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Has anyone changed the cabin air filter? I have 20K miles on my 2019 base and it’s time to change it. I took a look at several YouTube videos, but they were for earlier models and the set up on the 2019 looks different. Any advice before I start taking things apart will be appreciated. Thanks
Well it looks like I’m the first to change the cabin filter. It is different from prior models. It is pretty easy. There are 2 screws towards the front, one at each end of the airbag cover. There are 2 plastic screws towards the firewall and 1 in the middle of the plastic cover. The end towards the firewall comes down easily. The front does not. There are tabs at both ends in front of where the steel screws go in. With a little wiggling they dislodged. I then had to disconnect the footwell light. There is a small tab in the middle of the square socket that you have to push. I didn’t disconnect the 12v socket. There is a plastic cover that has 3 or 4 tabs that you undo and the cover comes off and the filter slides down. I was very surprised how dirty it was because most of the 20K miles were highway. It took 45 minutes of which 25 were spent looking and making sure I wasn’t going to break anything. Now that I know how to do it I’m sure it won’t take more than 20-25 minutes.
A bit more detail on changing cabin air filter: Unfasten 2 steel screws (horizontal arrows) towards the seat, one at each end of the airbag cover, using an 8mm socket.
Then unfasten 2 plastic screws towards the firewall, and 1 in the middle of the plastic cover (vertical arrows). These may take a little bit of care in unfastening: It appeared the nut for one (the leftmost in the picture) was spinning in its mount at first; pulling down lightly on the cover while unfastening the screw made it come out easily. Once these screws are removed, the end towards the firewall comes down easily. Cabin Air Filter Cover with Fastener Locations
Pull down sharply on each end near where the steel screws go in to dislodge the locating tabs; once these are loose the cover drops down easily.
To disconnect the footwell light electrical connection, use a small screwdriver to push down on the small tab in the middle of the connector (see arrow in below photo). Footwell Light Electrical Connection
You don’t have to disconnect the 12v power socket to access the filter, but it’s easy to do, and lets you set the cover aside while you change the filter. The connector is a simple friction fit, so just pull out the plug. A photo of the connector is here: Electrical Socket Connector
You’ll note the filter cover is curved—it’s above the right center of the cover. Simply unsnap the 4 tabs that hold the cover in place and the cover will drop down. Once this is done, pull the filter down out of its housing. As you’re pulling down the old filter, note that one side of the filter is light green and the other is white; when inserting the new filter, ensure it goes in with the same orientation as the old one. After the filter's in place, replace the filter cover, ensuring all tabs snap into place.
After replacing the filter cover, replace the outer cover by reversing the steps for removal.
philhallenbeck - Thanks! I used your detailed DIY instructions this morning when I changed my cabin filter. I'll add that the three plastic screws can be turned with your fingers or with a flat head screw driver. And, instead of the $53 Porsche PAB-819-439-00 filter, I bought an Ecogard XC10582C filter from Amazon for $21. It's the same as the Porsche filter but not yellow-green on the cabin side.
What is the Porsche dealer standard hourly rate for something like this, if not done in combination with an oil change, brakes, etc.? Mercedes is around $200/hr.
Thanks for the info. I just changed my filter in about 15 minutes. Bought OE filter online for about $55 and then 15 minutes of labor and boom, another item my local stealership won't get my dollars for.
Great work @A4EP . Do you have a rough feeling for the typical Porsche hourly rate ($/hr) for work like the cabin filter?
I think someone in this thread said their dealer wanted to charge $150. All I know is I was quoted $650 to do the Cabin Filter, clean the drains and lube the door seals when I had my dealer break down the 2yr / 20k mile service and take oil and brake flush out.
The Porsche part number is PAB81943900...When I pulled the cabin air filter for the first time from a 9Y0, it was a MAHLE FP31003 by MANN. If one's OK with something more generic and missing the Polyphenol feature, the MANN CUK31003 carbon filter will fit. I can't imagine paying for a full hour of a Porsche mechanic for a $15 part that takes 5 minutes to change. But I do wonder if they have a special tool that makes it easier to work under the dash so they don't have to be a contortionist working upside down.
The Porsche part number is PAB81943900...When I pulled the cabin air filter for the first time from a 9Y0, it was a MAHLE FP31003 by MANN. If one's OK with something more generic and missing the Polyphenol feature, the MANN CUK31003 carbon filter will fit. I can't imagine paying for a full hour of a Porsche mechanic for a $15 part that takes 5 minutes to change. But I do wonder if they have a special tool that makes it easier to work under the dash so they don't have to be a contortionist working upside down.
You're absolutely right about what a pain this is! The only solution I've found that really makes it easy is to put the car on a lift and raise to where the interior floor is about chest height.
Has anyone compared and/or tried the Audi equivalent (4M0 819 439B)? If it fits, it opens up many options with much easier access at more reasonable price.
4M0 819 439B Audi – original (made by Mahle) Mahle HS032001 Mahle FP31003 (OEM - Activated Charcoal & Polyphenol) - Verified by @celiawessen that it’s in 9Y0 Mann CU31003 Mann CUK31003 Activated Charcoal Mann FP31003 Activated Charcoal & Polyphenol
Last edited by Silververtu; 10-08-2021 at 11:25 AM.
06-01-2019, 07:54 AM
How to change cabin air filter on 2019?
