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Audi A4 B8: How to Replace Air Filter

The Audi is a complex piece of German engineering, but some aspects of it, like changing the engine air filter, are simpler to do than you might think.

By Charlie Gaston - March 28, 2016

This article applies to the Audi A4 B8 (2008-2015).

It's one of those repairs you'd be a fool not to do yourself. That's right, replacing the air filter in your Audi A4 B8 is a do-it-yourself project that requires just the cost of your replacement parts. All you need are a few simple tools, and the knowledge of where the air filter is located. Let's get started!

Audi A4 B8: How to Replace Air Filter

Materials Needed

  • Replacement air filter
  • Torx driver T30 and T20 (security bit type)
  • Medium slotted screwdriver
  • CRC mass airflow sensor cleaner (optional)
  • Rags

Step 1 – Access the air box cover

Once you pop the hood of your Audi and locate the air box as well as intake, you are 1/4 done. Remove the triangular rubber intake piece that connects the air box to the front of the car with your bare hands and a little twisting as well as pulling. Next, disconnect the hose from the top of the air box to the engine by loosening the hose clamp, and unplugging the electrical connection at the mass airflow (MAF) sensor. Cars with the V6 or TDI motor are similar.

Audi A4 B8 rubber intake hose, clamp and MAF connector location
Figure 1. Rubber intake hose (red square), clamp (blue arrow), and MAF connector (yellow arrow).

Step 2 – Open the air box and remove filter

Loosen the six T30 screws fastened to the top of the air box that goes to the filter. Lift the air box off using your hands. You don't have to remove the MAF sensor, but it isn't a bad idea to carefully clean it with the spray. It's best to only hold the sensor by the connector. Put it back in the air box when you are done. It is just two additional T20 screws. Pull out the old air filter.

Location of the air box cover screws
Figure 2. The six red circles are the locations of the air box cover screws.

Step 3 – Clean your air box and install new filter

Pick out any dried leaves and other debris that has collected in your air box. If you have a shop vac, this is a great use for it. Slide the new filter into place in the air box, making sure the pre-filter element is towards the bottom of the air box.

Dirty versus clean air filter
Figure 3. Dirty air filter vs a clean one.

Step 4 – Re-attach your intake plumbing

Just a few more quick things to finish and you are ready to go. Re-attach the MAF if you removed it from the air box cover. Screw the air box cover back to the air box with the six T30 screws. Attach the tube from the intake manifold to the MAF sensor at the top of the air box and tighten the clamp, then plug the wires back in. Now all that is left is to fit the intake back between the air box and the radiator cover at the front of the car, which might just be the trickiest part.

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