New Approach to Cabin Filter

[flyinbrick]

I've been increasing sensitive to dirty air and also I've got an infant son now, I'd like to implement some sort of cabin air filter. I've read before a thread (can't find it now) where some have tried to put a filter near the fan under the passenger side dash but with limited long-term success. I had a BMW once and remember the filter was near the wipers and wondered if I might implement something similar. Well, I finally got the time to remove the panel cover where the wipers are. What I found is a cavity where the air goes in with three openings. The cavity itself is pretty well sealed. I'm thinking to try and cut some pieces of foam (hepa) filter to put over the openings, then sandwich the panel over it. Has anyone tried this?

 

[tx_shooter]

Good idea to filter the air as early as possible. My initial concern though is if the filter gets wet for extended periods of time if it will start to grow mold.

 

[absalom]

Speaking to the dirty air part, would a charcoal filter work? Or do they not last long enough for automotive applications?

 

[Kanoe]

I've been thinking about this for a while too. I want to put a mouse screen over that opening but what a difficult spot to access! So far no bright ideas have come to me...

 

[C-RAIG]

Speaking to the dirty air part, would a charcoal filter work? Or do they not last long enough for automotive applications?

Charcoal filters are used in automotive applications. They are spendy though. I just sold one yesterday to a customer and it was $108

 

[flyinbrick]

You're right tx_shooter, the filter will get wet - back to the drawing board. I looked into the e46 BMW that I had before and at the air intake between the wipers, there is a drain - the filter is elevated and air goes up through it and into the firewall. That's not possible with our setup. More details about the air path can be found on this thread. I was hoping the intake underneath the shroud on the passenger side can be accessed, but I don't think it can. So the way I see it, the only good solution is at the blower. If you read through that thread I linked above, someone did make a filter, but seems like a PITA to have to make such a filter everytime it needs changing. I was hoping for a modification with an off-the-shelf filter solution.