Thank you for doing this. The other guides all seem to assume a LHD car. Nice to be able to see what to do and know what to yank and what to leave alone. I was able to do my filters thanks to this guide, and I'm a Software Engineer!
God send. Having just followed the Tesla app instructions and finding the passenger side in the UK models is no help at all, this was enormously helpful.
Thank you James. I’m one of the least handy/diy-skilled people in the world, but managed to change the cabin filters on my model 3 yesterday using this step by step guide. Not the easiest thing crouched down on your knees feeling around in the dark, but your video guided me safely through what could otherwise have been a disastrous ordeal.
Excellent tutorial accurate for UK model 3s with right hand drive. I bought replacement pollen filters from Temai UK and both their instructions and other videos tell you to take apart the passenger side. But that is specific to left hand drive cars. Great video.
Thanks for the video, only if I saw your video first before cutting open the wrong side 😂 I've watched LHD instructions and thought I've got to open the pessenger side, wrong, and realised how tricky it is to remove/put together things!! 🤦♂️
On my 2021 Chinese made M3 LR there was no orange cable in the way of the filter housing cover. This probably made pulling the filters in and out easier. Good video James & thanks for putting it up.
Just done it. The only issue was that the 2019 model send to have less room to get the filters in than the model here. Also might be a good idea to take a photo of the duct before you remove it as i was going about it completely the wrong way when trying to refit it. Very helpful video.
TY - a lot of other videos forget to mention taking out the bottom filter... in fact some have shown - oh you get 2 filters when you buy these.. keep one for next time....
Thanks for this mate. Made my experience much easier. Especially given all the official vids are for US models - I was about to start pulling out the trim in the passenger footwell but thought “hmm… maybe triple check”.
James, Thank you so much this really helped me do my wife's M3LR 22 today . Especialy useful for realigning the ducting ! One addition looks like the heater power cable is nolonger in the way :)
Thanks, James, for taking the time to post this. Gave me the confidence to do it myself. 2021 model slightly different - the filter access panel is hinged at the top, screwed at the bottom. Bit fiddly to get the screw out as it fouls the carpet but got there in the end 👍
Really helpful, thanks! Replaced 2 year old original filters as the AC performance was noticeably degraded in high heat conditions, fresh filters made a big difference.
This is really handy. At first I was confused why you removed so much. But definitely easier to reach taking the second bit of plastic and duct out. Doable without it, but would be easy to drop a screw. So I’ll go that extra step next time.
Excellent video. I was following US versions and realised quickly it looked slightly different. Glad I watched and followed along to replace my filters in my 2019 M3P-
Hi. Just used this video and worked really well. One comment, but I can’t attach photo as the orange cable is not in the way… 👍👍 (model 3 MIC march 2021).
Well done, James! I can't believe how much people pay at the Tesla Service Centers to have this done. I think that there are fewer parts to remove on the LHD cars. I have one panel to remove, no ductwork and no separate plastic panel. I do have carpeting and obviously no pedals, steering column or foot rest.
If I ever need to change Tesla Model 3 Pollen Filter I will follow James's instructions - fantastic. James, what is your mind block about "Clutch Pedals" in EVs? Mike
Only difficulty I had was working out what I was trying to wiggle the duct into. It was, as you said, easy once I realised I was shoving it into entirely the wrong place 😂. Where can you buy the white clips that hold the centre console side panel in place? 2 of mine broke. Top filter seemed to want to not slide in the last half inch, had to shove the cover on, is that right?
I love this type of Tesla DIY videos, even though I don't own a Model 3! For a 2017 S75, is greasing the lower steering mechanism a DIY job? (I'm thinking in terms of preventative maintenance).
you almost have to remove half the car when there was an easy way to make it without having to remove all just have a simple click door in the outer trim. why make it so hard for a part that needs to be replaced a lot. its almost like the petrol engine car that had the spark plug were you had to almost take the engine out for
Hi and thanks. I don't use them at all. The car is already very low, with the pucks they make getting a jack under near impossible. Save your money, they have perfectly adequate jacking points as standard 👍🏻
But remember you have be magician as well, I see broken off plastic clips (and no way to get them out). I see the tiny screws dropping into the hole. So a little advise; leave this to the guys who had been trained to this. Although I admire your showing us this keep it up.
Give it a pull, don’t be scared. Some 5 year old clips and fasteners break or become less gripping when reused. So, now, have issues of how to replace. Unforeseen headache.
I get the feeling filter maint was forgotten about when the tesla engineering team was designing this. Why would you have to tear half the dash apart including vents just to change the cabin air filter? Tesla mobile service im told will charge anywhere from 60 - 80 dollars to do this. And my other guess is not very many people are going to do maintenance on this or even know it exists. It SHOULD be just take off that carpet side panel and unscrew the cover. But because its so high you have to rip out all those covers covering the underside of the dash, ridiculous. I've never seen that before. Usually they are behind the glove compartment in most cars, and the cover doesn't even use a screw its just a push clip.
Hi James & Kate. I am considering the move to an EV but wondered if you have an email address I can seek an opinion regarding a dilemma I am struggling with?
What a piss poor design. I thought my Ford SMax was bad, where I have to remove a control module from under the passenger footwell. I just did my wife's 2013 Hyundai i20, which has a clip-on cover and filter made in 2 sections to allow removal and refitting without removing ANYTHING. Whoever designed this needs strapping to one of those SpaceX rockets.
Well that doesn't either take more than 5 min or so... And also totally unneeded to replace clean filter to another clean filter... Your nose will tell u when that is actually needed repair
As noted this design originates in the LHD version so the positioning is more awkward with more bits in RHD because they are only go to reverse so much for the sake of the RHD markets. LHD version is easier.
