cabin air filter brand preference

[MA7]

I imagine cabin air filters (2012 S4) are like any other filters and there's a wide range of quality (there's sure a wide range of prices).

Which brand do you prefer (especially for odor reduction)? Where do you buy them from?

[MrFunk]

Meh - if you can get something made in Germany go for it. otherwise they are all pretty good.
I replace mine annually so doesn't have to last long...

[MA7]

Do you have the secondary filter installed (the one accessible from under the hood on the passenger side)?

[14S4GWM]

^ I had my cover off the other day and didnt see a filter on the passenger side. Which one are you speaking of?

[MA7]

^ I had my cover off the other day and didnt see a filter on the passenger side. Which one are you speaking of?

So you take the black plastic cowl shroud (or whatever it's called) off that goes the width of the car (you only need to loosen the one plastic screw near the hood hinge on the passenger side and you can flex the cover out of the way. There's a trapezoid shaped air intake grating underneath, and you can see the fan blades inside, but there's no filter in place. The grating just snaps in place so it's easy to remove, but there's a sensor attached to it (I assume this is the "air quality sniffer sensor."

Apparently the factory stopped including the filter at this intake with the transition to the B8, but I guess you can special order the filter for it. I was just wondering how many people have done that.

[14S4GWM]

You got a part #? I know exactly what your talking about. Just ordered the inside filter.

[MA7]

I'm not positive about this so please don't order until someone confirms it:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/8KD819441/ES2564776/
But jeez...$76, includes a new grill with built-in clips for the filter.
I'm not sure how you get the sensor off the old grill (it's attached to it when you remove it). I tried to remove the connector and couldn't get it loose.

[StealthBlackA4]

So you take the black plastic cowl shroud (or whatever it's called) off that goes the width of the car (you only need to loosen the one plastic screw near the hood hinge on the passenger side and you can flex the cover out of the way. There's a trapezoid shaped air intake grating underneath, and you can see the fan blades inside, but there's no filter in place. The grating just snaps in place so it's easy to remove, but there's a sensor attached to it (I assume this is the "air quality sniffer sensor."

Apparently the factory stopped including the filter at this intake with the transition to the B8, but I guess you can special order the filter for it. I was just wondering how many people have done that.

Neither my B8 nor my B8.5 had those filters. Thought it was odd, but didn't question Audi's logic. Part # would be nice if you know it.

Edit: Posted this a second late. Didn't see your last post^

[MA7]

When I took the cabin filter out of the interior there was some organic debris like tiny leaves that fell out when I removed it. I imagine those contribute to the smell or mold as they decay over time.

So it does seem like it's worth putting some sort of filter over the engine bay grill.

If nothing else, I think I might cut a piece of window screen to the shape of the current grill and take some carpet thread and a needle and wrap it around the frame of the grill to attach it. Or maybe buy a small furnace filter and cut the filter paper to size and stitch it onto the grill the same way.

Trouble is, I can't detach the grill from the car because I can't get the sensor connector loose. It would be a whole lot easier to hook some sort of filter to the grill if I could remove the grill from the car and take it into the house to work on it.

[MA7]

Here are some photos for those that don't know what we're talking about:

It's underneath this shroud (note the flathead plastic screw in the foreground. Remove that.)


after bending the shroud back you'll see this:


and with the grill removed (but the sensor wires limit how much you can move it):


edit: and here's a closeup of the sensor:

[b8sfour]

i sprayed some lysol into the inlet when changing my filter and let the air run....helped alot.

[MA7]

i sprayed some lysol into the inlet when changing my filter and let the air run....helped alot.

Thanks, I was going to ask that very question. Wasn't sure if the smell is entirely in the filter or on the walls of the ducts too.

BTW, if anyone was wondering whether the people who say you can't clean these filters were wrong, they're not.
I removed my filter, soaked it in a bucket of enzyme carpet cleaner, rinsed it thoroughly and soaked it again in plain water, then let it mostly dry and then used a vapor steam cleaner and thoroughly blasted all the pleats on both sides with steam, then dried the filter. I reinstalled it and it still smelled, and I'm not even sure that it reduced it any.

[Kczach]

You can buy the 76 dollar filter that fits from ecs tuning but they don't sell replacement filters. kind of a scam if you ask me. I went back to the original that came with the car and wrapped the plastic grate with some old nylons. It won't trap fine particles but it keeps the leaves and other stuff out.

