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View Full Version : Is it possible to wash a BMW Cabin Air filter?



youngbimmer
07-21-2010, 04:24 PM
Title says it all. I've got my cabin air filter pulled out, and I was wondering if it was possible to wash it instead of buying a new one? It won't harm the engine or vital system components would it?

MANUALmobile
07-21-2010, 04:40 PM
It won't harm anything but its kind of a waste of time. They are like $20 new. Plus when they are not clean they do not allow much air through(a/c or heater won't blow very hard) But in any case, if you still want to clean it, you can blow air through it going the opposite direction in which air would travel if it were in the car. It will never be very clean though.

E36BMW3series
07-21-2010, 04:48 PM
lol, if you had an e36 you'd never ask this question. It's an absolute pain to get to, and trust me, if you end up getting to it, YOU WILL CHANGE IT.

That said, get on http://www.autohausaz.com/ order filter for like 20 bucks. Then order some extra things you will eventually need like oil filters or spark plugs. Get your total to $50, get free shipping. Put the new one in and forget about it.

greenE36
07-21-2010, 05:01 PM
Title says it all. I've got my cabin air filter pulled out, and I was wondering if it was possible to wash it instead of buying a new one? It won't harm the engine or vital system components would it?
If you saw how dirty they can get after 12 years, (When I changed mine) you would change it. It is a waste of time really, to try and clean one. I think it is safe to say mine looked a little something like this... http://webpages.charter.net/robbiev/Storage/filter.jpg

youngbimmer
07-21-2010, 05:20 PM
Yeah, I just blew it out with an air compressor, washed it, then blew it out again, and it seems to get a little whiter than before. So I'm not complaining.
Next question:
its hot here, REALLY hot (103 Fahrenheit)
AC takes a long time to get cold, and sometimes, it won't enough at all. On other days, its fine. Is there some other refrigerant that is better than what is in the stock system for faster cooling? I hate cooking myself in my car. My mom's camry cools better than both my 325i and my dad's honda pilot.

E36BMW3series
07-21-2010, 05:23 PM
Yeah, I just blew it out with an air compressor, washed it, then blew it out again, and it seems to get a little whiter than before. So I'm not complaining.
Next question:
its hot here, REALLY hot (103 Fahrenheit)
AC takes a long time to get cold, and sometimes, it won't enough at all. On other days, its fine. Is there some other refrigerant that is better than what is in the stock system for faster cooling? I hate cooking myself in my car. My mom's camry cools better than both my 325i and my dad's honda pilot.

It may just need recharged. IIRC there is a thread in the e36 forum on how to do that. It's not hard.

youngbimmer
07-21-2010, 05:24 PM
It may just need recharged. IIRC there is a thread in the e36 forum on how to do that. It's not hard.
its an e46. Same process?

Brashland
07-22-2010, 04:42 PM
My mom's camry cools better than both my 325i and my dad's honda pilot.

My mom's 1996 Toyota 4-Runner has never been recharged and will freeze you out. I'd love for BMW to steal their AC systems people and apply it to their cars.

kornkid8600
07-22-2010, 04:46 PM
My mom's 1996 Toyota 4-Runner has never been recharged and will freeze you out. I'd love for BMW to steal their AC systems people and apply it to their cars.

My 96 M blows freezing air on startup in 100 degree weather. So I'm pretty happy about that. It hasn't been recharged to my knowledge. I've had the car for 5 yrs.

pizzaman09
07-22-2010, 10:33 PM
lol, if you had an e36 you'd never ask this question. It's an absolute pain to get to, and trust me, if you end up getting to it, YOU WILL CHANGE IT.
Same goes for the e38.