[JayD]

How often should the cabin charcol microfilter be replaced. The one that is in the engine compartment on a 335i

[rambalu80]

Originally Posted by JayD

How often should the cabin charcol microfilter be replaced. The one that is in the engine compartment on a 335i

I remember reading somewhere that it is every other oil change but I may be wrong because I've had four oil changes so far an no microfilter change yet.

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by rambalu80

I remember reading somewhere that it is every other oil change but I may be wrong because I've had four oil changes so far an no microfilter change yet.

No, the dealers are clueless sometimes. The first oil change I had done, the SA said that they changed the filter. I asked him...What filter is this and he said that it was the microfilter. It wasn't. The filter they were talking about was the oil filter.

I changed my microfilter after 50k miles.

[Prowess Symphony]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

No, the dealers are clueless sometimes. The first oil change I had done, the SA said that they changed the filter. I asked him...What filter is this and he said that it was the microfilter. It wasn't. The filter they were talking about was the oil filter.

I changed my microfilter after 50k miles.

How can a service advisor confuse the oil filter and microfilter? That man should NOT be allowed near cars.

Im pretty sure that the microfilter should only be changed after many many miles, like Mr. 5 said. Isnt it in the manual?

[dassub]

My car is now at 70,000km (43,000 miles). I'm thinking it's about time I change mine. Is it better to wait for the summer time? Or should I just change it soon with winter and snow approaching.. or, maybe it just doesn't matter.

[mtechnik3]

I believe BMW recommends changing these cabin filters every 15,000 mi (down from 30,000 mi originally). A lot will depends on where you live, and drive. I asked my SA to have the tech change mine at 15,000 and they were pretty cool about it.

[wasup1357]

i thought when its time to change the computer will tell you?

[JayD]

The microfilter is a condition based service per the local dealer, no set time or milage interval. I bought one and changed it anyway at 12k but I have severe allergies and it did help some by changing it in my Acura.

[FCPGroton]

I normally change it once a year, same time I do the one in my house.

[wasup1357]

yea i had to change it very oftenly when i had my TL and it was very dirty everytime i chagne it but with the 3 even when the computer bitches about it the filter is not very dirty

[Ryan323i]

Originally Posted by FCPGroton

I normally change it once a year, same time I do the one in my house.

Just change it once a year. It cleans the air you breathe in the car and it's only 30 bucks!

[AlanAZ]

I checked mine after 10K miles, wasn't dirty, I'll change it in another 10, so 20K miles total.

[rambalu80]

Originally Posted by wasup1357

i thought when its time to change the computer will tell you?

The computer will tell you if your software hasn't been updated. If you have the updated software, you will not see the microfilter and spark plug service info or screens if you have the iDrive.

[mds82]

i'm due for a change at 60,000 miles

I'm not sure how to reset the car's system to tell it that is has been changed. does anyone know how to do that>?

[Ryan323i]

Originally Posted by mds82

i'm due for a change at 60,000 miles

I'm not sure how to reset the car's system to tell it that is has been changed. does anyone know how to do that>?

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51049

[jzchen]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I could not find anything that says exactly when to change this filter. In one part of the Service/Warranty booklet it says it is based on the CBS, but somewhere else it says the CBS doesn't tell when to change it. I also couldn't find any specifics in the Bentley Manual, although I didn't look thoroughly through it.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by jzchen

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I could not find anything that says exactly when to change this filter. In one part of the Service/Warranty booklet it says it is based on the CBS, but somewhere else it says the CBS doesn't tell when to change it. I also couldn't find any specifics in the Bentley Manual, although I didn't look thoroughly through it.

So when you read through this thread people are talking about both the engine air filter and the cabin air filter. Both are charcoal filters in some respects, so there may be some confusion. In an effort to clarify:

The Engine air filter has a replacable element and a non replacable charcoal filter (built into the air intake box). The engine air filter element has a scheduled replacement every 3rd oil change (on the BMW CBS schedule of approximately 15,000 miles) so about every 45,000 to 50,000 miles.

