Just did my swap out for the first time (14 months; 11,000 miles) and it looked as though the filters definitely had 10 months left in them. If I saved myself $60 over what Tesla would charge to do this, then it definitely isn't worth the trouble. I'm quite handy, and hardly ever hire anyone for small jobs. But this was a LOT of trouble and not very fun. The easy: getting the 4-5 clips out of the plastic piece under the glove box, the light switch is easy, and getting the filters in and out is not particularly difficult. The difficult: that damn speaker cable is quite snug and I kept thinking I was missing a springy lock or something...you simply just have to pull it like you are going to break it! The carpet side panel is quite difficult to get started and I cut both hands in 3 places as I started it and was bleeding. And what is glazed over in these videos is how hard those two clips that hold on the orange cable/wire are to get off. And then getting to that screw is quite a contortion. What I learned from this, after making my 49-year-old back sore, is to just pay Tesla to do this every 24 months. I suppose I could have used gloves to protect my hands from sharp plastic pieces, but then I would have lost the feel and dexterity that this job requires. Having just replaced the cabin filter on my wife's Mercedes, I said I would never do it again but it is quite difficult and really not worth saving $50 in my book. It also took 30 minutes and lots of cussing. My daughter's old Honda Civic literally takes 15 seconds to change the cabin filter...now THAT's worth saving dealer install pricing. Now, off to book my $80 massage to work out the kinks from saving $60 to install these filters...
The speaker wire connector has a release that needs to be pressed with a small pointed object. If you look closely at it, you can see a diagram showing it. Took me awhile to get mine off.
It would be so easy for Tesla to make this 1 minute job, with a special access small carpet panel that directly accesses the filter... without dropping the panel under the glove box, pulling the whole side panel off, moving electrical wires. They should make these changes for all new cars going forward.
@@usamericans6045 It's the same hassle with the cabin fuse box in my Model S. The fuse box is located on the passenger side foot well. Three panels need to be removed to get at it whereas a simple access door would have made it so much easier.
keep in mind when they designed this car they were still recommending the service center do all of this maybe now that they said owners can do it they will incorporate something like this in future cars.
I give you a lot of credit for having the patience to film this as you did it. I replaced mine last week and it was frustrating because I'm 6'2, 230 lbs. My hands are big and I'm not flexible. I had to contort my body and hands in ways my girlfriend would be proud of. My filters had 26k miles on them and were a hell of a lot dirtier than yours. So glad I replaced them.
You are the 'dad' I never had showing me how to do anything. Your approach is very soothing even when you are working with complicated procedures. And, all while recording, lighting and explaining each step. Thanks for all the videos.
Before the new filters are replaced I noticed that you did not spray air conditioning coil cleaner like every other filter changing had done. The spray cleans the coils and drips down to the ground. This as I thought was essential to the filter changing procedure.
Wow! Under your encouragement, at 7:40, I pulled that damn thing out without worrying damage the orange cable. Whew! What the hell of Tesla engineers! Why they make this so difficult? Luckily, the filter kit I bought from Amazon came with a Z torque driver. I makes much easier to remove that screw. However, positioning myself to make it work requires some acrobatic move to fit in that tight space. Thank you very much! Mission accomplished.
Great video, it helped a lot. Thank you for posting. Some tips from a first-timer: 1. You can use a thin bladed screwdriver to start the tunnel carpet panel removal, but a door panel clip remover tool really helps pop the panel loose. 2. You do not have to remove the cables attached to the filter access panel, as while tight, you can push it out of the way. 3. Removal of the screw uses a Torx 20 head. I used a 6 inch long 1/4 inch socket screwdriver type tool but a shorter one would be better. 4. I bought an inexpensive filter set from Amazon, turned out the filters were 1/8 inch short compared to the originals. Don't know if significant air will bypass the filters because you cannot see inside the slot.
This is complete opposite of pretty much all Hondas. No tools required or take off panels to replace the cabin filter: 1. Open glove box 2. Release stopper to open glove box further 3. Open cabin filter door Takes about a minute.
You probably will need to spend more time and money for Tesla to do it. If you have all the stuff ready it would take about 20-25 min. It took me 35 min as I didn't know which screw bit it needed. It needs T15
Great explanation; gave you a thumbs up. I recently did a similar video so this is fresh on my mind, and I have a couple pro tips for your viewers. If you don't have any special tools, you can insert your torx t-20 bit into a small socket/ratchet (that most people have around the house) that will easily fit up there. If you don't want to spend $100 on HEPA filters made by 3M, you can buy a generic from Amazon for $39. I bought them, and they are a big upgrade from the stock filters. Again, great job and thanks for showing Tesla owners that they can absolutely do this by themselves!
