Replaced my cabin air filter afer 29,000+ miles on my 04 MCS.......

YUCK.

 

I think I read somewhere this filter only affects the cabin when you are recirculating the air and it does not filter the fresh outside air. Is that true?

 

Not sure....but I never use the recycle feature......

 

I would guess that since you didn't use the recirculate feature (like we don't) that the answer would be that all the air coming into the car through the ventilation system passes through the filter. Since we are selling our 2003 with just over 30,000 miles, our filter would look like your "before" filter. I will chalk that up into my "reminder list" to change that filter before we reach 30K miles in the new 2006.


Thanks for posting the pics,

Paul

 

Oh man that is dirty! Where is the cabin filter located? How can I access it and remove it? I have 39K on my 03 MINI and not sure if the dealer replaced it at any of the service calls.

Also is there a FRAM or Purolator filter that is an exact replacement?

Thanks,

-boognish

 

It's located under the glove box. The cover for the filter doesn't look like it's the right size...but it is....and the filter kind of gets shimmied up behind the glovebox....

In my S I didn't have any screws or anything to undo...just pulled at the tabs...and off it came...

I just had my 25K service and they did not replace it (but then again I forgot to mention it)....but it cost me $20 or something off of eBay and it was an OEM replacement.

Try eBay or www.driveclassicmini.com (Classic Mini of Ohio). I think it retails for $40+ from the dealer.

 

The cabin air filter should be included in all of your scheduled maintenance visits. I had mine replaced at my 1 yr visit, and was told it would be replaced at my next visit also.

 

I had to change that filter myself, and it looked pretty bad after just 2 years and 17,000 miles. But then again, I live in an area with new construction all around. I also drove 2 cats up from Florida in the car, for 750 miles. I had the a/c crankin' because it was summertime, and there was lots of cat hair stuck to the filter. It does its job!It's a PITA to get back in correctly, as I was on my back in the passenger footwell ensuring I did it right. I didn't want to do it by feel, on the chance that I'd muck it up.My local dealer said that it was not done gratis until inspection I, so I was on my own until then. There was NO WAY the old filter would have lasted until then, so I did it. Wish I had thought of the e-bay thing though, since the dealer clipped me for 50 bucks !They did install a new one at inspection I, even though the one I put in was in for only @8000 miles. The one in there now is supposed to last until inspection II, at like 65,000 miles. No way. I think the charcoal filter we are talking about here is only used in the cars with the auto a/c, whereas the standard "3-dial" a/c has a paper filter. Anybody verify this?

 

I have the auto a/c and my new filter looks exactly like the old one (except cleaner).