The Cabin air filter is a replaceable charcoal air filter element and is located under the hood on the cowling between the wiper arms (not actually in the "engine compartment"). The schedule for replacement of the cabin air filter is determined by the CBS. There is a notification icon in the CBS that has a box with dots in it with a fan blade symbol above it. The symbol is in the owners manual in the section on controls (around page 40 I think).

[jzchen]

Originally Posted by ENINTY

So when you read through this thread people are talking about both the engine air filter and the cabin air filter. Both are charcoal filters in some respects, so there may be some confusion. In an effort to clarify:

The Engine air filter has a replacable element and a non replacable charcoal filter (built into the air intake box). The engine air filter element has a scheduled replacement every 3rd oil change (on the BMW CBS schedule of approximately 15,000 miles) so about every 45,000 to 50,000 miles.

The Cabin air filter is a replaceable charcoal air filter element and is located under the hood on the cowling between the wiper arms (not actually in the "engine compartment"). The schedule for replacement of the cabin air filter is determined by the CBS. There is a notification icon in the CBS that has a box with dots in it with a fan blade symbol above it. The symbol is in the owners manual in the section on controls (around page 40 I think).

I'm afraid the CBS does not indicate when to change the microfilter as of 2008. I can not find this symbol you talk about anywhere in the Manual or the Service and Warranty books. I'm afraid I equated under hood as engine compartment. But anyways, somehow this CBS feature seems to have been deleted, and an interval was not specified. My wife's car had a bad odor, it turned out to be a cup of soy milk left in the armrest compartment, but I replaced the microfilter and it looked pretty darn dirty. She has about 38k or 39k miles.

[Bcube]

Originally Posted by jzchen

I'm afraid the CBS does not indicate when to change the microfilter as of 2008. I can not find this symbol you talk about anywhere in the Manual or the Service and Warranty books. I'm afraid I equated under hood as engine compartment. But anyways, somehow this CBS feature seems to have been deleted, and an interval was not specified. My wife's car had a bad odor, it turned out to be a cup of soy milk left in the armrest compartment, but I replaced the microfilter and it looked pretty darn dirty. She has about 38k or 39k miles.

Your not alone, my 07 E93 has never shown the cabin microfilter indication. I don't know if the indication is dependent upon E9x model, engine type, year, and/or iDrive equipped. My service and warranty booklet mentions the microfilter but doesn't list a replacement interval for it. So, I change it out once a year.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by jzchen

I'm afraid the CBS does not indicate when to change the microfilter as of 2008. I can not find this symbol you talk about anywhere in the Manual or the Service and Warranty books. I'm afraid I equated under hood as engine compartment. But anyways, somehow this CBS feature seems to have been deleted, and an interval was not specified. My wife's car had a bad odor, it turned out to be a cup of soy milk left in the armrest compartment, but I replaced the microfilter and it looked pretty darn dirty. She has about 38k or 39k miles.

I have a work colleague who owns a E90 LCI. I'll check with him to see if his car has the message symbol. I can’t see why BMW would remove the cabin air filter maintenance notification from the CBS AND then not include a mileage or time interval in the owner’s manual to follow, but alas I checked the 2009 manual on line and it is not in the CBS anymore. Anyway, my car has had 3 filters replaced in 158,000 miles. I'm on my 4th filter as of 158,000 miles, at the end of October 2011, so just over 53,000 miles for each filter. The new filters are charcoal loaded so they look kind of dirty even when new.

[Blubaron79]

bringing this thread back. I am ordering one now. It says order with ATC, or w/o ATC. What is ATC???

[PA66400]

I do not think it is CBS in the newer years of the E90. My 2008 orginally had the icon for cabin filter change. This, and other CBS icons disappeared when my software was updated, during replacement of a failed CCC (iDrive and Nav computer).