@@jessetoth7316 Sure, mine are from XTechnor, but they've recently raised the price to $51. I've spoken to another company called Temai, and they have the same filters for $39. Here is their link: amzn.to/3heQM0y
This is an insane design by Tesla engineers. There's no reason why they could not have made the access easier instead of having to go through this convoluted process. Very excited about receiving my Model 3 LR next month, but will definitely have Tesla service folks perform this task when it's time. Hats off to the Frugal Tesla Guy for taking this on. I consider his videos to be the most informative of anyone's.
thanks for the video, but it still took me about an hour start to finish. why didnt the Tesla engineers design the replacement like in a Lexus, that takes about 5 minutes instead of like my Infiniti which is like the Tesla, you have to take apart half the car interior to get at the cabin air filter. i guess Tesla and Infiniti dont think people will DYI, but pay the outrageous dealership labor charges.
So I just replaced the filters in my 2021 M3 and to my surprise the screw holding the cover was on the BOTTOM and there were no cables going across the cover. Tesla heard you.
Your video convinced me that I'll let Tesla replace the air filter (or just never do it!!). It really is a poor design for a part that needs to be replaced periodically (like some spark plugs in old muscle cars with big engines and little room to work under the hood!)
It is a little silly for Tesla not to have created an access hatch. Yes, I have heard that some older cars required the engine to be removed to replace the spark plugs. You could go to a car stereo installer to do this for you (the filter replacement) if the local Tesla Dealer is too far away. My local Tesla dealer is a 7 hour drive, one way, to a neighboring province. It would be ludicris to go there for a filter change. The closest Tesla mobile ranger is in another neighboring province and is 5 hours away. Imagine the service fee.
Changing this filter is not for the faint of heart. Way too much work for me. I’ll be making an appointment with service when needed. I’m sure that’s what Tesla wants you too do. 😉
Thank you. I replaced the filters in my Model 3 this afternoon. Great instruction video ... albeit one step not covered was cleaning the airco coils with a spray foam which I strongly recommend. I found pulling the clips to remove the panels to access the filter compartment initially quite daunting as I didn't want to break anything. The process was tedious, but it all worked out fine. Thank you.
Honestly removing the clips on the orange wire was not necessary and in fact Tesla’s instructions make it clear that it is a high voltage wire not to be messed with. I almost wrecked the clips before looking at other sources and finding the Tesla instructions. I was able to replace the filters easily without removing those clips.
I just want to say this is a LOT harder than it looks, getting to that screw is damn near impossible. I gave up and paid Tesla, wasting money on the filters and spray I didn't use.
Well I just figured it out and decided to leave my comment in there just in case anyone else is confused. It’s really far up in there. I’m 5 foot six a woman and I basically had my head on the floor and my feet up on the seat with the passenger seat all the way back and reclined. I feel sorry for guys who are 6 foot
Most of the comments talk about a T20 screw. On my 2019 M3, it is a T15 screw. Also, I did not need to remove the two orange cables from the filter door.
Thank you for this video. But WOW was this harder than it needed to be. Tesla really messed up on where these filters are, especially since they need to be periodically replaced....
Spend the extra money and buy the German filters from Tesla! That paper might look the same, but the two filters should be analyzed by a laboratory to see if they are identical. You are the Frugal guy, not the cheap guy.
This is the original filter: catalog.mann-filter.com/EU/eng/catalog/MANN-FILTER%20Katalog%20Europa/Vehicles/CARS%20+%20TRANSPORTERS/TESLA%20MOTORS/Model%203/Model%203%20(T00000000521429)/Cabin%20Air%20Filter/FP%2025%20015 Costs ~25$ in Europe, i'm sure you get it for the same price in US from MANN filter at your local car spare part shop
That Torx screw is nuts. It should simply snap on and off. The entire design is poor, at best. I appreciate all the tips you provided. Great video! Subscribed... Thanks again.
Just changed out wife's cabin filters on Model Y. Hopefully my model 3 (6/2021) is the same design with cabin filter door plate screw toward the bottom. Even if not you made it look relatively easy.
my filters were almost 4 YEARS OLD. I cant load a pic but they were not horrible. I have an air intake filter in the frunk that captures a lot of debris. I didnt see a mention of this in all the yutubes on this project. my 2019 M3 just had a blank opening for air into the cabin. go figure
Thanks Frugal. This screw is a challenge to get it out. I finally get the new filters replaced after a couple of hour struggling with this screw. Very bad design. I drop one of the Tox20 screws inside. Luckily, I have one more to finish this job.
Now I want an electric car. Getting tired of diesel and exhaust fumes coming in the cabin. And the spot. Bah I'm 25 but. Electric cars are okay because they don't smell of petrol or diesel fumes inside a shop.
This video was a lifesaver. Without it's guidance, this job would have been impossible. Having said that, I will NEVER attempt this again. It took me over an hour to do and I'm a pretty good wannabe mechanic. The filters are way up under the dash, which requires a lot of physical dexterity to remove the filter cover screw and door. Next time I'll pay Tesla service the $75 to do it.
