[YaboiJustin]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

Take a clear picture with flash in the micro filter box

Looks like it’s in the right position.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by YaboiJustin

Looks like it’s in the right position.

Nope. It’s flipped.

[YaboiJustin]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

Nope. It’s flipped.

Damn it! I had a feeling too. When my AC is set to high it feels like it’s on the middle blower setting. Not as strong as I know it should be.

[Hot bimmer]

Changed my cabin filter today 2020 X4 M40i, found it much more easier than what I've read here. Some of you guys are scaring people. Left in recirculate mode (Light On) took all of 30 minutes no problems whatsoever. Filter slid right out after taking cover off, slid new filter in buttoned everything up, started car turned on a/c and done.
Note: Filter was 2 years old maybe 12000 mi on it and it was still ok not bad at all. Purchased new filter from amazon # premium guard pc99458c works well $16.84.

[fdpxfunix]

Had my filter changed as part of a service by my dealer a few weeks ago. Didn’t notice any air flow issues until 3 weeks later when the Uk weather hotted up a bit and I wanted the face vents only with AC. I usually leave the fan on 4, but even at 8 it’s weak and a whistling noise can be heard. Lots of whirring going on too at car startup/shutdown from the glove box area.

Hopefully being sorted on Thu this week, but for my own reference… in YaboiJustins image, that white line on the flap should be on the other side and the flap fully closed, or open a bit?

J.

[X3rd Time Is a Charm]

Originally Posted by rob175

Could someone CONFIRM (once and for all) the proper flap position for this filter change? Seems like there's conflicting instructions.

Simple question:
Is "recirculating" air to be selected or should "outside" air to be selected?

Thx

Well rob175 , this post has been going on for 3 years and we still can’t get an answer. I’ve changed mine twice without a problem but , I make sure the car is off and wait until it goes to sleep before installing it . Just thinking the flap should go into default mode .So far so good.

[Scottishman93]

Originally Posted by fdpxfunix

Had my filter changed as part of a service by my dealer a few weeks ago. Didn’t notice any air flow issues until 3 weeks later when the Uk weather hotted up a bit and I wanted the face vents only with AC. I usually leave the fan on 4, but even at 8 it’s weak and a whistling noise can be heard. Lots of whirring going on too at car startup/shutdown from the glove box area.

Hopefully being sorted on Thu this week, but for my own reference… in YaboiJustins image, that white line on the flap should be on the other side and the flap fully closed, or open a bit?

J.

Same issue here mate, had it serviced on Friday and it’s been mid 20’s here so had A/C on full blast but the flow would keep dropping, noticed it had iced up the A/C pipes so continually having to turn A/C off to let it thaw but still the flow isn’t great.

Checked the cabin filter today and noticed it’s a Mann, just wondering if anyone has had issues with certain makes of filters as well? Going to check the flap as well now just in case.

[lfdal54]

Originally Posted by Scottishman93

Same issue here mate, had it serviced on Friday and it’s been mid 20’s here so had A/C on full blast but the flow would keep dropping, noticed it had iced up the A/C pipes so continually having to turn A/C off to let it thaw but still the flow isn’t great.

Checked the cabin filter today and noticed it’s a Mann, just wondering if anyone has had issues with certain makes of filters as well? Going to check the flap as well now just in case.

I've used Mann filters before with no problems. One of the better brands, IMO.

[Keefy]

Originally Posted by lfdal54

I've used Mann filters before with no problems. One of the better brands, IMO.

They’re certainly up there with OEM.

[X3rd Time Is a Charm]

I’ve replaced mine twice with Mann and never a problem .

[fdpxfunix]

Sorry to re-ask (as I know we’re probably sick and tired is topic now)…

For my own reference… in YaboiJustins image, that white line on the flap should be on the other side and the flap fully closed, or open a bit?

BMW looked at mine and found a screw needed replacement as the filter cover was not tight enough (?!) This fixed the whistle, but after driving 550 miles this weekend, I’m still not convinced the air flow is good enough. Even with AC and fan on 8 it’s weak. In 3 years of ownership I’ve never doubted the HVAC in my car.

I’m going to open the thing up myself tomorrow and take a look… hence my query above.

J.

[Scottishman93]

Originally Posted by lfdal54

I've used Mann filters before with no problems. One of the better brands, IMO.

That’s what I thought as well, took the filter out and ran the A/C with no problems, seems strange.

[Leem40i]

LOL, BMW owners are funny. 6 pages of post on how to change the cabin air filter. I'll bet how to engage the left and right turn signal would generate at least 10 pages

[fdpxfunix]

I’ve just fixed my flap… and yes it was in the wrong position even though BMW said it was fine. PITA doing it without removing the blower etc, but I fashioned a tool and got it back over. Now there’s proper air back in the cabin. TFFT.

Lemm40i… what is this turn signal you talk of?

Freshxdough… thank you, and much much respect to you.

J.

[Plusforce]

Originally Posted by fdpxfunix

I’ve just fixed my flap… and yes it was in the wrong position even though BMW said it was fine. PITA doing it without removing the blower etc, but I fashioned a tool and got it back over. Now there’s proper air back in the cabin. TFFT.

Lemm40i… what is this turn signal you talk of?

Freshxdough… thank you, and much much respect to you.

J.

Nice! and pictures/details of your tool/procedure will be very helpful for the ohers.

