Replace the Cabin Air Filter

The main cabin (combination) air filter on the Mercedes E-Class W213 sits behind a trim panel in the passenger footwell, below the glovebox. It is a DIY job once the panel is off.

These cars also have a second, smaller dust filter in the engine bay that is serviced less often.

How to replace the E-Class cabin filter

1. Push the front passenger seat fully back and switch the ignition off.
2. In the passenger footwell, remove the lower trim panel below the glovebox (it is held by Torx screws and/or clips).
3. Find the filter cover beside the blower (fan) housing and release its lid.
4. Slide the old combination filter out, noting the airflow-direction arrow on its frame.
5. Fit the new filter the same way round (arrow matching), close the lid, and refit the trim panel.

The interior combination filter is Mercedes part 2058350147; the separate engine-bay dust filter is 1668300218. Fit the filter the correct way round, or airflow and sealing suffer.

Mercedes typically changes the cabin filter around every 20,000 to 25,000 km (about once a year), or sooner if airflow drops or there are odors. Replacing it restores fan output and clears a musty smell from the vents.

How many cabin filters does a Mercedes E-Class W213 have?

Two: the main combination filter behind the glovebox trim in the passenger footwell, and a smaller dust filter in the engine bay. The footwell one is the filter most owners replace.

Where is the cabin filter on a W213 E-Class?

Behind the lower trim panel below the glovebox, in the passenger footwell, next to the blower housing. It is not behind a flap inside the glovebox on this generation.

If airflow stays weak after a new filter, check the blower and vents rather than the filter. A blower-motor fault will usually log a code you can look up free on autodtcs.com.