Great video - but - the fact changing the filters is this hard is the biggest engineering fail on the Model 3 IMHO. Unreal. On my old '03 Pontiac Vibe I could change the filter in 4 minutes with one small stubby screwdriver. This design is insanity.
Regarding filter quality: You cannot see that a filter “Having the same characteristics as the original” (as you said). Working with air filters, I’ve seen filters that look good, but get clogged after 2-3 months, making the air flow less and making the fan work harder, and even get worn out. Not saying these filters you got are bad, but there are certain specifications for air filters. And no marking is not good 😕 That being said, I don’t know where Tesla got their filters from, but at least I will have a record of me buying filters from them yearly (covering my 5 year warranty on the car, as it is in Norway)
Hi Tesla Guy… love your videos but this air filter replacement is insane. Don’t care what it costs but I’ll have Tesla or repair shop do the change ( memo to Elon…. If you have a part that must be routinely changed, might be a good idea to have your engineering department come up with a simpler method)
lol all these people complaining, they ain't ever changed (Most) other ICE cars air-filter. A bit of patience, and body bending and this was quite easy.
Great video. That really helped me. Now, I confirm from some other posts that you don’t need to remove the two upper clips that hold the orange cable. The cable can remain attached to the cover. I also bought the Hepa filters and sprayed the Kool-it foam cleaner on the coil. Everything went well. Thank you again.
Special mention for the engineer who put the torx20 pesky screw all the way up inside the nether region. Wonder how much it costs Tesla in terms of man hours for 1000s of vehicles spent assembling or disassembling that piece.
I'm also tall, with large hands. This was not an easy task. I'm seriously considering letting Tesla do it next time, now that we're finally getting a service center close by. I will make one suggestion: an interior trim pry bar (plastic) makes removing the side panel and the glove box pins a bit easier. Your flexible driver rocks! I found dealing with the torx screw to be the hardest part of the job. That, and my large frame compressed into that footwell...
I have seen some posts from others who have sprayed in the filter area some Coil Foam Cleaner”. Is this necessary or has just changing the filters worked to get rid of the musty smell?
I almost nope'd out of doing this after watching the video but it ended up not being that hard, except for getting that screw off the cabin filter cover, that was a huge pain at first, just like FTG said, you need the right screwdriver that lets you transfer torque at 90 degrees. Getting the side panel off and the panel under the glovebox were a breeze, and the electrical connectors for the light and speaker just pop off and on. Very helpful video, I was done in 30 mins.
OMG, prop’s to you! I don’t know how you got a camera in there… That was awful. I was also doing it in 100º weather. But I just had to sit backwards in the passenger seat to even fit down there.
Your video was extremely helpful to us. Seeing the challenges associated with removing the under panel and side panel made the process more doable when things did not pop off as other videos seemed to imply. Removing the orange cable clips was not easy but did come off. The biggest challenge by far was removing the torx screw from the cover. The video made it appear that it was easily visible, but for our model 3 the screw was only partially visible when we put our head way up into the foot well and twisted our head to look up. We had ordered the XTechnor hepa filters off of Amazon for $50, which included an allen wrench with a torx head. Unfortunately, the space was small and the position was awkward. We did not try your flexible screw driver approach but instead used just the torx head of a ratchet set and were able to twirl it to unscrew the screw (and we only dropped the torx head 4 times while doing this operation). Putting the side panel back in position to have the snaps align correctly required some adjustment. The tip you provided about the placing the one piece in the back left of the under panel into the notch saved much aggravation.
Excellent demo. I think Tesla should have put the screw you removed at the bottom and the “hook” engagement at the top. Also, it would have cost very little for longer orange wires that could be rerouted around the cover so they do not need to be unclipped. When designing parts and assemblies it’s not always easy to foresee what’s involved in servicing cars but here’s one area for improvement for Tesla engineers to take a second look at.
I just did mine yesterday following your video (thx), just FYI during reinstalling the glove box bottom panel, not only the left slot to line up like u mentioned, there's also one similar slot on the right to line up as well. Both slots keep the back of this panel in place on the back. Btw for my filters from amzn, for some reason inserting the 2nd filter that sits on top of the 1st was not easy to push all the way in. Easy 1st 3/4 of the way, felt resistance final remaining 1/4 of the way. Not sure anyone experienced this. I tried few times, and had to push harder to force it in. Maybe size is a bit off for aftermarket filters somehow.
Totally agree.. I bought the Amazon filters and they seemed flimsy and cheap so I sent them back. I bought the OEM Tesla filters for $10 more than Amazon and they're much sturdier and easier to install.
Thanks for the guide. I just gone done changing my filters. Yup! those orange wires was pain to take it off so I decided to take the filter cover off without taking the clips off those orange wires and it works. Plenty of space to work on, enough to take the filters off and put it back on. I'm not trying to correct you or anything but I'm just throwing it out there for other people. Thank you for this guide. I would have call tesla to get this thing done if it wasn't this video.