[timzcat]

Last pic above looks to me like you don't want to unplug the connector but twist the whole sensor so the pins line up and it comes of the cover.
Looking a that view the little pin at say 7 o'clock needs to be free of hole then the whole sensor would rotate clock wise till tabs align

[ctjibber]

Anyone know the link or part# to the "plastic screw in the foreground" in this pic:

[Lamprey]

It's a secondary air filter that seems to be an option for countries with polluted air (Mexico and China I think are two that have that option?). Here is a thread about it:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/633911

As for which cabin air filter, I don't know that it really matters. I've just been using a charcoal filter. Last time I got the Fram Fresh-breeze one and it seems to work just fine:
http://www.amazon.com/CF11179-Fresh-.../dp/B00EAOIHPW

[torinalth]

I went with MANN with charcoal. as far as the other one that we do not have, I found a thread about that and a guy retrofitted a Ford Taurus cabin filter for that location. I got the same one and will give it a go. need to get some lysol to spray through the system before I modify the filter to fit in ours.

[Lamprey]

I went with MANN with charcoal. as far as the other one that we do not have, I found a thread about that and a guy retrofitted a Ford Taurus cabin filter for that location. I got the same one and will give it a go. need to get some lysol to spray through the system before I modify the filter to fit in ours.

Happen to have a link to that filter? I've modified a filter to go there, but if the Taurus one is a drop in, then that would be better.

[Lamprey]

Anyone know the link or part# to the "plastic screw in the foreground" in this pic:

Didn't realize this was a thread resurrection.

I've heard that called many things, expansion bolt, expansion clip, etc.. I think Audi is calling it a Shield Retainer:

https://genuineaudiparts.com/parts/2...eld%20retainer

[torinalth]

Happen to have a link to that filter? I've modified a filter to go there, but if the Taurus one is a drop in, then that would be better.

http://www.amazon.com/CF8109A-Fresh-...rch_detailpage

it is NOT a drop in. but kinda close. I plan to do the modifications either today or over the weekend. and I'll post my results

[sacandagaD]

So are you guys basically adding an extra filter under the cowl, that is not normally there for North American models?

[Lamprey]

http://www.amazon.com/CF8109A-Fresh-...rch_detailpage

it is NOT a drop in. but kinda close. I plan to do the modifications either today or over the weekend. and I'll post my results

LOL, that's the one I posted about in that other thread. I didn't realize it was a Taurus filter.

So are you guys basically adding an extra filter under the cowl, that is not normally there for North American models?

Correct.

[Lamprey]

If you want a drop in you can find them on AliExpress. There are several to choose from, here is one:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Well-...290177428.html

[torinalth]

Interesting. I'd give that one a go. Just something I noticed, not sure if its because I have a B8.5 but the sensor location is on the far right side while the one in the picture is on the front. There was a fair amount of wire, so not sure if it would be a problem or not. Worst case I could clip the bracket off and use my new plastic welder to put it where it needs to be.

I went ahead and modified the filter, and it works well enough the way I cut it. so, no need to change at this point, but it's an interesting option for a great price.

[JeriQo]

Here are some photos for those that don't know what we're talking about:

It's underneath this shroud (note the flathead plastic screw in the foreground. Remove that.)


after bending the shroud back you'll see this:


and with the grill removed (but the sensor wires limit how much you can move it):


edit: and here's a closeup of the sensor:

thats for a pollution filter. only necessary to have if you live in china

[ctjibber]

Didn't realize this was a thread resurrection.

I've heard that called many things, expansion bolt, expansion clip, etc.. I think Audi is calling it a Shield Retainer:

The ones on rear cowl/shroud/cover is just a flat head plastic screw though... Will the "shield retainer" work? I found the diagram but no screw listed: see below

[14S4GWM]

The ones on rear cowl/shroud/cover is just a flat head plastic screw though... Will the "shield retainer" work? I found the diagram but no screw listed: see below

I would say this is the one
https://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B8_S4...3.0T/ES451343/

[Lamprey]

I think 14S4GWM is correct. I was thinking about the "bolt" that holds the cover above the radiator, not the one you are talking about.

[ctjibber]

thanks guys

[DannyDeez]

You guys could always try this one: https://www.europaparts.com/frecious...832e-407091117

[djkyky]

I just throw in what I use for 2015 S4. Cabin filter is located inside the car under the glove box passenger side. I use the Wix 24227 carbon filter from Rock Auto. Fits without any mods.