[fdpxfunix]

I’ll do it later for sure. Very similar to Freshxdough’s approach, but not as professional.

J.

[Keefy]

Originally Posted by Leem40i

LOL, BMW owners are funny. 6 pages of post on how to change the cabin air filter. I'll bet how to engage the left and right turn signal would generate at least 10 pages

It’s common knowledge that BMW owners fail to use either left or right turn signals, or the rear view mirror

[fdpxfunix]

I'll try and keep this short.

* * * PLEASE NOTE : You do this at your own risk. It worked for me but may not work for you. It will cause a bit of back ache or midriff muscle aches, so be careful. * * *

I made what is basically a radiator pick out of an old Jim Beam BBQ tool. I bent one end a little and then wrapped it in a bit of electrical tape just to make the end soft. TBH, I reckon I could have used a piece wood or a large screwdriver in the end.

As for being comfortable while doing the work, I made a bed out my garden furniture and an old duvet. It just made lying on your back half in the car and looking up into the filter housing so much easier. There's not a lot of room to work like this, but to do it properly you need to look up.

LED flashlight/torch is a must and a head band one would have been better.

So...

1 - As per YT video's remove what you need to, to gain access to the filter.

2 - Pull the filter out. I had to use a screwdriver and pry it out. It didn't just fall out and needed a wiggle here and there.

3 - Confirm if your 'flap is flipped' (TM). See my pic of the flap. For perspective, the top of the flap is facing toward the back of the car and should not look like that. It should be 180 degrees (roughly) down, facing down toward the bottom of the filter housing.

4 - The flip process I followed...

a - Make sure you have your key nearby.

b - Get yourself in position (led down) so you can see up into the filter housing with your tool and flashlight ready.

c - Lock the car, count to 10, unlock the car.

d - Reach up with your left hand (which is very easy from where you're laying) and turn the infotainment on.

e - At that point the car should fire into life, you'll hear whirring of flaps, and you should see the re-circ flap trying to move. At the very same time as the flap is 'stuttering' use your tool and press firmly upwards on the lower part of the flap as you look at it. Mine flipped almost instantly but it would only move when the motor was trying to do something. Hooking the tool over the top of the flap and pulling down with the motor doing nothing didn't work. Also trying both methods with just the ignition on didn't work either. It was all about the motor trying to do something and me pushing at the same time.

5 - Once it's flipped, mine stopped in the fresh air position, so I reached up (again with my left hand) and pressed the re-circ button on/off and then verified it closed/opened.

6 - I then went through a full test of all the fan speeds, air flow directions, re-circ on/off, AC on/off just to make sure everything looked good.

7 - When I put the filter back, I made sure the flap was in re-circ mode. This was a bit of a pain for me as when I turned my car off it kept going into fresh air position, so I put the filter back in with the car on. My filter didn't just slide in and felt like it was getting caught. I had to wiggle it and angle it a bit and then it went in fine.

8 - Before screwing the filter cover back on and re-fitting the panel I tested it all again.


That's it.

Fan speed 4 now has decent air flow again. Probably took me 2.5h in the end but knowing what I know now, I could do it 30mins.

And yes... my back is aching a bit now.

J.

[Plusforce]

Nice write up!
So maybe we should change the filter when the engine is on and re-ciruclating is on also?

[fdpxfunix]

Your engine doesn’t need to be on and running, just the car needs to be on and re-circ selected. Each time I shut my car down (thinking that was the sensible thing to do) or let it go to sleep, the flap went into fresh air position.

J.

[Plusforce]

Originally Posted by fdpxfunix

Your engine doesn’t need to be on and running, just the car needs to be on and re-circ selected. Each time I shut my car down (thinking that was the sensible thing to do) or let it go to sleep, the flap went into fresh air position.

J.

I think car doesn't stay on more than a few minutes if the engine is not running. Maybe I'm wrong.

[YaboiJustin]

Originally Posted by fdpxfunix

I'll try and keep this short.

* * * PLEASE NOTE : You do this at your own risk. It worked for me but may not work for you. It will cause a bit of back ache or midriff muscle aches, so be careful. * * *

I made what is basically a radiator pick out of an old Jim Beam BBQ tool. I bent one end a little and then wrapped it in a bit of electrical tape just to make the end soft. TBH, I reckon I could have used a piece wood or a large screwdriver in the end.

As for being comfortable while doing the work, I made a bed out my garden furniture and an old duvet. It just made lying on your back half in the car and looking up into the filter housing so much easier. There's not a lot of room to work like this, but to do it properly you need to look up.

LED flashlight/torch is a must and a head band one would have been better.

So...

1 - As per YT video's remove what you need to, to gain access to the filter.

2 - Pull the filter out. I had to use a screwdriver and pry it out. It didn't just fall out and needed a wiggle here and there.

3 - Confirm if your 'flap is flipped' (TM). See my pic of the flap. For perspective, the top of the flap is facing toward the back of the car and should not look like that. It should be 180 degrees (roughly) down, facing down toward the bottom of the filter housing.

4 - The flip process I followed...

a - Make sure you have your key nearby.

b - Get yourself in position (led down) so you can see up into the filter housing with your tool and flashlight ready.

c - Lock the car, count to 10, unlock the car.

d - Reach up [...]

I should have thought about doing that bed like set up. My left side was hurting for about 3 days. I could never be a contortionist. 😂