BMW G20 3 series Cabin Air Filter Replacement Complete Guide 2019+

[@kevint9553]

This is the video I was looking for! Thank you! All other videos don't mention the most critical step of recirculate mode to not have the flap flip around when putting in the new filter. Only came across this issue on a BMW form website. Good thing I did a Google search before the replacement. Thanks again!

[@sw3-bdk263]

Very detailed and we all know how hard to film this with its weird angle, thank you,

[@andreigritsiuk6657]

Thank you very much! My replacement went smoothly for G20.

[@friendlymechanic9778]

Glad to hear it!

[@fatalradius]

Thanks so much! The dealership was charging me $200 for this, glad I found your video. Great angles with the camera.

[@hlc-mg7zb]

Best video ever. Even better than ISTA

[@friendlymechanic9778]

Thank you 👊🏼

[@SneakerQu33n]

Thanks didn’t know about leaving the air on… great video!

[@masnla]

Very nice video and I could not have done it without you. Even with the video, this project is a BEAR. I'm having this done by my mechanic next time!

[@friendlymechanic9778]

I agree this can be brutal for your back.

[@luis9555100]

I appreciate the video bro! Just installed mine

[@mattevans9193]

Excellent instruction and video

[@friendlymechanic9778]

👍🏼

[@Mkn.Mihai06]

Thank you very much for this clip, very well explained and good quality. How often should I change this filter? When I change the other filter? At the same time with the others?

[@likar1977]

Thank you so much! Very helpful!

[@friendlymechanic9778]

Your welcome 👊🏼

[@user-iv5pm6bt6i]

Thanks for the video, I was wondering if you turn off the AC after it opens? Or do you change the cabinet filter while the AC is working?

[@friendlymechanic9778]

Change the filter while the ac fan is on. If you turn off the ac fan the recirculating mode turns off as well. Just keep the fan on the lowest setting and you should be good. 👍🏼

[@editorz6128]

@@friendlymechanic9778 Thanks! Last question, when you you press the circulation button, it allows you to choose from the AC menu: Automatic (the car will automatically switch from circulation or fresh air), and you can also choose to circulate only. Do I put circulate only in the AC menu? while switching the filter?

[@friendlymechanic9778]

Yes circulate only will be the correct option.

[@kvmalines]

What is the white rubber tube attached to the cover? Where is is going to?

[@friendlymechanic9778]

Good question, it’s a water drain. The rubber hose connects directly to the evaporator housing. If there is too much condensation or if water gets sucked in their the ambient vent, it can drain into the evaporator housing and drain out of the car so it doesn’t sit inside the housing. This will prevent mold from growing as well.

[@kvmalines]

@@friendlymechanic9778 Many thanks for that! That kind of explains my speculation. Long story short, for the last 4-5 months I have a problem with urine like smell coming from my air vents (mainly for the first 30sec, but then it also stays but it's not so intensive). My car is under warranty. I've been to BMW 5 times already with that and going there again in 2 weeks, because every time they say it's done is simply not true. They've changed cabin filter 3 times, used granates, cleaned evaporator. Last time my car was there for 2 weeks when they apparently dismantled a dashboard to find the source. They said the drain pipe was directed inside of the car rather than outside (strange) abd they amended that what resolved the problem according to them, but when I collected the car the smell was still there. Today I took off the cabin filter tried to put the endoscope camera trying to find something suspicious. I disconnected the white rubber tube from the filter cover and sniffed it and the smell was exactly the smell coming from my vents. So please correct me if I'm wrong - I believe either the evaporator has not been cleaned as they stated (or not cleaned properly), or the box or a space where the evaporator is located has not been cleaned and the source of the smell - bacterias are still there. Any chance you know if the place where the evaporator is located is tightly closed? I wonder if this white tube goes to the box and then another drain tube takes the condensation outside of the car? I was trying to get to the evaporator with my endoscope by unsuccessful ( I don't know if it's possible at all).

[@friendlymechanic9778]

Hmmm sounds like there is a lot going on here. I can better assist you if we continue in private messaging. I don’t want you to put personal or sensitive information in a public place. Send me a message on Instagram if you want further help.

