What Does a BMW Microfilter Do?

A microfilter, also known as a cabin air filter, filters reduce harmful fumes from entering the cabin of your BMW. Microfilters trap up to 80% of pollen and traffic fumes before they make it to the driver. This can help with odor blocking, allergies, demisting of windows, and overall comfort inside the cabin. Having a clean microfilter is important as it promotes clean air circulation throughout your BMW.

Over time, this filter can become clogged with debris such as dust, dirt, and pollen. It's important to have your microfilter replaced on a regular basis to avoid any long-term issues.

How Often Should I Replace my BMW Cabin Filter?

The general rule of thumb for this is every 15,000-20,000 miles but will depend on the specific model. Whether you have a BMW 2 Series, BMW 3 Series, BMW 4 Series, BMW X3, BMW X5, BMW X7, or any other BMW model, we recommend that you check with our service department at Weatherford BMW of Berkeley to see what their recommendations are based on your specific vehicle.

Other factors to take into consideration are driving habits, seasonal changes, and the environment that you travel in. For example, if you often drive down dirt roads, or drive through cities with poor air quality, this will speed up the time frame in which you'll need to replace your cabin filter.

If you happened to be driving a lot during the California fires, you'd want to have your filter changed more often. With California wildfires becoming more of a risk and droughts causing decreased air quality, we highly recommend monitoring your BMW microfilter's performance. As a major metropolitan area, SF air quality is average to good but isn't always that way. Monitoring the air quality in which you're driving is an important aspect to consider when figuring out when to replace your BMW's microfilter. This can be done so by checking the AQI, or air quality index through your weather report.

Signs That Your Microfilter Needs Replacing

A microfilter isn't something that we think about every day, but it is important to be on the lookout for signs that it's time for a replacement. If you're smelling frequent bad, musty odors while using the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, especially your air conditioning, this can mean that your microfilter is ready to be replaced. If you hear an unusual whistling sound from your cabin air intake area or have noticed reduced heating or cooling abilities of your HVAC system, we recommend bringing your vehicle in to have our BMW service team look at it.

Why Have Your Microfilter Replaced at Weatherford BMW of Berkeley

A microfilter may seem like an insignificant thing to bring into a BMW dealership for servicing, but there's advantages to doing so. The BMW factory replacement filters that we use are extremely high quality and will last longer than other aftermarket filters. Our factory filters will also do a better job at reducing harmful fumes or substances from your cabin, so you can better enjoy your BMW vehicle.

Another advantage of coming to Weatherford BMW of Berkeley for your BMW service is our technicians' level of expertise. Nobody knows the ins and outs of a BMW better, and you'll want to ensure that the job is being done correctly to get the most out of your maintenance. Our technicians provide a Fair, Fast, & Friendly service experience, designed to save you time and money. Our transparent and informative servicing is unmatched by our competitors.

Overall, BMWs are designed with a few things in mind - style, performance, and comfort. You want to be as comfortable as possible while traversing the Bay Area inside the cabin of your vehicle and keeping up with your microfilter maintenance is one way to do so.

Contact our team at Weatherford BMW of Berkeley today to see if it's time for your microfilter to be replaced or schedule an appointment online using our scheduling tool. Feel free to contact us on social media or by calling our dealership with any questions that you have!