How to add a HEPA filter to your non-Bioweapon facelift Model S!

[pelargir]

I'm curious if anyone with a recent MS (built during the latter half of 2017) has gotten this to work? I asked my delivery specialist today if they could sell me the HEPA filter by itself and he said no. He said the HEPA filter by itself would not function properly without the BWD button being installed too. He said the BWD button is what directs air away from the cabin filter and through the HEPA filter. He said the MS and MX used to be "retro-fittable" with the filter but that they aren't any longer.

This doesn't match what's been shared in this thread so either (a) he's uninformed, or (b) perhaps Tesla made recent physical changes in the MS that require the BWD button for the HEPA filter to work. I'd love to hear from someone with a recent MS who has made this work. I still plan on contacting the service center directly to see if they will sell us a HEPA filter.

It's a little frustrating that our delivery specialist wasn't willing to help us out with this. I understand Tesla wanting to protect the integrity of the premium package, but with them charging $5k just to get something as simple and as universally desired as a good filter, I don't have a lot of sympathy if people find out a way to install one anyway without having to order the premium package. Good filtration is a health issue and should at least be sold as a standalone add-on. I'd happily pay $500 for this feature by itself. I just can't justify spending $5k on it.

 

[Utahken]

I have a September build and it works fine. I put the fan on outside air and a high fan speed and you can feel the air being pulled through the slot where the HEPA filter is located.

 

[phaduman]

My take on how the BDW works:

"it is designed to "quickly" clean the air inside the cabin, by forcing outside air to come in as fast as possible. In one of their demo videos, Tesla shows that they can clean the air inside the cabin within 2mins. What I believe they are saying is that, even if you had contaminated air inside the cabin (say because you opened the windows or doors momentarily and sensed poor air quality), the BDW button will put the system to clean your cabin air in 2-minutes or less."

What they are not saying is, if you weren't in a rush, the cabin air would get fully filtered in about X minutes (perhaps 5-10mins depending on fan speed), in the normal auto fan setting. Depending on temp setting, the fan speed changes automatically. The only condition is that the air circulation must be outside air.

So BWD mode does two things "puts the car in outside air circulation mode so HEPA filter gets utilized, and puts the fan in speed 9 to speed up the filtration process".

I can guarantee on my refreshed AP (non-PUP but now with HEPA) that anytime the air is set to outside circulation, the HEPA is engaged. And the Tesla HEPA filter is truly higher quality than 3rd party as it is indeed denser, and has a better seal (the filter comes in a full housing).

My take on delivery specialists: they are really amateurs - hired weeks or months ago and only know the features that can be activated by buttons (remote or screen), but really don't know much else of what goes inside.Mine was a young boy just out of college I think and was excited about the creep mode feature!

The Service Advisors come with various knowledge base, but are in general more knowledgable than delivery specialists (who only deal with new cars and new customers ). Just call the service center over phone, and talk to the parts guy and order the HEPA filter. Pick it up when its ready.

cheers
Phal

 

[MIT_S60]

I'm curious if anyone with a recent MS (built during the latter half of 2017) has gotten this to work? I asked my delivery specialist today if they could sell me the HEPA filter by itself and he said no. He said the HEPA filter by itself would not function properly without the BWD button being installed too. He said the BWD button is what directs air away from the cabin filter and through the HEPA filter. He said the MS and MX used to be "retro-fittable" with the filter but that they aren't any longer.

This doesn't match what's been shared in this thread so either (a) he's uninformed, or (b) perhaps Tesla made recent physical changes in the MS that require the BWD button for the HEPA filter to work. I'd love to hear from someone with a recent MS who has made this work. I still plan on contacting the service center directly to see if they will sell us a HEPA filter.

It's a little frustrating that our delivery specialist wasn't willing to help us out with this. I understand Tesla wanting to protect the integrity of the premium package, but with them charging $5k just to get something as simple and as universally desired as a good filter, I don't have a lot of sympathy if people find out a way to install one anyway without having to order the premium package. Good filtration is a health issue and should at least be sold as a standalone add-on. I'd happily pay $500 for this feature by itself. I just can't justify spending $5k on it.

Speak with the Parts Department to get the HEPA filter. You can give them the part number (for the S it's 1059333-00-D I believe). It's pretty simple to install.

 

[DriveMe]

Speak with the Parts Department to get the HEPA filter. You can give them the part number (for the S it's 1059333-00-D I believe). It's pretty simple to install.

I second that! Bypass your DS if he is not helpful and go straight to the service department and ask for the part number 1059333-00-D. $150. They may have it in stock.
They won’t enable the Bio button, they may or may not be willing to install the filter for you, but there is no reason for them not to sell you the HEPA filter.

In my case, they offered to install it for $30 (on my Model S built in September) as long as I understood that the Bio button would not be enabled.

I am really happy with this upgrade!

 

[redbaronace]

Im interested in this mod for my 2015 S 85D. It is not the facelifted model.

Is this still something I can add? If so, is the part number the same for all model S cars regardless of year and AWD?

 

[DriveMe]

Im interested in this mod for my 2015 S 85D. It is not the facelifted model.

Is this still something I can add? If so, is the part number the same for all model S cars regardless of year and AWD?

I am not positive, but my understanding is that this only works on recent facelifted cars. Those that had the Bio configuration as an option.

 

[MIT_S60]

Im interested in this mod for my 2015 S 85D. It is not the facelifted model.