[@kvmalines]

@@friendlymechanic9778 Thank you. I left the message on pm.

[@jpbredenkamp5091]

What a thorough video!! Knocked it out of the park! Thank you :)

[@deagleusp2]

Спасибо! Поменял по вашему видео!🤝

[@manspidey1507]

감사합니다 영상보고 성공했습니다

[@mojojojo5032]

Hey I followed all of your instructions but when I installed the new filter I really had to jam it in there. Do you think I hurt anything? Everything seems to be operational and in good working order. How would I know if I damaged that flap you were referring to?

[@friendlymechanic9778]

Ahh yes I know what you mean I have experienced that as well. Sometimes a little extra push is needed. The last inch is sometimes a little tough. If you don’t notice a dramatic change in airflow everything went smoothly. I wouldn’t worry about it.

[@용짱-c6u]

The Bmw official service center replaced the microfilter. But I think it was replaced by external circulation. When I see it in the engine room, the air flap is reversed, the air conditioner makes noise, and the wind does not come out properly.

[@friendlymechanic9778]

I would take it back to them and have them check it out.

[@shriram0506]

Thank you

[@friendlymechanic9778]

👍🏼

[@Bubblun1]

Why are you instructing to turn on the Recirc if the TSB is telling techs to turn it OFF? Misleading.

[@friendlymechanic9778]

Turning on recirculating air flow “closes the fresh air flap”

[@LucianStefan-ns1it]

If you see this video and you go in bmw service for this, please sell the car and go for a hyundai

[@recker1]

Hello. I can not get the led clip out for the life of me. It has a red sharpie mark on it for some reason. Maybe they locked it somehow. Anyone else have this problem?

[@friendlymechanic9778]

Yes they can be tough to remove, the sharpie mark is put them during assembly. Not sure what it is for. It is not glued on and there is no clip to undo.

[@recker1]

@@friendlymechanic9778 Thank you for the information. I was even using needle nose pliers and could not get it to budge. I am considering cutting the wire and then splicing it back together.

[@friendlymechanic9778]

Nooo don’t cut the wires there is a LIN bus line in that connector. If it won’t come off I would just remove the light completely. There is a small locking tab on the opposite side of connector. Just unlock the white tab that holds the whole light and feed it out. Please do not cut these wires.

[@recker1]

@@friendlymechanic9778 Thank you for your help. Very much appreciated!

[@friendlymechanic9778]

Anytime 👍🏼

[@matthewrichardson6263]

You sure the vehicle you’re demonstrating on is a G30? Also, are you sure the HVAC should be on with recirculating mode button enabled?

[@friendlymechanic9778]

The Vehicle is in fact a G20 shown. I noticed this just yesterday and am currently working on getting the title and thumbnail fixed as well as finishing edits on an actual G30. Thank you for noticing and pointing it out in the comments. The mode should definitely be set to enabled to close the flap inside the HVAC box. In some cases when the flap is left open damage to this flap is possible and removal of the entire heater box may be necessary to fix the issue.

[@matthewrichardson6263]

@@friendlymechanic9778 so does the climate control need to be running with recirculating light ‘on’ WHILE doing the filter swap? Or can you turn off the whole climate control system after pushing the recirculating button before swapping the filters?

[@friendlymechanic9778]

@@matthewrichardson6263 I will double check for you tomorrow. But my understanding is that it needs to stay on otherwise if you shut off the system the flap will go to the default setting which will open the flap. There is a service information bulletin put out by BMW that addresses this issue.

[@juhanuus]

@@friendlymechanic9778 I'm sorry to complain about something handed out for free. But, this video is the first result that appears when searching this topic. However, clearly the information provided is inaccurate or incomplete. Car in the video is not the model in the title and no other tutorial for G30's states that the HVAC needs to be running nor anything about the recirculation button.

[@friendlymechanic9778]

The video is for a G20 my apologies for putting the wrong title I will fix it. For now I can help with your G30. Send me a direct message on instagram if you like. I can send you a detailed message with photos.