Great video, I couldn’t of done it without your help. Now can you give me the phone number of that Tesla engineer that designed it? I would love to thank him :-)
For anyone doing this in 2020+ Be Warned that there is an incorrect step here!! Don’t risk breaking or damaging the Orange high voltage wire!! In the video he recommends pulling off all three tabs for the orange cable, Do Not Do This! Only the lower tab which easily slides off should be undone. The top two clips on the air filter cover stay attached and the cover can be pulled aside after the screw is removed. That is the official Tesla approved method and doesn’t risk breaking tabs. Hopefully this helps someone~
@@bandentracy8075 Please double check your statement. At 6:50 in the video he begins removing the clips holding the orange wire in place and this is clearly not done in the Tesla instructions which is why I posted the tip. The only thing mentioned in Tesla's instructions are the T20 screw holding the cover in place. Here is also the animated GIF on Tesla's page that shows it visually www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/images/support/replace-cabin-air-filter.gif
Pro tip, use a Torx T-20 bit with ratchet (small, 1/4") to make dealing with that bolt much easier. The ratchet speeds up loosening or tightening in that awkward location without having to futz with the included Torx key. Huge time and aggravation saver. Use pliers to safely remove the speaker and light cables. Those are a bear to remove bare-fingered.
Yea that was by far the hardest part.. There is a small hole on the connector I pressed a small pin into; and then it got loose (but it could have been just luck - not sure this was what did the trick)
Just did my swap out for the first time (14 months; 11,000 miles) and it looked as though the filters definitely had 10 months left in them. If I saved myself $60 over what Tesla would charge to do this, then it definitely isn't worth the trouble. I'm quite handy, and hardly ever hire anyone for small jobs. But this was a LOT of trouble and not very fun. The easy: getting the 4-5 clips out of the plastic piece under the glove box, the light switch is easy, and getting the filters in and out is not particularly difficult. The difficult: that damn speaker cable is quite snug and I kept thinking I was missing a springy lock or something...you simply just have to pull it like you are going to break it! The carpet side panel is quite difficult to get started and I cut both hands in 3 places as I started it and was bleeding. And what is glazed over in these videos is how hard those two clips that hold on the orange cable/wire are to get off. And then getting to that screw is quite a contortion. What I learned from this, after making my 49-year-old back sore, is to just pay Tesla to do this every 24 months. I suppose I could have used gloves to protect my hands from sharp plastic pieces, but then I would have lost the feel and dexterity that this job requires. Having just replaced the cabin filter on my wife's Mercedes, I said I would never do it again but it is quite difficult and really not worth saving $50 in my book. It also took 30 minutes and lots of cussing. My daughter's old Honda Civic literally takes 15 seconds to change the cabin filter...now THAT's worth saving dealer install pricing. Now, off to book my $80 massage to work out the kinks from saving $60 to install these filters...
The speaker wire connector has a release that needs to be pressed with a small pointed object. If you look closely at it, you can see a diagram showing it. Took me awhile to get mine off.
Meh….this 64 year old back that is not very ‘handy’ took 30 minutes to complete the job. It was tres easy
It would be so easy for Tesla to make this 1 minute job, with a special access small carpet panel that directly accesses the filter... without dropping the panel under the glove box, pulling the whole side panel off, moving electrical wires. They should make these changes for all new cars going forward.
Yeah this is a bit crazy. Glad to have watched the video though, so I can DIY instead of calling them.
@@usamericans6045 It's the same hassle with the cabin fuse box in my Model S. The fuse box is located on the passenger side foot well. Three panels need to be removed to get at it whereas a simple access door would have made it so much easier.
keep in mind when they designed this car they were still recommending the service center do all of this maybe now that they said owners can do it they will incorporate something like this in future cars.
You don't work on many cars I assume.
In the UK its the oanals under the wheel. Its horrible
I give you a lot of credit for having the patience to film this as you did it.
I replaced mine last week and it was frustrating because I'm 6'2, 230 lbs. My hands are big and I'm not flexible. I had to contort my body and hands in ways my girlfriend would be proud of. My filters had 26k miles on them and were a hell of a lot dirtier than yours. So glad I replaced them.
You are the 'dad' I never had showing me how to do anything. Your approach is very soothing even when you are working with complicated procedures. And, all while recording, lighting and explaining each step. Thanks for all the videos.
After seeing 5 minutes this video I decided that Tesla will be doing my air filter changes
same here...😕
It was easy, I did it twice. All you will need is flash light and a T15 screw bit
Before the new filters are replaced I noticed that you did not spray air conditioning coil cleaner like every other filter changing had done. The spray cleans the coils and drips down to the ground. This as I thought was essential to the filter changing procedure.
