Microfilter or Cabin filter?

[ska-texas]

Hi y'all. My A/C just is not blowing like it should (air pressure out of vents) I just went to the BMA page and they list two filters for my 92 535. Both listed as "fresh air filters" the first is called the CABIN FILTER and the Second is the MICROFILTER. Do I need both? Does my car have both? Any help or tips on this will be very appreciated. :)

[Jehu]

email BMA from their contact us form. They will respond. I bought mine from the local Dealership $35.00 but i didn't have to wait for it to arrive. I had the thing out when i went there and installed it in their lot. Only thing is my glove box now seems to close a half inch lower than before .It closes tight but isn't flush with the wood trim strip .I lay down looking up at the back and i can't seem to see any other way of fitting those clasps on the rail than it is now.

[ska-texas]

I just searched Microfilter and did see that you needed a torx driver? special tool?

[Jehu]

yes. you will need that . I got one at a local hardware store for under $4.00 the head has a particular slotting similar to a phillips but you can't use one of those.Its like a star pattern. Get a T20 torx driver
This site was helpful http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_4.htm

[ska-texas]

Good info. Thank you. Once I remove the glove box is the procedure pretty straight forward from there?

[Jehu]

Good info. Thank you. Once I remove the glove box is the procedure pretty straight forward from there?

Yes. What needs to be removed and how to do it are all very intuitively recognizable.The only thing that left me wondering to any degree was if i had fitted the filter casing cover with the turn-lock on all the way but once i tightened that torx screw in all the way i was sure i had. I could have positioned my self more suitably to see up in there when i was doing it but i managed not to have to flip upside down to do that and again replacing everything was easily done and i am a very forgetful guy , i worried i;d forget the order of the panel pieces but there are really so few pieces you deal with , i think four pieces including the duct tubing, carpet panel and two plastic panels above and beside the glove box.I thought I'd need to print out that web page and have it with me but i dove into it and it was pretty basic.

[Bill R.]

closes like that. The clasps slide back and forth in the slot before you tighten them down. Close the glove box, then underneath the glove box unfasten the clasps. with the clasps loose, move the box around until the pieces up front line up correctly then latch the clasps to lock it in place.



email BMA from their contact us form. They will respond. I bought mine from the local Dealership $35.00 but i didn't have to wait for it to arrive. I had the thing out when i went there and installed it in their lot. Only thing is my glove box now seems to close a half inch lower than before .It closes tight but isn't flush with the wood trim strip .I lay down looking up at the back and i can't seem to see any other way of fitting those clasps on the rail than it is now.

[fclake]

closes like that. The clasps slide back and forth in the slot before you tighten them down. Close the glove box, then underneath the glove box unfasten the clasps. with the clasps loose, move the box around until the pieces up front line up correctly then latch the clasps to lock it in place.
Thanks for that tip! I had EXCATLY the same prob with the glovebox not closing right, also to the original poster, I paid 12 bucks for my filter at O'Rieleys and be careful removing and in stalling it, the filters rests against a radiator of sorts and you can easily mash the fins when moving the filter. You wont belive the results, it will blow your hair back in the rear seat from the dash.

[boardburton]

Unless you live in a really dry, dusty place you dont need it. I pulled mine out and my AC runs great and cold.

[Jehu]

Unless you live in a really dry, dusty place you dont need it. I pulled mine out and my AC runs great and cold.

Is this idea supported by the manufacturer?

[Eric Clark]

Is this idea supported by the manufacturer?


Since many e34s did not come with it I don't see how it would be a problem.


http://ecartoys.com/epcvsoapimc.epc?cookieID=1VH1EJZJF1VH1EKBB5&drillid=8&subcatid=801059@@Heater&clientid=ecartoys

Any of those should work just fine. If you order don't forget to use the 5% discount code.

[Jehu]

was it added at one point to all or some models and used continually thereafter? In that case it could be construed they viewed it as a desireable item.Since my car was built with one i don't see the wisdom in taking it out for good when replacing it is really fairly easy.What air is it actually filtering anyway that it gets that black? I have no idea how its set up . When you have the recycle setting on is all outside air completely blocked from interacting with the air venting ducts and you are truely recycling the cabin air thru that microfilter or does the microfilter filter outside air?I'd hate to see my lungs on a table..

