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Subject: DIY: Cabin Air Filter, the INEXPENSIVE Way! Author: cn as CNN-090 : member since July, 2004 : 1088 posts Posted on: 2009-09-25 23:40:10

DIY: Cabin Air Filter, the INEXPENSIVE Way!

You already know that BMW Activated Charcoal Filters or Mann Cabin (non-charcoal) Filters are $30-45 per pair of Cabin Filter, which is rather expensive for this low-tech device.
This is a DIY (guaranteed easy!!!) using Standard Engine Air Filter for $6.50/each or $13 total. So you will save $15-30 easily.

1. How Activated Charcoal works:

- The activated charcoal basically filters out the odors (farms, pigs, cows, NYC exhaust etc.).
- However once the charcoal pores are filled with these odorous particles, then the charcoal component of the filter is saturated and useless, but the Air Filter still filters through pollens, dusts, particles etc.
- The lifespan of activated charcoal depends on how much smelly stuff the filter has to adsorb.

2. As an inexpensive substitute (not activated charcoal:

- Use 1998 Cadillac Deville ENGINE Air Filter as a reference for E39 CABIN Filter. So any of these Engine Filters will work:

- Fram CA6479 ---> $6.50
- Purolator A34479 ---> $6.50 (at Advanced Auto Parts).
- Microguard GA34479 ---> $6.50 (at OReilly Auto Parts).
271 mm x 203 mm x 43 mm
(Stock Size is: 267 mm x 201 mm x 30 mm)

These filters are a tiny bit bigger but all you have to do is: using a utility knife and trim 2-3 mm of rubber molding on each long side and it will fit perfect. You will save $15-30 for beers money…....hehe!

This is the shortest DIY that I ever wrote: 1 picture! Just a way to save some money during this goofy economy....



CNN-090
1998 BMW 528i 5-speed 103K

• DIY: Cabin Air Filter, the INEXPENSIVE Way! (pic) (url) - CNN-090 2009-09-25 23:40:10 (5924 views)
  • Re: DIY: Cabin Air Filter, the INEXPENSIVE Way! - partsrunner5 2010-06-23 17:35:23 (309 views)
  • Nice info! This is going on e38.org/e39 (nt) - DavidC 2010-06-23 02:44:30 (384 views)