Wow! Under your encouragement, at 7:40, I pulled that damn thing out without worrying damage the orange cable. Whew! What the hell of Tesla engineers! Why they make this so difficult? Luckily, the filter kit I bought from Amazon came with a Z torque driver. I makes much easier to remove that screw. However, positioning myself to make it work requires some acrobatic move to fit in that tight space. Thank you very much! Mission accomplished.
Great video, it helped a lot. Thank you for posting.
Some tips from a first-timer:
1. You can use a thin bladed screwdriver to start the tunnel carpet panel removal, but a door panel clip remover tool really helps pop the panel loose.
2. You do not have to remove the cables attached to the filter access panel, as while tight, you can push it out of the way.
3. Removal of the screw uses a Torx 20 head. I used a 6 inch long 1/4 inch socket screwdriver type tool but a shorter one would be better.
4. I bought an inexpensive filter set from Amazon, turned out the filters were 1/8 inch short compared to the originals. Don't know if significant air will bypass the filters because you cannot see inside the slot.
This is complete opposite of pretty much all Hondas. No tools required or take off panels to replace the cabin filter:
1. Open glove box
2. Release stopper to open glove box further
3. Open cabin filter door
Takes about a minute.
I used to drive Hondas and agree, but now I just smoke them off the line! Worth the extra work every 2 years to replace the cabin air filter.
As a tesla girl, o hell no way im doing all of that! I better start making an appointment at Tesla
Right?!
You probably will need to spend more time and money for Tesla to do it. If you have all the stuff ready it would take about 20-25 min. It took me 35 min as I didn't know which screw bit it needed. It needs T15
Great explanation; gave you a thumbs up. I recently did a similar video so this is fresh on my mind, and I have a couple pro tips for your viewers. If you don't have any special tools, you can insert your torx t-20 bit into a small socket/ratchet (that most people have around the house) that will easily fit up there. If you don't want to spend $100 on HEPA filters made by 3M, you can buy a generic from Amazon for $39. I bought them, and they are a big upgrade from the stock filters. Again, great job and thanks for showing Tesla owners that they can absolutely do this by themselves!
you can also insert the torx bit into a small socket driver
can you link which hepa you bought off amazon, I may like to try it
@@jessetoth7316 Sure, mine are from XTechnor, but they've recently raised the price to $51. I've spoken to another company called Temai, and they have the same filters for $39. Here is their link: amzn.to/3heQM0y
This is an insane design by Tesla engineers. There's no reason why they could not have made the access easier instead of having to go through this convoluted process. Very excited about receiving my Model 3 LR next month, but will definitely have Tesla service folks perform this task when it's time. Hats off to the Frugal Tesla Guy for taking this on. I consider his videos to be the most informative of anyone's.
Most newer cars are about the same process
@@FoldedOrange381 I’m not sure «the bar is in the basement» quite makes this ok
16:50 Those ORANGE wires are HIGH VOLTAGE wires. Don’t damage them. Don’t use sharp tools.
thanks for the video, but it still took me about an hour start to finish. why didnt the Tesla engineers design the replacement like in a Lexus, that takes about 5 minutes instead of like my Infiniti which is like the Tesla, you have to take apart half the car interior to get at the cabin air filter. i guess Tesla and Infiniti dont think people will DYI, but pay the outrageous dealership labor charges.
Wow they made this process a good bit easier with the 2021 models. The screw for the filter door is now on the bottom.
So I just replaced the filters in my 2021 M3 and to my surprise the screw holding the cover was on the BOTTOM and there were no cables going across the cover. Tesla heard you.
Your video convinced me that I'll let Tesla replace the air filter (or just never do it!!). It really is a poor design for a part that needs to be replaced periodically (like some spark plugs in old muscle cars with big engines and little room to work under the hood!)
It is a little silly for Tesla not to have created an access hatch.
Yes, I have heard that some older cars required the engine to be removed to replace the spark plugs.
You could go to a car stereo installer to do this for you (the filter replacement) if the local Tesla Dealer is too far away. My local Tesla dealer is a 7 hour drive, one way, to a neighboring province. It would be ludicris to go there for a filter change. The closest Tesla mobile ranger is in another neighboring province and is 5 hours away. Imagine the service fee.
Changing this filter is not for the faint of heart. Way too much work for me. I’ll be making an appointment with service when needed. I’m sure that’s what Tesla wants you too do. 😉
Thank you. I replaced the filters in my Model 3 this afternoon. Great instruction video ... albeit one step not covered was cleaning the airco coils with a spray foam which I strongly recommend. I found pulling the clips to remove the panels to access the filter compartment initially quite daunting as I didn't want to break anything. The process was tedious, but it all worked out fine. Thank you.
Honestly removing the clips on the orange wire was not necessary and in fact Tesla’s instructions make it clear that it is a high voltage wire not to be messed with. I almost wrecked the clips before looking at other sources and finding the Tesla instructions. I was able to replace the filters easily without removing those clips.
