Location of the cabin air intake

I'm changing out the cabin air filter tonight and wanted to spray some Lysol into the cabin air intake to get rid of the smelly AC, as summer is upon us.

For the love of god, I cant find an accurate answer online anywhere as to the location of the cabin air intake.

Can someone help out here?

under the glove box and behind the air bag module. If you do a google search for "F10 cabin air filter replacement", there are a couple decent videos.

I just replaced mine a few weeks ago.....It's kind of a pain for something that should be super easy. BTW, make sure that you get the right filter. Most places think that there are two different options.

Originally Posted by Flatland328

under the glove box and behind the air bag module. If you do a google search for "F10 cabin air filter replacement", there are a couple decent videos.

I just replaced mine a few weeks ago.....It's kind of a pain for something that should be super easy. BTW, make sure that you get the right filter. Most places think that there are two different options.

I know where the filter is located. I have changed it twice (using Mann filters) but the AC still smells every summer.

Usually there is an air intake under the hood which feeds into the air filter. If you spray Lysol into it while AC is on, it circulates through the AC killing the odor causing bacteria. This air intake is super easy to find on most other cars but not the F10.

Here is the video...is this what you looking for?

Originally Posted by akhil1980

I know where the filter is located. I have changed it twice (using Mann filters) but the AC still smells every summer.

Usually there is an air intake under the hood which feeds into the air filter. If you spray Lysol into it while AC is on, it circulates through the AC killing the odor causing bacteria. This air intake is super easy to find on most other cars but not the F10.

I see. I have no idea on that one.

Originally Posted by akhil1980

I know where the filter is located. I have changed it twice (using Mann filters) but the AC still smells every summer.



Usually there is an air intake under the hood which feeds into the air filter. If you spray Lysol into it while AC is on, it circulates through the AC killing the odor causing bacteria. This air intake is super easy to find on most other cars but not the F10.

Oh sorry I miss understood.
The air intake video is here...I had to remove it to clean the blower motor and the filter is there. Just follow the video on link below...

youtu.be/J4HcNS2kvuQ

Originally Posted by akhil1980

I know where the filter is located. I have changed it twice (using Mann filters) but the AC still smells every summer.

Usually there is an air intake under the hood which feeds into the air filter. If you spray Lysol into it while AC is on, it circulates through the AC killing the odor causing bacteria. This air intake is super easy to find on most other cars but not the F10.

The thing is...if the car is always in the same conditions that caused the bacteria to grow in the first place...the smell will keep returning.

I've done this for decades with the BMWs I've owned that had the parked ventilation feature...and that is I use the immediate venting feature (blower runs for up to 30 minutes after the car has been shut off) anytime I park in the garage or a location that is dark and limited air circulation.

Bacteria and mold LOVE dark humid locations...and your AC condensor is a perfect place for this "love nest" during hot humid summers after running your AC and turning the car off while parked in a garage or other dark enclosed area.

Again, if you kill the bacteria with a solution like Lysol or other germ/bacteria/mold killer...the smell/funk will return if you don't try to limit the conditions that creates the problem.

If the ambient temp isn't too high...I will turn off the AC about a mile before reaching my destination...which also can help "dry" things out. But if the ambient temp is high (or I forget to turn the AC off)...then I just initiate the park ventilation feature once I park the car.

Originally Posted by dewana421

Here is the video...is this what you looking for?

That is freaking ridiculously over-complicated. On the E60 a small child with a step stool could do the cabin filter replacement (once you open the hood for him/her).

Originally Posted by QSilver7

The thing is...if the car is always in the same conditions that caused the bacteria to grow in the first place...the smell will keep returning.

I've done this for decades with the BMWs I've owned that had the parked ventilation feature...and that is I use the immediate venting feature (blower runs for up to 30 minutes after the car has been shut off) anytime I park in the garage or a location that is dark and limited air circulation.

