2019–2024 Audi Q3

2019-2024 Audi Q3 - Cabin Air Filter Replacement

By Tom Becker ✓ Certified Mechanic · Published Sep 21, 2026 · Updated Oct 22, 2026

🔧 Easy 15-25 minutes $20 DIY

Save $80 by doing it yourself! Shop cost: $100

Quick answer: Cabin Air Filter Replacement on a 2019–2024 Audi Q3 is rated Easy and takes about 15-25 minutes. You'll need 1 tool for this job, and parts cost about $20. This guide walks you through the full job step by step, including the mistakes to avoid.

Quick Video Tutorial

Parts You Need

Total Cost

$20.00

Part Name	Part Number	Price	Buy
Cabin air filter	—	$20.00	Amazon

About prices: shown prices are typical retail averages and change frequently; cheaper alternatives may be available. Confirm the current price before buying.

💡 Pro tip: Order all parts at once to save on shipping

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps carefully

Prepare the Q3 and locate the access panel

Park the Q3 level, brake set, ignition fully off. The F3 Q3's cabin filter sits UNDER the glovebox in the footwell, accessed through a dedicated panel beneath it — not by dropping the glovebox. Confirm the replacement is cataloged for the 2019-2024 Q3.

Open the glovebox and find the under-dash panel

Empty the glovebox. Look beneath it, under the multimedia reader area, for the rectangular access panel covering the filter box. Slide the passenger seat back for working room. The access panel is the only trim you remove — the glovebox itself stays in place.

Remove the access panel to expose the filter box

Remove the access panel under the glovebox — held by screws or clips depending on trim — and set the panel and fasteners aside. Keep the small screws in a tray; they love to roll under the seat.

🔧 Mechanic's note — Tom Becker

Those little access-panel screws love to roll under the seat — keep them in a tray, not loose on the carpet. I have fished more of them out of seat rails than I can count.

Remove the old filter and clean the housing

Pull the old filter out, noting the airflow arrow direction on its frame first. Vacuum the empty box and wipe the edges clean. Audi's schedule lists replacement about every 15,000 miles or once a year. Push the new filter into the filter box.

Reassemble and verify HVAC airflow

Close the filter box cover, refit the access panel, and secure its screws or clips. Close the glovebox. Start the Q3 on fresh air and run the fan through its speeds: strong, quiet airflow, no rattling from under the dash.

All Done!

Test your repair before closing everything up. If something doesn't work right, double-check your steps.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Installing the filter backwards (ignore the airflow arrow)
• Forcing a thicker filter so the door will not latch
• Tearing glovebox stops, dampener arms, or filter-door clips
• Leaving leaves and debris in the housing so they blow into the cabin

Tools You'll Need

Trim tool or flat screwdriver (optional) Flashlight Gloves Vacuum or rag for debris

⚠️ Safety First!

• Informational DIY. EZ Car Fix is not a shop.
• Bag the old filter — it can shed dust, leaves, and debris into the cabin.
• Do not force clips or the glovebox dampener; plastic tabs break easily.
• If a musty smell returns within a week, it may be a drain clog or evaporator issue — not just the filter.