Its a 20 minute video to show the same thing that is shown on Tesla's website in a 20 second .gif.
I’m appalled at how hard Tesla made this. Should be a much more simple process for changing the air filter. Just poorly designed.
Why didn’t you spray clean the coils?
I just want to say this is a LOT harder than it looks, getting to that screw is damn near impossible. I gave up and paid Tesla, wasting money on the filters and spray I didn't use.
Great video. Thanks. It’s a keeper. One question: Who the heck designed the access to this? I figure his name was Rube. Like in Goldberg? 😂
Well to no avail , I had a problem doing it with my short torx20. I need the flexible devise you have. Do you have a link where I can purchase it?
What a monumental pain in the ass!
Well I just figured it out and decided to leave my comment in there just in case anyone else is confused. It’s really far up in there. I’m 5 foot six a woman and I basically had my head on the floor and my feet up on the seat with the passenger seat all the way back and reclined. I feel sorry for guys who are 6 foot
I've bought the HEPA Filters for around $100 and the can of cool it. I plan on taking car if this soon.
Man how I wished you had found some super-duper bio defense anti-coronavirus graphene infused hepa filter upgrade... 😁
Most of the comments talk about a T20 screw. On my 2019 M3, it is a T15 screw. Also, I did not need to remove the two orange cables from the filter door.
Interesting! It's a T20 on my 2018 M3. They must have changed that in 2019.
Anyone know the cost of Tesla changing them out. Think I'll leave the frustration up to them:)
I heard it’s over 100 bucks
I felt like I was over in a neighbor's garage putzing through some Tesla DIY and male bonding. One of FTGs best videos!
Thank you for this video. But WOW was this harder than it needed to be. Tesla really messed up on where these filters are, especially since they need to be periodically replaced....
Best video I have seen so far, you show the hardest part instead of cutting through like other youtubers.
Spend the extra money and buy the German filters from Tesla! That paper might look the same, but the two filters should be analyzed by a laboratory to see if they are identical. You are the Frugal guy, not the cheap guy.
This is the original filter:
catalog.mann-filter.com/EU/eng/catalog/MANN-FILTER%20Katalog%20Europa/Vehicles/CARS%20+%20TRANSPORTERS/TESLA%20MOTORS/Model%203/Model%203%20(T00000000521429)/Cabin%20Air%20Filter/FP%2025%20015
Costs ~25$ in Europe, i'm sure you get it for the same price in US from MANN filter at your local car spare part shop
You can clearly see the cutout for the right hand drive car’s steering column!
Great (stressful) video. I appreciate that you did this so carefully (and with only one hand) and filmed it for us!
That Torx screw is nuts. It should simply snap on and off. The entire design is poor, at best. I appreciate all the tips you provided. Great video! Subscribed... Thanks again.
Just changed out wife's cabin filters on Model Y. Hopefully my model 3 (6/2021) is the same design with cabin filter door plate screw toward the bottom. Even if not you made it look relatively easy.
my filters were almost 4 YEARS OLD. I cant load a pic but they were not horrible. I have an air intake filter in the frunk that captures a lot of debris. I didnt see a mention of this in all the yutubes on this project. my 2019 M3 just had a blank opening for air into the cabin. go figure
Thanks Frugal. This screw is a challenge to get it out. I finally get the new filters replaced after a couple of hour struggling with this screw. Very bad design. I drop one of the Tox20 screws inside. Luckily, I have one more to finish this job.
Now I want an electric car. Getting tired of diesel and exhaust fumes coming in the cabin. And the spot. Bah I'm 25 but. Electric cars are okay because they don't smell of petrol or diesel fumes inside a shop.
This video was a lifesaver. Without it's guidance, this job would have been impossible. Having said that, I will NEVER attempt this again. It took me over an hour to do and I'm a pretty good wannabe mechanic. The filters are way up under the dash, which requires a lot of physical dexterity to remove the filter cover screw and door. Next time I'll pay Tesla service the $75 to do it.
Great video - but - the fact changing the filters is this hard is the biggest engineering fail on the Model 3 IMHO. Unreal. On my old '03 Pontiac Vibe I could change the filter in 4 minutes with one small stubby screwdriver. This design is insanity.
Regarding filter quality:
You cannot see that a filter “Having the same characteristics as the original” (as you said).
Working with air filters, I’ve seen filters that look good, but get clogged after 2-3 months, making the air flow less and making the fan work harder, and even get worn out.
Not saying these filters you got are bad, but there are certain specifications for air filters. And no marking is not good 😕
That being said, I don’t know where Tesla got their filters from, but at least I will have a record of me buying filters from them yearly (covering my 5 year warranty on the car, as it is in Norway)
Just did mine. Disgusting! By the way, couldn’t they have put the screw in the bottom instead of the top? Lol. Thanks for the video
Thanks for this video. Finally got around to swapping over to new air filters and this was a lot better than the animated GIF on the Tesla website.
