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Change Car Cabin Filter

Very easy 0h30–0h45 ~50–75£
Estimated time 0h30–0h45
Estimated labour cost ~50–75£
Difficulty Very easy
Vehicles
5-Series 1987-1997 6
  • 520i Petrol (M20B20M)
  • 525i Petrol (M20B25M)
  • 525i, -ix Petrol (M50B25)
  • 530i Petrol (M30B30M)
  • 535i Petrol (M30B35M)
  • 535i Petrol (M30B35M)
5-Series 1996-2004 20
  • 520d Diesel (M47D20 (204D1))
  • 520i Petrol (M52B20TU (206S4))
  • 520i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20 (206S3))
  • 520i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20TU (206S4))
  • 520i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B22 (226S1))
  • 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B25 (256S3))
  • 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B25TU (256S4))
  • 525d Diesel (M57D25 (256D1))
  • 525i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B25 (256S5))
  • 525td Diesel (M51D25 (256T1))
  • 525tds Diesel (M51D25 (256T1))
  • 528i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B28 (286S1))
  • 528i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B28TU (286S2))
  • 530d Diesel (M57D30 (306D1))
  • 530d Diesel (M57D30 (306D1))
  • 530i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B30 (306S3))
  • 535i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M62B35 (358S1))
  • 535i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M62B35TU (358S2))
  • 540i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M62B44 (448S1))
  • M5 Petrol (S62B50 (508S1))
5-Series 2003-2011 30
  • 520d Diesel (M47D20T2)
  • 520d Diesel (N47D20A)
  • 520d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 520i (120/125 kW) Petrol (N43B20A)
  • 520i Petrol (M54B22)
  • 520i Petrol (N46B20B)
  • 523i Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N53B25A)
  • 525d Diesel (M57D25TU)
  • 525d Diesel (M57D25TU)
  • 525d Diesel (M57D30 (306D3))
  • 525d, Xd Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 525i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B25)
  • 525i, Xi LPG,Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 525i, Xi Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 530d Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 530d Diesel (M57D30TU)
  • 530d, Xd Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 530d, Xd Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 530i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B30)
  • 530i, Xi LPG,Petrol (N52B30A)
  • 530i, Xi Petrol (N52B30A)
  • 530i, Xi Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 535d Diesel (M57D30T2TOP)
  • 535d Diesel (M57D30TUTOP)
  • 540i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N62B40A)
  • 545i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N62B44A)
  • 550i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N62B48B)
  • M5, -LPG LPG,Petrol (S85B50A)
5-Series 2009-2017 35
  • 518d Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 518d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 520d Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 520d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 520d, -xDrive Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 520d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 520d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 520d,-xDrive Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 520i Petrol (N20B16A)
  • 520i Petrol (N20B20A)
  • 520i Petrol (N20B20B)
  • 520i Petrol (N20B20D)
  • 523i Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 523i Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 525d Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 525d Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 525d, -xDrive Diesel (N47D20D)
  • 528i Petrol (N52B30A)
  • 528i Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 528i, -xDrive Petrol (N20B20A)
  • 530d, -xDrive Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 530d, -xDrive Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 530d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 530i Petrol (N52B30A)
  • 530i Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 535d Diesel (N57D30B)
  • 535d, -xDrive Diesel (N57D30B)
  • 535i, -xDrive M Performance Petrol (N55B30A)
  • 535i, -xDrive Petrol (N55B30A)
  • 550i, -xDrive Petrol (N63B44A)
  • 550i, -xDrive Petrol (N63B44B)
  • M5 30 Jahre Petrol (S63B44B)
  • M5 Petrol (S63B44B)
  • M5 Petrol (S63B44B)
  • M550d xDrive Diesel (N57D30C)
5-Series 2017-2025 33
  • 518d Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 518d, -mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 520d, -mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1)
  • 520d, -mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1)
  • 520d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 520d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 520e Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1)
  • 520i M Performance Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 520i mHev 48V (MHEV),Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 520i Petrol (B48B16A)
  • 520i Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 520i Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 520i Petrol (B48B20B)
  • 520i Petrol (B48B20B)
  • 525d Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 530d mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B57D30B+JA1)
  • 530d, -xDrive Diesel (B57D30A)
  • 530e iPerformance Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1)
  • 530e, -xDrive Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1)
  • 530i mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Petrol (B48B20B)
  • 530i, -xDrive Petrol (B48B20B)
  • 540d mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B57D30B)
  • 540d, -xDrive Diesel (B57D30B)
  • 540i mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Petrol (B58B30C)
  • 540i xDrive Petrol (B58B30C)
  • 540i, -xDrive M Performance Petrol (B58B30A)
  • 540i, -xDrive Petrol (B58B30A)
  • 545e, -xDrive Petrol (B58B30C+GC1)
  • M5 Competition Petrol (S63B44B)
  • M5 Petrol (S63B44B)
  • M550d xDrive Diesel (B57D30C)
  • M550i xDrive Petrol (N63B44C)
  • M550i xDrive Petrol (N63B44D)

