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Change Car Air Filter

Very easy 0h30–1h30 ~50–150£
Estimated time 0h30–1h30
Estimated labour cost ~50–150£
Difficulty Very easy
Vehicles
3-Series 1982-1995 15
  • 316 Petrol (M10B18)
  • 316i Petrol (M10B18)
  • 316i Petrol (M40B16)
  • 318i Petrol (M10B18)
  • 318i Petrol (M40B18)
  • 318is Petrol (M42B18)
  • 320i Petrol (M20B20)
  • 320i Petrol (M20B20)
  • 320is Petrol (S14B20)
  • 323i Petrol (M20B23)
  • 323i Petrol (M20B23)
  • 325e Petrol (M20B27)
  • 325i, -ix Petrol (M20B25)
  • M3 Petrol (S14B23)
  • M3 Petrol (S14B23)
3-Series 1990-2000 15
  • 316g (65/75 kW) CNG,Petrol (M43B16)
  • 316i (73/75 kW) Petrol (M40B16)
  • 316i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B16)
  • 318i (83/85 kW) Petrol (M40B18)
  • 318i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B18)
  • 318is Petrol (M42B18)
  • 318is, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M44B19)
  • 320i Petrol (M50B20)
  • 320i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20)
  • 323i Petrol (M52B25)
  • 323ti, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B25TU)
  • 325i Petrol (M50B25)
  • 328i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B28)
  • M3 GT Petrol (S50B30)
  • M3 Petrol (S50B30)
3-Series 1998-2007 26
  • 316 Ci Petrol (M43B16TU)
  • 316i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B19TU)
  • 316i, -ti, -Ci Petrol (N40B16)
  • 316i, -ti, -Ci Petrol (N45B16)
  • 316i, -ti, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N42B18A)
  • 316i, -ti, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B18A)
  • 316ti Petrol (N40B16)
  • 318 Ci Petrol (N46B20)
  • 318d Diesel (M47D20)
  • 318d, -td Diesel (M47D20TU)
  • 318i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B19TU)
  • 318i, -ti, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N42B20)
  • 318i, -ti, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B20)
  • 320d Diesel (M47D20)
  • 320d, -Cd Diesel (M47D20TU)
  • 320d, -td, -Cd Diesel (M47D20TU)
  • 320i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20TU)
  • 320i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B22)
  • 323i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B25TU)
  • 325i, -xi, -ti, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B25)
  • 328i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B28TU)
  • 330d, -xd Diesel (M57D30)
  • 330d, -xd, -Cd Diesel (M57D30TU)
  • 330i, -xi, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B30)
  • M3 CSL Petrol (S54B32)
  • M3, -LPG LPG,Petrol (S54B32)
3-Series 2005-2013 44
  • 316d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 316i Petrol (N43B16A)
  • 316i Petrol (N45B16A)
  • 318d Diesel (M47D20TU2uL)
  • 318d Diesel (N47D20A)
  • 318d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 318i Petrol (N43B20A)
  • 318i Petrol (N43B20A)
  • 318i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B20B)
  • 320d Diesel (M47D20TU2OL)
  • 320d Diesel (N47D20A)
  • 320d Diesel (N47D20A)
  • 320d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320d EfficientDynamics Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320d, -Xd Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320d, -Xd M Performance Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320i Petrol (N43B20A)
  • 320i Petrol (N46B20B)
  • 320i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N43B20A)
  • 320i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B20B)
  • 320Si, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N45B20A)
  • 323i Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 323i Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 323i Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 325d Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 325d Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 325i Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 325i, -Xi Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 325i, -Xi Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 325i, -Xi, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 328i, -Xi Petrol (N51B30A)
  • 330d Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 330d, -xd Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 330d, -xd Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 330i, -Xi Petrol (N52B30A)
  • 330i, -Xi Petrol (N52B30A)
  • 330i, -Xi Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 335d Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 335d Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 335i, -Xi Petrol (N54B30A)
  • 335i, -Xi Petrol (N55B30A)
  • 335is Petrol (N54B30A)
  • M3 GTS/CRT Petrol (S65B44A)
  • M3 Petrol (S65B40A)
3-Series 2011-2020 35
  • 316d Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 316d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 316i Petrol (N13B16A)
  • 318d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 318d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 318d, -xDrive Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 318i Petrol (B38B15A)
  • 320d EfficientDynamics Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 320d EfficientDynamics Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 320d, -xDrive Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 320d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 320i EfficientDynamics, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N13B16A)
  • 320i Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 320i, -xDrive Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 320i, -xDrive, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N20B20B)
  • 325d Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 325d Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 325d Diesel (N47D20D)
  • 328i Petrol (N26B20A)
  • 328i, -xDrive Petrol (N20B20A)
  • 330d, -xDrive Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 330d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 330e PHEV Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1)
  • 330i, -xDrive Petrol (B48B20B)
  • 335d xDrive Diesel (N57D30B)
  • 335i, -xDrive M Performance Petrol (N55B30A)
  • 335i, -xDrive M Performance Petrol (N55B30A)
  • 335i, -xDrive Petrol (N55B30A)
  • 340i, -xDrive M Performance Petrol (B58B30A)
  • 340i, -xDrive Petrol (B58B30A)
  • Active Hybrid 3 Electricity,Petrol (N55B30A)
  • M3 Petrol (S55B30A)
  • M3 Petrol (S55B30A)
3-Series 2019-2025 21
  • 316d Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 316d mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1)
  • 318d Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 318d mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1)
  • 318i Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 320d mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1)
  • 320d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 320e, -xDrive Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1)
  • 320i Petrol (B48B16A)
  • 320i, -xDrive Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 320i, -xDrive Petrol (B48B20B)
  • 330d mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B57D30B+JA1)
  • 330d, -xDrive Diesel (B57D30A)
  • 330e, -xDrive Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1)
  • 330e, -xDrive Electricity,Petrol (B48B20B+GC1)
  • 330i, -xDrive Petrol (B48B20B)
  • M3 Competition, -xDrive Petrol (S58B30A)
  • M3 Petrol (S58B30B)
  • M340d mHev xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B57D30B+JA1)
  • M340i mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Petrol (B58B30B+JA1)
  • M340i, -xDrive Petrol (B58B30B)
Renew both air filters 0h45–1h00
Renew the air filter 0h30–1h00