Hi Tesla Guy… love your videos but this air filter replacement is insane. Don’t care what it costs but I’ll have Tesla or repair shop do the change ( memo to Elon…. If you have a part that must be routinely changed, might be a good idea to have your engineering department come up with a simpler method)
lol all these people complaining, they ain't ever changed (Most) other ICE cars air-filter. A bit of patience, and body bending and this was quite easy.
Great video. That really helped me. Now, I confirm from some other posts that you don’t need to remove the two upper clips that hold the orange cable. The cable can remain attached to the cover. I also bought the Hepa filters and sprayed the Kool-it foam cleaner on the coil. Everything went well. Thank you again.
Special mention for the engineer who put the torx20 pesky screw all the way up inside the nether region.
Wonder how much it costs Tesla in terms of man hours for 1000s of vehicles spent assembling or disassembling that piece.
Hint: 95% of the time, you can buy the identical item(s) on eBay for less than Amazon...with or without free shipping.
Just an FYI, there is now a replacement for the screw which secures the filter door, which makes reinstallation much easier. “Search” is your friend!😀
I'm also tall, with large hands. This was not an easy task. I'm seriously considering letting Tesla do it next time, now that we're finally getting a service center close by.
I will make one suggestion: an interior trim pry bar (plastic) makes removing the side panel and the glove box pins a bit easier. Your flexible driver rocks! I found dealing with the torx screw to be the hardest part of the job. That, and my large frame compressed into that footwell...
WARNING: the orange cables he was tugging on are high voltage cables per the Tesla manual.
I have seen some posts from others who have sprayed in the filter area some Coil Foam Cleaner”. Is this necessary or has just changing the filters worked to get rid of the musty smell?
Not a bad idea to spray it. Never heard about that until I did the video. Go figure.
This is prb the dumbest design coming from tesla, who ever design this definitely didn’t do his job right
Passenger chair back as far as possible - 3 pillows for back - Lie on your back with your feet in the back seat - then go for it.
Do not pull too hard on the orange cable clips or you will break the bottom clip of the air filter cover (whoops). I ended up just not removing them.
Extremely bad engineering. I'm about to do my second change, and frankly I'm going to pay someone rather than injure myself.
Thanks for the video. Unfortunately I have to call them. I don’t have the skills nor the patience to do it. They could have made it easier!
I almost nope'd out of doing this after watching the video but it ended up not being that hard, except for getting that screw off the cabin filter cover, that was a huge pain at first, just like FTG said, you need the right screwdriver that lets you transfer torque at 90 degrees. Getting the side panel off and the panel under the glovebox were a breeze, and the electrical connectors for the light and speaker just pop off and on.
Very helpful video, I was done in 30 mins.
First time doing this and lots of profanity at the stupid design. Swapped out the screw for a winged so cussing reduced by 90%
The filters need to be changed every year. I had tesla come and change mine. It cost over 300 dollars. This time I’m going to do it myself.
OMG, prop’s to you! I don’t know how you got a camera in there… That was awful. I was also doing it in 100º weather. But I just had to sit backwards in the passenger seat to even fit down there.
wow, this was a project. I replace my Honda Accord air filter in 2 minutes.
You should see how bad it is to change a Honda Accord 1998-2002, this is nothing
It's a niiightmare in the UK version iv just had to Abe complete contortionist unter the wheel and peddles to reach the torx screw.
WARNING TO ALL! DO NOT PURCHASE THE BLACK ONES ON AMAZON. I HAVE HAD THEM IN MY CAR FOR A FEW MONTHS IT IS A NIGHTMARE I CAN SMELL EVERY FUME.
Your video was extremely helpful to us. Seeing the challenges associated with removing the under panel and side panel made the process more doable when things did not pop off as other videos seemed to imply. Removing the orange cable clips was not easy but did come off. The biggest challenge by far was removing the torx screw from the cover. The video made it appear that it was easily visible, but for our model 3 the screw was only partially visible when we put our head way up into the foot well and twisted our head to look up. We had ordered the XTechnor hepa filters off of Amazon for $50, which included an allen wrench with a torx head. Unfortunately, the space was small and the position was awkward. We did not try your flexible screw driver approach but instead used just the torx head of a ratchet set and were able to twirl it to unscrew the screw (and we only dropped the torx head 4 times while doing this operation). Putting the side panel back in position to have the snaps align correctly required some adjustment. The tip you provided about the placing the one piece in the back left of the under panel into the notch saved much aggravation.
What an awful pain in the ar$e... I'm glad this is done only every two years!!! Thanks for posting!
Couldn't agree more.