What is the role of the BMW 5-Series cabin filter?

The cabin filter (also called the pollen filter) cleans the outside air of dust and particles before it enters the vehicle cabin. It protects passengers from airborne pollutants, pollen, and fine particles.

When should you change the BMW 5-Series cabin filter?

The cabin filter should generally be changed once a year or every 15,000–20,000 km. In polluted environments or for allergy sufferers, more frequent replacement (every 6 months) is recommended.

Can I clean the BMW 5-Series cabin filter instead of replacing it?

No. Cabin filters are designed to be replaced, not cleaned. Blowing compressed air through the filter may dislodge large particles but cannot remove the fine dust, pollen, and contaminants embedded in the filter media.

Is it difficult to change the BMW 5-Series cabin filter?

Difficulty level 1/5: very easy. In most cases, no tools are required. The whole operation takes 5–15 minutes.

6 models covered

Model Year Range Engines covered Fuel
5-Series 1981-1988 1981-1988 518 Petrol (M10B18), 518i Petrol (M10B18), 520i Petrol (M20B20), 520i Petrol (M20B20), 524td Diesel (M21D24), 525e Petrol (M20B27), 525i Petrol (M30B25), 528i Petrol (M30B28), 535i Petrol (M30B34), M5 Petrol (S38B35) Diesel, Petrol
5-Series 1987-1997 1987-1997 520i Petrol (M20B20M), 525i Petrol (M20B25M), 525i, -ix Petrol (M50B25), 530i Petrol (M30B30M), 535i Petrol (M30B35M), 535i Petrol (M30B35M) Petrol
5-Series 1996-2004 1996-2004 520d Diesel (M47D20 (204D1)), 520i Petrol (M52B20TU (206S4)), 520i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20 (206S3)), 520i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20TU (206S4)), 520i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B22 (226S1)), 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B25 (256S3)), 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B25TU (256S4)), 525d Diesel (… Diesel, LPG, Petrol
5-Series 2003-2011 2003-2011 520d Diesel (M47D20T2), 520d Diesel (N47D20A), 520d Diesel (N47D20C), 520i (120/125 kW) Petrol (N43B20A), 520i Petrol (M54B22), 520i Petrol (N46B20B), 523i Petrol (N52B25A), 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N52B25A), 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N53B25A), 525d Diesel (M57D25TU), 525d Diesel (M5… Diesel, LPG, Petrol
5-Series 2009-2017 2009-2017 518d Diesel (B47D20A), 518d Diesel (N47D20C), 520d Diesel (B47D20A), 520d Diesel (N47D20C), 520d, -xDrive Diesel (N47D20C), 520d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (B47D20A), 520d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (N47D20C), 520d,-xDrive Diesel (B47D20A), 520i Petrol (N20B16A), 520i Petr… Diesel, Petrol
5-Series 2017-2025 2017-2025 518d Diesel (B47D20B), 518d, -mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B), 520d, -mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1), 520d, -mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1), 520d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A), 520d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20B), 520e Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1), 520i… 48V (MHEV), Diesel, Electricity, Petrol