Where is the cabin air filter located in a BMW 5 Series?

[VonEva]

BMW 5 Series cabin air filter is located in the lower compartment under the windshield on the front passenger side. Below is more information about cabin air filters: 1. The cabin air filter purifies air entering the vehicle interior from outside, improving air cleanliness. It typically filters impurities in the air including microscopic particles, pollen, bacteria, industrial exhaust, and dust. 2. There are two types of cabin air filters: standard cabin air filters and activated carbon series cabin air filters. Standard cabin air filters are usually made from specific environmentally friendly filter material processed and folded, mostly appearing as single-layer white filters; activated carbon series cabin air filters consist of non-woven fabric on both sides sandwiching granular activated carbon to form activated carbon filter cloth, which is then further processed into cabin air filters.

[Samantha]

A couple of days ago, I replaced the air filter for my friend's BMW 5 Series myself and found that the cabin air filter is located in the passenger footwell. First, you need to remove the floor mat, then lie down to locate the plastic cover with clips. After unscrewing the three Torx T20 screws, pull the cover downward firmly to reveal the white filter housing. The space is extremely cramped here, so I recommend wearing gloves to avoid getting your hands covered in dust. The new 5 Series uses a pleated-style filter—make sure the arrow points toward the front of the car when inserting it, as installing it backward affects filtration efficiency. After the DIY replacement, the airflow felt noticeably fresher. Don’t forget to clean out any leaf debris inside the cover while you're at it.

[Matt]

Last week at the repair shop, I watched the mechanic replace the 5 Series' cabin air filter, and the location design was truly tricky. You had to lie flat in the passenger footwell to remove that plastic cover with arrows. The mechanic was extra careful when using a short-handled screwdriver to undo the clips, saying too much force could easily snap the plastic tabs. Inside the filter housing were two layers of activated charcoal filter paper, and the mechanic mentioned the imported version has an extra filtration screen compared to the domestic one. After finishing, they turned on the AC for a test run and had me sniff the vents to check for any installation leaks. The toughest part was the back strain—even veteran mechanics put down a piece of cardboard to lie on while working.

[LeBriella]

Helped a colleague deal with the air conditioning odor in his old 530i. The filter is located at the front right corner of the engine compartment. Lift the hood to find the black plastic cover, remove five clips to pull out the filter. The new 5 Series moved it under the front passenger footwell, which is less convenient—you need to unscrew the cover with the BMW logo. I noticed the filter slot has a foolproof design, but the arrow indicator is too small. Last time, a new intern installed it backward, causing the blower to make strange noises. It's recommended to replace it every 20,000 kilometers, especially for cars parked under trees—the filters get filled with dead insects and willow catkins.