I was reading my manual and it said.

"Particle filter/activated-charcoal filter
The particle filter removes dust and pollen
from the incoming air. The activated-charcoal
filter provides additional protection by
filtering gaseous pollutants from the outside
air.
Your MINI Dealer replaces this combined
filter as a standard part of your scheduled
maintenance. A substantial reduction in
the air supply indicates that the filter must
be replaced before scheduled maintenance."

Does anyone know where this filter is??

 

Look for a cover with four screws underneath the glovebox - actually in front of it, towards the firewall.

 

Thanks I'll check it out tonight. :smile:

 

Does NE1 have a part number for the charcoal filter?
I would like to check to see if my dealer replaced this at service,as they are supposed to do.
I'm not sure if the charcoal filter is very effective, when passing by refineries or power plants (lots of them here in TX, and all of them stinking up an unbelievable storm of pollution) it stinks the same whether windows are open or closed.

TIA!
M.

 

... there seems to be two numbers for the filtre:

64 31 1 496 710 is a Microfilter
64 31 1 496 711 is a filter and activated carbon cotainer (?)

... but i don't know if both are available or which one they are putting on our cars ...

 

I asked my allergist about this (Allergist- Dr. Cutler, in Pontiac, MI), I have HEPA filters @ home, one near my desk at work, and in most of our cars. Tho my allergies are past, nothing wrong with breathing clean air :smile: Why my stupid *** smokes from time to time is another story...

Anyways, the carbon/charcol filter is usually first (black), and it helps to deotorize the air and filter large particles/gases. These usually need to be changed more often, as they are normally first in the stage and get particles much quicker. The second filter is more for the "finer" elements, these are typically non-visible and many allergens are caught in it.

However, he warned me that car filters are not the quality of home filters due 1.) to the polluted nature of the roadways 2.) service intervals (he claims a car filter the same quality as a home filter would almost need to be changed monthly?) need to be longer...

Running Air Conditioning helps a little more too, as it filters out some particles when it dehumidifies the air. Recirculate isn't a bad idea, however it is actually bad because you begin to inhale unfresh air after too long, not good. Ionizers, he said, help a little, but are mainly catered to smokers. Tho he "has reservations" about the long term effects.

MG-BGT, I know what your talking about, I had a friend blow a cigarette into his 3 series air intake and I sat inside, it didn't seem to do much? Tho I do notice filtered car interiors (specifically when windows closed usually and A/C running), do seem to have less haze on the inside of the windows?

Reason I know all of this? When I was a kid, air quality was paramount or I enjoyed the exercise of hacking up phlegm at night :smile:

cheers,

-Matt

 

The activated carbon is sandwiched between the filter sheets on carbon filter equipped MINI's. Just as any FYI, there is no "second" carbon filter. It's built into the filter.