What is the role of the BMW 3-Series air filter?

All the oxygen the engine needs passes through the air filter. Dust is abrasive and can cause premature engine wear. A clogged filter also causes increased fuel consumption and reduced performance.

When should you change the BMW 3-Series air filter?

Generally replace every 20,000–40,000 km or every 1–2 years. In dusty environments or for frequent off-road use, replace more frequently.

Is it difficult to change the BMW 3-Series air filter?

Difficulty level 1/5: very easy. The air filter is normally very accessible. The whole operation takes 5–10 minutes and requires no tools in most cases.

7 models covered

Model Year Range Engines covered Fuel
3-Series 1975-1983 1975-1983 315 Petrol (M10B16), 316 Petrol (M10B16), 316 Petrol (M10B18), 318i Petrol (M10B18), 320 Petrol (M10B20), 320 Petrol (M20B20), 320i Petrol (M10B20) Petrol
3-Series 1982-1995 1982-1995 316 Petrol (M10B18), 316i Petrol (M10B18), 316i Petrol (M40B16), 318i Petrol (M10B18), 318i Petrol (M40B18), 318is Petrol (M42B18), 320i Petrol (M20B20), 320i Petrol (M20B20), 320is Petrol (S14B20), 323i Petrol (M20B23), 323i Petrol (M20B23), 325e Petrol (M20B27), 325i, -ix Petr… Petrol
3-Series 1990-2000 1990-2000 316g (65/75 kW) CNG,Petrol (M43B16), 316i (73/75 kW) Petrol (M40B16), 316i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B16), 318i (83/85 kW) Petrol (M40B18), 318i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B18), 318is Petrol (M42B18), 318is, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M44B19), 320i Petrol (M50B20), 320i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20), 32… CNG, LPG, Petrol
3-Series 1998-2007 1998-2007 316 Ci Petrol (M43B16TU), 316i, -Ci, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M43B19TU), 316i, -ti, -Ci Petrol (N40B16), 316i, -ti, -Ci Petrol (N45B16), 316i, -ti, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N42B18A), 316i, -ti, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B18A), 316ti Petrol (N40B16), 318 Ci Petrol (N46B20), 318d Diesel (M47D20), 318d,… Diesel, LPG, Petrol
3-Series 2005-2013 2005-2013 316d Diesel (N47D20C), 316i Petrol (N43B16A), 316i Petrol (N45B16A), 318d Diesel (M47D20TU2uL), 318d Diesel (N47D20A), 318d Diesel (N47D20C), 318i Petrol (N43B20A), 318i Petrol (N43B20A), 318i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N46B20B), 320d Diesel (M47D20TU2OL), 320d Diesel (N47D20A), 320d Die… Diesel, LPG, Petrol
3-Series 2011-2020 2011-2020 316d Diesel (B47D20A), 316d Diesel (N47D20C), 316i Petrol (N13B16A), 318d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A), 318d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A), 318d, -xDrive Diesel (N47D20C), 318i Petrol (B38B15A), 320d EfficientDynamics Diesel (B47D20A), 320d EfficientDynamics Diesel (N47D20C), 320d, -xD… Diesel, Electricity, LPG, Petrol
3-Series 2019-2025 2019-2025 316d Diesel (B47D20B), 316d mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1), 318d Diesel (B47D20B), 318d mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1), 318i Petrol (B48B20A), 320d mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1), 320d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20B), 320e, -xDrive Electricity,Petrol (B48B20… 48V (MHEV), Diesel, Electricity, Petrol