[Headly]

Cabin Air Filter Replacement
Model: 2006 330I
Tools needed: Ratchet with 8 mil socket
Difficulty: It doesn’t get much easier than this.

While I have been viewing and taking advantage of the DIY projects illustrated on this forum for weeks, I just made the leap and became a member today. Since I have the desire to give a little back, I decided that I would add a DIY of my own.

No comments about the dirty garage or engine compartment please. I just moved into a new house and I’m still in the process of cleaning and organizing the garage. Due to the move, the cleanliness of my car has also been somewhat neglected.

The steps for changing the cabin air filter are as follows.
1. Open the hood.
2. Locate the cabin air filter cover at the back of the engine compartment close to the vehicles windshield.
3. Remove the plastic cover that contains the air filter by removing six screws with an 8 mil socket.
4. Remove the air filter from the inside of the plastic cover.
5. Place a new air filter in the cover
6. Repeat steps 1 to 3 in reverse.

If you notice the pictures you will see that the filter is extremely dirty. If you have not changed this filter in 25k or more, yours might look the same.
You might have also noticed that I did not actually change the filter. One of the pictures shows what I did instead. I used a shop vac to pull out some of the dirt. It seemed to help a bit, but the filter is still very dirty and in need of replacement. No, I’m not so cheap to do this as a money saving tactic. I just got the itch to take something apart and I did not have a new filter on hand. I figured that since I already had it apart I might as well do something to clean it to some degree. It's just a band-aid for now. I will stop by my local BMW dealer tomorrow and get a new filter.

On a side note, after showing the filter to my wife and explaining how I would need to make another trip for automotive parts tomorrow she asked me if I was going to “put that dirty filter back in the car like that in the mean time?”. I told her that it was ok. I would just turn the filter around in the housing so that the clean side was out to trap the dirt. She accepted this response without argument.

Hmmm. Having trouble attaching photos. I will fix this tomorrow.

[BRITBOY68]

she asked me if I was going to “put that dirty filter back in the car like that in the mean time?”. I told her that it was ok. I would just turn the filter around in the housing so that the clean side was out to trap the dirt. She accepted this response without argument.

I hope you are kidding, everything you have trapped in the filter will be pulled into the air vents.

[Headly]

I understand the effect that would have. No, I didn't do it. She didn't question my logic either. This is why I don't even let her put gas in the car.

Of course I stay away from the laundry. "I managed to shrink, bleech, or otherwise destroy another one of your outfits when you asked me to help out by doing the laundry?" I just couldn't figure it out and nowI am forbiden to do it....

[l8apexer]

Thanks for the posting - any chance you may have a part number available?

[Neutrino45]

Part #:64 31 6 946 628 Got mine for $30 from BavAuto.com
CBS Reset: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51049
Micro filter cover removal video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts2X_RBVdHU

[scramblur]

What about reseting the service interval on the iDrive after changing? Anyway to do that manually?

[my07_335i]

you should use photobucket to host the images....

[MB330]

Thank You for your tutoril.
Just change my filter on company parking lot - take me no more then 10 min in a dark garage with flashlight!

[neoduffer]

We should add this Final Step:

Service Indicator Reset - Hold down the Trip Odometer reset button to get into the menus to reset the service indicator. Navigate through the menu using the left stalk until you see an Icon that looks like a Fan and Cabin Filter. Hold down the BC button on the stalk to reset.

[fherjohn]

I will be doing this soon! Ty

[Lozzatron]

ANother DIY thread i will be using to do my own car! fantastic site!

[BaseM3]

Does anyone have any ideas how to repair the stripped plastic that the screws go into? I'f got 4 that are stripped.

[Ghost Protocol]

How do you change the next service date and the service mileage? The system automatically resets it to 2 years from now. The cabin filter is an annual or 15k mi service. My car is at 65k miles but the indicator now says 60k miles / Aug 2014. I need to reset it to 80k / Aug 2013.

[DH330]

was looking for this, thanks!

[desmo001]

Good info.

[eldoble]

quick question for panel here as I cant seem to find answer in owner's manual or google .. is this indicator light for cabin micro-filter (not sure why pic is upside-down)?

[rogerdiaz]

anyone know recommended interval to change cabin filter

[jamiepstewart]

Great post. This is really really easy. Plus its good to pull it out and look for moisture build up (possible rust) near the fan inlet. I just did mine at 39K and it was pretty dirty. How often depends on where you live, how often you drive, how much dust is in your area, etc. But not a bad idea to check it with each oil change. It only takes a few minutes to get at it. And if you want to be anal, not a bad idea to hit it with a shopvac after each oil change.

This is a good visual DIY video from Bentley:
http://bentleypublishers.wordpress.c...-3-series-e90/

[mi_bimmer]

Thanks for this DIY fellas. I changed the cabin filter on mine. Real easy job, took under 10 mins.

Here is a pic showing the dirty old filter and the new clean one. The car has 43K miles on it (I just got the car) and the cabin filter had never been replaced. The service light never came on to indicate it was dirty (which it clearly is, as you can see)