Excellent demo. I think Tesla should have put the screw you removed at the bottom and the “hook” engagement at the top. Also, it would have cost very little for longer orange wires that could be rerouted around the cover so they do not need to be unclipped. When designing parts and assemblies it’s not always easy to foresee what’s involved in servicing cars but here’s one area for improvement for Tesla engineers to take a second look at.
They just Did after 2021 + Models
@@johnnyh8731 Yep. Just discovered this on our 2022.
I just did mine yesterday following your video (thx), just FYI during reinstalling the glove box bottom panel, not only the left slot to line up like u mentioned, there's also one similar slot on the right to line up as well. Both slots keep the back of this panel in place on the back.
Btw for my filters from amzn, for some reason inserting the 2nd filter that sits on top of the 1st was not easy to push all the way in. Easy 1st 3/4 of the way, felt resistance final remaining 1/4 of the way. Not sure anyone experienced this. I tried few times, and had to push harder to force it in. Maybe size is a bit off for aftermarket filters somehow.
Totally agree.. I bought the Amazon filters and they seemed flimsy and cheap so I sent them back. I bought the OEM Tesla filters for $10 more than Amazon and they're much sturdier and easier to install.
thanks for this video. it was pretty difficult to change, but managed it
thank you!!! I did it all by myself! our filters were nasty!
Great instruction. Just did mine. Recommend 1" T20 bit with finger rachet and it worked well for me. Very tight working space.
Thanks for the guide. I just gone done changing my filters. Yup! those orange wires was pain to take it off so I decided to take the filter cover off without taking the clips off those orange wires and it works. Plenty of space to work on, enough to take the filters off and put it back on. I'm not trying to correct you or anything but I'm just throwing it out there for other people. Thank you for this guide. I would have call tesla to get this thing done if it wasn't this video.
For a serviceable item it's a bit of a faff guess Tesla tech's need some labour charges somewhere.
I followed instructions and was able to install the filter. It was not easy but worth it. Thanks
It's a T20 Torx Bit.
You're welcome 👍🏻
Awesome, vid, having OCD I probably would have gotten out my vacuum cleaner and sucked out that filter area before installing the filters.
Cost me $34 ($17 each), from Tesla.
Agree for 9 bucks more, I rather buy the OEM ones, remember they filter the are that you breathe, and the OEM, are made in Germany, not China.
@@cristianfederico2411 I think you like german products LoL
@@ralfaudax7185 yeah if a have to choose between something made in china of in Germany I choose Germany I like quality products.
Where did you purchase the special flexible screw tool?
Great video, I couldn’t of done it without your help. Now can you give me the phone number of that Tesla engineer that designed it? I would love to thank him :-)
This operation was way easier than the changes to your screen. That was real work!
Changed my today noticed there is a speaker there but not working is there a way to turn that on
Most likely they tell you it lasts 200k miles cause they don’t want to do it themselves 😂
For anyone doing this in 2020+ Be Warned that there is an incorrect step here!! Don’t risk breaking or damaging the Orange high voltage wire!! In the video he recommends pulling off all three tabs for the orange cable, Do Not Do This! Only the lower tab which easily slides off should be undone. The top two clips on the air filter cover stay attached and the cover can be pulled aside after the screw is removed. That is the official Tesla approved method and doesn’t risk breaking tabs. Hopefully this helps someone~
No, the Tesla approved/published process outlines removing the two clips. www.tesla.com/support/do-it-yourself-model-3#replace-air-filter
@@bandentracy8075 Please double check your statement. At 6:50 in the video he begins removing the clips holding the orange wire in place and this is clearly not done in the Tesla instructions which is why I posted the tip. The only thing mentioned in Tesla's instructions are the T20 screw holding the cover in place. Here is also the animated GIF on Tesla's page that shows it visually www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/images/support/replace-cabin-air-filter.gif
Thanks! I struggled at this step. Appreciate your sharing.
Pro tip, use a Torx T-20 bit with ratchet (small, 1/4") to make dealing with that bolt much easier. The ratchet speeds up loosening or tightening in that awkward location without having to futz with the included Torx key. Huge time and aggravation saver. Use pliers to safely remove the speaker and light cables. Those are a bear to remove bare-fingered.
I Think you're the best guy out there on UA-cam to practice the American Accent :) Love your videos!
glad i have adblocker, seems that the video has many ads! $$$
Excellent video. This is going to help many owners. Thanks for the great work.
Best video showing how this done without a bunch of “edits”
air filter links on amazon?
I was looking at your video and changed it thank you 😊.
What does Tesla charge to do it?
I simply paid $56 plus tax and have Tesla do it. Time is 💰
too long thumb nail. really. there is a tool for it that comes with the filters
What's the bit size for the screw you have to remove
How did you disconnect the speaker wire? It seems like there is a tab that is locked in place and very difficult to push in to disengage.
Yea that was by far the hardest part.. There is a small hole on the connector I pressed a small pin into; and then it got loose (but it could have been just luck - not sure this was what did the trick)