Audi Q3 Cabin Air Filter: Intervals, Fitment & Warning Signs

On the Q3, most Audis genuinely have the filter behind the glovebox, but a few models place it under the windscreen cowl instead.

Generation covered: this guide is for the third-generation Q3 (F3, 2018–present), with particular focus on 2018–2023 registered examples now old enough for parts to be a common search. Check your logbook or VIN if you're unsure which generation you have.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — cabin air filter (aftermarket) Mahle LA888 / Bosch 1987432540

Accuracy note: Covers the Audi Q3 (F3 2018-) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. A cabin filter is a cheap part, but it is bought by number, and the number depends on whether your car was built with a standard particulate filter or an activated-carbon one, as well as on trim and build date. The references below are aftermarket catalogue listings for this generation, grouped by brand; the carmaker's own number is not quoted in those listings, so check the genuine filter against your VIN if you want a guaranteed match. Carbon versions carry their own numbers and are listed separately.

Cabin filter, standard (aftermarket)	Mahle LA888, Bosch 1987432540, Febi 48465, Blue Print ADV182526
Activated-carbon version (aftermarket)	Mahle LAK 888, Bosch 0 986 628 630, Febi 39048
Genuine (OE) number	Not quoted in the catalogue listings — the fitted filter varies by trim and build date, so order the genuine one against your VIN
Fitment notes	Standard and carbon filters have different numbers, and the right size depends on trim and build date. Check which type your car was built with before ordering.

Audi Q3 Cabin Air Filter: Easy to Forget, Easy to Fix

Skipping this one on a Audi Q3 won't cost you performance or reliability, only air quality inside the cabin — which is why it's routinely the most overdue item on any used car's maintenance history.

Before you buy: filter size and whether your car uses a standard or activated-carbon filter varies by trim. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Audi Q3 Cabin Air Filter: What It Does

Two filters get mixed up constantly on the Audi Q3: this one cleans air for the cabin ventilation system, catching dust, pollen and (on activated-carbon versions) some airborne pollutants, while the separate engine air filter deals purely with combustion air. They don't share a part number or a purpose.

Audi Q3 Cabin Air Filter: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: Audi Q3 2019 cabin filter replacing

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Audi Q3 Cabin Air Filter reference plate

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A Genuinely Important Clarification Worth Confirming Before Buying a Filter — Audi Q3 Cabin Air Filter

This is genuinely worth confirming before ordering a replacement: most Audis use a front-access method with the filter positioned behind the glovebox, but a small number of models instead place the filter under the cowl at the base of the windscreen — worth confirming which specific location applies to your car before buying, since the part and fitting procedure are completely different between the two.

A genuinely useful, preventative finding worth knowing: consistently using the recirculation setting rather than fresh air mode helps keep the evaporator dry, which can prevent musty smells and mould developing in the first place. It's also genuinely worth knowing a useful technique for an existing smell: setting the heater to high with recirculation on and letting the car idle for around fifteen minutes can help bake an existing smell out of the evaporator.

It's also genuinely worth knowing to check the plenum area below the windscreen for a build-up of leaves and debris, since this is a regularly documented source of water finding its way into the cabin.

Audi Q3 Cabin Air Filter: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Cabin Air Filter Guide for signs it needs changing, confirming fitment against your VIN, and choosing standard, carbon, or HEPA media.

More Audi Cabin Air Filter

The same part, covered across other Audi models.