I just got my 2004 MCS last week, and after extensive reading on this forum, and my owners manual I knew that I should probably check my cabin air filter. Now, I don't know if this is the original (car has 63k miles) or if it had been changed at some point, but here is what I found!! Needless to say a new filter is on its way. Sucks that none of my local auto shops carry the filter. This will definitely be a yearly replacement!



It is so nasty I was afraid to put it back in, so I left it out and I didn't use my heater this morning! New filter should be here by Friday.

Reid

 

I just changed mine and it looked just like that. The previous owner had records of changing it every 10000kms. I know there are differenct ones but I bought the OEM equivalent. the WIX brand was double the price.

 

I'm sure mine looks like that, based upon the faint smell with the heat on

 

Anybody have a write up/ photos on location and removal? I have one waiting at my work to go in.

 

it's quite simple actually and I'm new to this.
so, below the glove box you'll find a black tray like cover. on it has 4 clips, 2 in the front an 2 in the rear. unclip those (rear ones first) and you see the old filter. slide it out slowly. try to remember the position of the filter so you can install the new one the same way in.
then attach the cover back on with the 4 clips and in less than 5 minutes, you're done.

 

YouTube has some videos on the subject.
Search on "Mini cabin filter".
Hopefully you can apply the info to your model.

 

I bought an 06 MCS with 100,000 miles on it and fully expected that when I pulled the cabin air filter out, it might look something like that.

Much to my delight, I found a non-OEM filter in there that was certainly dirty, but not 100,000 miles dirty. I hope that if the previous owner was knowledgeable enough to change out the CAF, they took care of other not-so-routine maintenance items along the way as well.

I lucked out as my local Pepboys had a non-OEM filter for $9. It was $24 at every other Pepboys (based on an online price check). I walked down and asked if they could dig it up - turns out they didn't have it in the store, but could get one from another store during the day when 'the loop' came around. Sure enough, I stopped by in the evening and got my $9 air filter Didn't have the plastic rails, but fit just fine.

If you're still looking for how to change the filter, there's a video on YouTube that I kept running across as I was researching this topic. Should be pretty easy to find.

 

The NAPA gold CAF have the plastic rails, but our Meistersatz O.E.M. ones have the fabric rails... next time I'll purchase the gold, plus it's cheaper!!