Bacteria and mold LOVE dark humid locations...and your AC condensor is a perfect place for this "love nest" during hot humid summers after running your AC and turning the car off while parked in a garage or other dark enclosed area.

Again, if you kill the bacteria with a solution like Lysol or other germ/bacteria/mold killer...the smell/funk will return if you don't try to limit the conditions that creates the problem.

If the ambient temp isn't too high...I will turn off the AC about a mile before reaching my destination...which also can help "dry" things out. But if the ambient temp is high (or I forget to turn the AC off)...then I just initiate the park ventilation feature once I park the car.

Yep, that makes total sense but it's so f&*#*@$ easy to forget & I always end up cursing myself for not doing it. Probably need to program one of the hotkeys to do the parked ventilation.

Thanks for the tip.

Originally Posted by akhil1980

...Probably need to program one of the hotkeys to do the parked ventilation.

Thanks for the tip.

Yep...that helps to make it easy to get to...I programmed the 1st button. The closest you can get to it is the screen I posted (under CLIMATE). But it still saves a few steps not having to scroll down to start it up.

Antibacterial/fungicidal filters might also help with the smell. They cost double the price though

Originally Posted by QSilver7

Yep...that helps to make it easy to get to...I programmed the 1st button. The closest you can get to it is the screen I posted (under CLIMATE). But it still saves a few steps not having to scroll down to start it up.

What is parked ventilation?

Originally Posted by akhil1980

I'm changing out the cabin air filter tonight and wanted to spray some Lysol into the cabin air intake to get rid of the smelly AC, as summer is upon us.

For the love of god, I cant find an accurate answer online anywhere as to the location of the cabin air intake.

Can someone help out here?

Here's a video below that shows where to spray "Lysol" (not an endorsement...just answering the question that was asked).

The BMW TIS shows a different method for "killing" bacteria...aka cleaning the evaporator. To see that procedure...click the following link: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...ments/GiMdQbtM




Also...it appears that "air" is sucked into the intake from the cowl area just below the bottom of the windshield/windshield wiper area...and there's probably a drain (for water etc) just below the grid opening in the cowl area. Take note of the red arrows in the pics below:

Thanks for youtube links. i was at dealer today and they quoted 209.95 which i declined. Why do these engineers make this so complicated.

Originally Posted by tgame80

... Why do these engineers make this so complicated.

They don't. It's all about ease of assembly.

Dont be to liberal with the lysol. I sprayed too much from a can of german stuff you threaded down the hole and then let loose to kill the bacteria. Then the connectors for the i-drive screen failed shortly afterwards. Luckily it was covered under CPO. I bought the Mist system ultrasonic fogger for the car that I use once a year. You can find them on Ebay for the cost of one AC service. It really kills the smell of the ac for a year!

I think the Mist system is what the dealer uses. It's an ultrasonic evaporator to recirculate their toxic spray through the ac system.

Dont be to liberal with the lysol. I sprayed too much from a can of german stuff you threaded down the hole and then let loose to kill the bacteria. Then the connectors for the i-drive screen failed shortly afterwards. Luckily it was covered under CPO. I bought the Mist system ultrasonic fogger for the car that I use once a year. You can find them on Ebay for the cost of one AC service. It really kills the smell of the ac for a year!

I think the Mist system is what the dealer uses. It's an ultrasonic evaporator to recirculate their toxic spray through the ac system.

Originally Posted by Kist2001

Dont be to liberal with the lysol. I sprayed too much from a can of german stuff you threaded down the hole and then let loose to kill the bacteria. Then the connectors for the i-drive screen failed shortly afterwards. Luckily it was covered under CPO. I bought the Mist system ultrasonic fogger for the car that I use once a year. You can find them on Ebay for the cost of one AC service. It really kills the smell of the ac for a year!

I think the Mist system is what the dealer uses. It's an ultrasonic evaporator to recirculate their toxic spray through the ac system.

Mist system?!? Link?