Air Filter:
Probably the most difficult air filter in the world to change.
Usually there is a plastic box with a few hooks securing the lid. You simply open it, remove the old air filter and put a new one it.
Hardly 5 minutes.
However, BMW have decided to do something different.
To gain access to the air filter, it is a step-wise approach.
- Remove the front plastic cover.
- Then remove the corrugated pipe leading to the rear plastic cover (the air filter housing).
- Now remove the cabin filter (a) by rotating the three circular clips (b) anti-clockwise and pulling it out.
- Remove the cabin filter housing (c) by opening the 4 screws on the back.
- Before taking it out, make sure to disconnect the clip (d) that holds the three pipes (e) running across, taking care not to damage them.
- Now open the 4 nuts on the rear plastic cover with a hex screwdriver. You can see one of them (f) in the picture. There is one beneath the cabin filter housing (which you should have removed by now). The other two are hidden on the driver's side.
- You need to ensure not to drop any of the nuts or the screwdriver bit as it will fall on the plastic cover underneath the engine bay. (I dropped one but luckily pulled it with a magnetic wire.)
- Once the four nuts are out of the way remove the plastic cover (g) carefully by manipulating it against the three pipes (e).
- Remove the old air filter by pulling it towards the rear of the car.
- Fix the new air filter (approx £15).
- Reverse the above steps.