RED_Y_]

Originally Posted by TXSTYLE

While we are on the subject...

I had mine recently replaced and although they didn't look too dirty (very hard to see when they are already dark GREY!) I noticed that the AC started to blow much better and colder! So that in itself is a reason to change them out. 💯

That makes sense, if you drive in dusty conditions even it doesn't visually look extremely dirty it still have be packed with small dust particles. Actually reminds me I need to get mine replaced, went camping and drove about 20 miles on extremely dusty mountain road.

[TXSTYLE]

Originally Posted by RED_Y_

That makes sense, if you drive in dusty conditions even it doesn't visually look extremely dirty it still have be packed with small dust particles. Actually reminds me I need to get mine replaced, went camping and drove about 20 miles on extremely dusty mountain road.

Definitely I can see you benefit for sure. We've lived in New construction as our new neighborhood of 3 years has finally been completed. Including street expansion. I also had my 750s replaced at the same time. It 8n particular is now blowing air very frigid! So I know and feel the difference.

[aschmidt]

Originally Posted by Russmov

This right here is a prime example of why dealerships aren't trusted. They think just because you drive an expensive vehicle you should pay more for the exact same parts. Ridiculous

Exactly - stealership Knauz Illinois quote $200 for a simple DYI.