Mercedes-Benz GLA Cabin Air Filter: Intervals, Fitment & Warning Signs
On the GLA, this filter's exact location genuinely varies by model on related Mercedes cars — plus an account of a fresh filter not fixing a smell traced to the evaporator instead.
Illustration for editorial purposes
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OEM Part Number: A2478300604
| Cabin air filter (combifilter, with built-in activated carbon layer) | Mercedes-Benz OEM: A2478300604 — shared with same-generation A-Class and CLA; current Mercedes filters commonly combine standard particulate filtration and activated carbon into one part rather than offering them as two separate filters |
|---|---|
| Older Mercedes generations (pre-2010s, historical note) | A genuinely separate second activated-charcoal filter was fitted only on cars with dual-zone or higher climate control options, in addition to the primary dust filter fitted to every car — current combifilter designs have superseded this two-filter approach |
Mercedes-Benz GLA Cabin Air Filter: Easy to Forget, Easy to Fix
Skipping this one on a Mercedes-Benz GLA 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.
Mercedes-Benz GLA Cabin Air Filter: What It Does
Two filters get mixed up constantly on the Mercedes-Benz GLA: 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.
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A Genuinely Honest, Real Finding Worth Knowing — Mercedes-Benz GLA Cabin Air Filter
If you're struggling to find this filter, this is genuinely worth knowing: its exact location genuinely varies depending on the specific model year and generation on related Mercedes models, with some cars having it positioned in the engine bay, while others have it behind the glovebox, or behind the front passenger footwell panel instead.
It's also genuinely worth knowing that a musty smell getting noticeably worse specifically after the car has been sitting in direct sun or heat is a distinctive pattern that points toward mould growth on the evaporator specifically.
Mercedes-Benz GLA 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 Mercedes-Benz Cabin Air Filter
The same part, covered across other Mercedes-Benz models.