I'm assuming this is easy to do. The service manual says it's right behind the glove compartment. Is removing the glovebox difficult?

 

Not difficult at all.

 

Here you go:

 

Never knew there was such thing. How often should someone change this?

 

Should be every 30k but i could b wrong

 

the manual says, 15k but just check if the filter is really dirty, if not just continue using it. other cars based on experience usually been replaced at 30k.

 

If you go by the severe service schedule, you should change it at 6K miles or 6 months.

My car is almost a year old, but only has 4600 miles. I figure it's time for a change, especially since I was having issues with moldy smells coming from the A/C.

Dealer didn't have one in stock, so I'm waiting on one to be ordered. I did practice taking the glovebox off... everyone was right, it's a piece of cake. (You just never know if taking apart console parts will be difficult or easy... in some cars it's easy, in some it's a real bear...)

--michael

 

anyone have the part number?

 

Couldn't find the PN, but this should help:

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...layCatalogid=0

 

wow thank you! didnt know that filter is so costly though =(

 

they are about 25 bucks at O'Reilly's

and if you use your a/c alot you should at least check it i have to change mine about every 5 to 6 months

 

you could just take it out and remove all the crap, probably no need to replace it very often.

I bought my X with about 7500 miles and when i looked at it there was a pretty good amount of leaves/dirt/etc. on the side the air comes in. Shook it out and put it back in, made no perceivable difference.

 

That sounds about right for a cabin air filter... A dealer wanted $100 for parts and labor, cuz they hide the thing behind the globe compartment and most people don't know how to get at it

 

Filter came in. Wow, was that easy. Took all of 1 minute. No tools necessary.

1. Squeeze the stops on the sides of the glove box together, to lower the glove box.
2. Lift the rubber grommet of the damper off of the pin. This will allow the glove box to come out.
3. Lift the side tabs of the air filter cover and remove. (Not sure what the service manual means by "loosen the lugs"--there's no "lugs" to "loosen" on mine, just a tab on each side)
4. Replace the filter. Make sure the air flow arrow points down.
5. Put everything back together, reversing steps #3, #2, #1 above.

Compare that to changing the microfilter in a BMW E36 (an absolute bear), which is why I was asking if the Evo's was difficult.

Note that you do NOT need to remove the entire glove box assembly, as shown in the service manual--just get the "door" out. No need to remove the top & bottom panels.

My filter was pretty black and dirty, with a few leaves and other grit. I'm glad I changed it, and will put a new filter in regularly.

--michael

 

Thanks for the feedback Michael.