[fclake]

Since many e34s did not come with it I don't see how it would be a problem.


http://ecartoys.com/epcvsoapimc.epc?cookieID=1VH1EJZJF1VH1EKBB5&drillid=8&subcatid=801059@@Heater&clientid=ecartoys

Any of those should work just fine. If you order don't forget to use the 5% discount code.

mine was solid black wit large leaves/bug parts and pet haie and small rocks and also a lost Rembrant sketch,so it is catching alot of crap that would other wise end up some where else.

[ska-texas]

for my own piece of mind I will keep it in. As far as e34's without the filter I think I read that it became status quo around 1990. I will try the local O'reilly's for an inexpensive replacement.

[bbig119]

Just a note for those who don't have any torx tools yet.

I just changed my microfilter for the first time since owning the car over the weekend. I went and bought a set of torx bits knowing that other sizes are used in various other places in the car. The screw for the microfilter on my car(probably all E34s) is recessed in plastic such that if you use stubby bits(which I bought) the wall of the screw driver(especially magnetic ones) where the bit sits is too big to fit in the recess and the bit is too short to reach the screw. The bit stuck out of the recess by about a 1/4 inch, which was enough to get a 6mm nut driver on to do the job.

My filter wasn't as dirty as some pictures that I've seen on the forum, but there was a bunch of leaves and dirt that came out. Vaccum it out and you'll be set to go.

[saconnect]

my glove box now seems to close a half inch lower than before .It closes tight but isn't flush with the wood trim strip .I lay down looking up at the back and i can't seem to see any other way of fitting those clasps on the rail than it is now.

I'll try and describe what you need to do, but I'm not sure if I can tell you because I just do it... You can move the box with it being latched closed. start by closing the compartment if it's open.

Kinda sitting in the seat sideways with seat pushed all the way back, or back until you're comfortable, use one arm, use your whole arm grabbing the back of the box with your hand, to support the box a bit underneath, and reach back and unlatch the right most clip. Don't take it off.and hold it in place not letting it leave the rail it grabs on to. It will slide a little in where the pin goes into the glove box. Holding the clip in place on the rail with the hand you undid the clip with, and using your arm that's supporting the box, move it forward ever so easy untill the right side is aligned properly, then latch the clip closed. Switch arms, then repeat the proceedure on the other clip. Repeat as needed for alignment. Once you get the hang of it, it is really fast, and it helps if the box is empty when you do it.

[ska-texas]

Good to know bbig119 thanks

[Alexlind123]

Is this idea supported by the manufacturer?

Many e34s did not have it, so its not a big deal. You will just have to dust/clean the inside of your car more often, and your vents will be dustier inside.

[mikell]

And, you'll have to find a way to clean the evaporator from time to time so all that crap won't obstruct air flow. As near as I can tell that would be a huge PIA. Sounds like way less hassle to just change the damn filter every year. Aftyer you have done it a time or two, it takes about 20 minutes, including the time it takes to go through the glove box and throw out all the debris that you've thrown in there over the months since the last change.

[Bill R.]

cars at about the same time that r134 refrigerant started being used. They had to get rid of copper evaporators and use aluminum instead, the fins on the aluminum are much closer together than they were on the copper ones. Its quite possible that another reason for the microfilter was that aluminum evaporator's get clogged up with crap on the fins a lot easier than the old copper evaporators did. If you had a microfilter to begin with then i would definitely put one back unless you want problems.

[Alexlind123]

cars at about the same time that r134 refrigerant started being used. They had to get rid of copper evaporators and use aluminum instead, the fins on the aluminum are much closer together than they were on the copper ones. Its quite possible that another reason for the microfilter was that aluminum evaporator's get clogged up with crap on the fins a lot easier than the old copper evaporators did. If you had a microfilter to begin with then i would definitely put one back unless you want problems.

Copper FTW!