Z4-forum.com

Instructions for replacing the cabin air filter is available as a 620kb PDF Download. Photos are from a facelift LHD vehicle, most of you are probably used to adapting what you see for your RHD applications.

I had intended to make a how-to directly here with embedded photos, but had difficulty with browser sized images being legible, so I made a PDF instead, in which it's easy to zoom hi-rez photos and they don't take up a lot of kilobytes. It can also be more easily printed and still be legible.

There's also a youtube video on this procedure (completely unrelated to my effort), for those that prefer that format, but be warned that it is for a non-facelift version and there's confusing information on how to orient the filter.

Please post any additional information on variations from different Z4 models here, I will try to add such notes to the PDF so that it applies to all models.

Did not know once existed - what is its purpose and how often should it be changed?

thanks

Fairly sure all/most modern cars have them, to prevent pollen and nasty noxous fumes entering the cabin (active carbon filter).
Its a boggo part of the service schedule (which I don't have) but I know it was changed on my recent oil service so could well be required every service.

Yes - normal service item.
If not changed every couple of years it becomes pretty horrible, smelly and itself a source of odours, dampness and mould growth.

5 min job to change.

i did this the other day as i stumbled across the youtube vid.... a couple of worrying things i noticed.... it didnt have a pollen filter in before (no idea why??) and my car doesnt have the GM5 module there?? what is it for and should mine have it?

Replaced mine as well - 2.5 i SE and the new one from Eurocarparts didnt seem to have the same thickness to it. When I compared the two the old one had a black inside bit whereas my new one just looked like a flimsy a bit of cotton/paper strands.

You didn't get the activated carbon one.

Can someone do me a favour and repost the pdf as the link is dead.
Thanks