- 06/25/2015
- 2 Min Read
- By: Noah Jenkins
How to Replace a Cabin Air Filter in an Audi A4 (B6)
The cabin air filter on cars helps with cleaning and filtering the air that comes into the cars cabin via the HVAC system. It can help keep dust, pollen and other odors/allergens out of your car. With summer having just started, chances are you'll be running your A/C more often and so air will be drawn into the cabin, passing through this filter. While using the A/C in my new-to-me B6 Audi A4 Avant, I noticed there was a slight, almost musty, odor that dissipated after about 5 min. After changing the cabin air filter, no more smell!
This is one of the easier things to do on a B6 Audi. In fact, no tools are required! This process may be similar for the newer 4-cylinder Audis as well.
Procedure:
The cabin air filter is located underneath a plastic panel that covers the battery and also the brake booster and fluid reservoir. Specifically, on the left side. You need to remove this to gain access.
Start by peeling away the foam weatherstrip that goes across the front of this panel. It should simply peel away from end to end. Mine was torn a little so be careful. Set it aside.
Once the strip has been removed, located the two wide plastic tabs which keep the cover in place (one on the left, one on the right). Lift the panel from these points and slide it back. Again, 11-year old plastic is brittle, so be careful!
The housing for the cabin air filter is held in with two clips and they can be released simply by pinching them. The housing cover can then be slid forward and off, revealing the filter.
Next, reach into the housing and pull out the filter. Also, look into the housing and make sure there is no additional bugs/debris that managed to get its way in there.
I decided to install a MANN Charcoal Cabin Air Filter as they have great capacities to absorb odors and I've had great success with them in my Volvos. I also drive in an area that can often be dusty as well as in city environments with lots of smoke and other pollutants. Here is the (assumed to be original!) cabin air filter next to the new one.
Thats it! Installation is just the reverse of removal. Now as far as a service interval is concerned, I would say every 30k miles would be reasonable. Perhaps sooner if you live in an environment with very polluted air.