Is this still something I can add? If so, is the part number the same for all model S cars regardless of year and AWD?

No. The HEPA filter will only fit in the 2016+ refresh with the new front end.

 

[redbaronace]

Thanks for the responses. I was so tempted to try this that I almost ordered the filter late last night, but figured I should wait for the confirmation first.

 

[N..8]

Thanks for the responses. I was so tempted to try this that I almost ordered the filter late last night, but figured I should wait for the confirmation first.

I ordered the filter from the Parts Department after the DS told me that they no longer could do the upgrade.

 

[MarcusMaximus]

My take on how the BDW works:

"it is designed to "quickly" clean the air inside the cabin, by forcing outside air to come in as fast as possible. In one of their demo videos, Tesla shows that they can clean the air inside the cabin within 2mins. What I believe they are saying is that, even if you had contaminated air inside the cabin (say because you opened the windows or doors momentarily and sensed poor air quality), the BDW button will put the system to clean your cabin air in 2-minutes or less."

What they are not saying is, if you weren't in a rush, the cabin air would get fully filtered in about X minutes (perhaps 5-10mins depending on fan speed), in the normal auto fan setting. Depending on temp setting, the fan speed changes automatically. The only condition is that the air circulation must be outside air.

So BWD mode does two things "puts the car in outside air circulation mode so HEPA filter gets utilized, and puts the fan in speed 9 to speed up the filtration process".

I can guarantee on my refreshed AP (non-PUP but now with HEPA) that anytime the air is set to outside circulation, the HEPA is engaged. And the Tesla HEPA filter is truly higher quality than 3rd party as it is indeed denser, and has a better seal (the filter comes in a full housing).

My take on delivery specialists: they are really amateurs - hired weeks or months ago and only know the features that can be activated by buttons (remote or screen), but really don't know much else of what goes inside.Mine was a young boy just out of college I think and was excited about the creep mode feature!

The Service Advisors come with various knowledge base, but are in general more knowledgable than delivery specialists (who only deal with new cars and new customers ). Just call the service center over phone, and talk to the parts guy and order the HEPA filter. Pick it up when its ready.

cheers
Phal

At least according to Tesla, BWD mode also does one more thing: creating a sufficient pressure differential between the interior and exterior, preventing any air from entering the cabin *without* going through the filter. Setting the fan to high speed for a few seconds seems to be what accomplishes this(and, indeed, I can physically feel the change in air pressure as it passes that threshold).

 

[pelargir]

Thanks for the feedback re: what the delivery specialist had said. We took delivery of the MS this past Wed. and immediately drove to the service center and asked for the HEPA filter. They ordered it for us without any trouble.

Now I just need to muster the courage to actually install the thing once it arrives!

 

[Antfugue]

I used a MERV 13 and based on my interpretation of the install video I may have installed the filter the wrong way--opposite of the recommended airflow direction (no arrows on the paper frame of the filter). Does this matter? And, thanks Crehop for getting this rolling--you're proof this internet thing may be more than a fad.

 

[Terthen]

I used a MERV 13 and based on my interpretation of the install video I may have installed the filter the wrong way--opposite of the recommended airflow direction (no arrows on the paper frame of the filter). Does this matter? And, thanks Crehop for getting this rolling--you're proof this internet thing may be more than a fad.

I don't know it really happens but I read it air filters aren't installed in the correct air flow direction they may not work properly. Maybe check with the manufacturer of your filter to see if it matters for their filter which direction it is installed?

 

[AZ Desert Driver]

From my experience so far I think replacing the filter on a pup car would be the same process. The filter material is glued onto a plastic housing that replaces part of the air box. The frunk bolts to the plastic housing that has the hepa glued to it. There would be no way to have an access panel to slide in a new one. Having said that, I know it looks like a lot of work from the pictures but it was very easy. 15 minutes at the most. The only tool I needed was a 10mm socket to remove the 10 or so bolts. Plus 2 plastic push pins.

When I installed my DashCam, I broke about 1/2 of the panel clips. Wish I had some spares for the reassembly. Did you break many clips? What should I have as spares if I continue to be clumsy?

 

[N..8]

When I installed my DashCam, I broke about 1/2 of the panel clips. Wish I had some spares for the reassembly. Did you break many clips? What should I have as spares if I continue to be clumsy?

Which clips are you referring to?

 

[AZ Desert Driver]

Which clips are you referring to?

The rear door panel is lined with about a dozen blue spears as clips. Some of those spears have a collar that keeps them in place that did not survive my prying. Does the air-filter duct work have clips and spears that will be "one-use" and need replacing? What spares should I have before I begin tearing open my Frunk?

 

[Utahken]

The rear door panel is lined with about a dozen blue spears as clips. Some of those spears have a collar that keeps them in place that did not survive my prying. Does the air-filter duct work have clips and spears that will be "one-use" and need replacing? What spares should I have before I begin tearing open my Frunk?

The hepa filter doesn't involve any clips such as at the rear hatch. It is mostly all bolts. There are two tabs (like clips) holding the water diverter to the back of the hepa filter housing.

 

[AZ Desert Driver]

The hepa filter doesn't involve any clips such as at the rear hatch. It is mostly all bolts. There are two tabs (like clips) holding the water diverter to the back of the hepa filter housing.

I just placed the order for FilterBuy 14x27.5x1 units. Will tear into Frunk without a net. Got a roll of duct tape as a universal fix-it.

 

[Upgrade00]

I called my SC here in Las Vegas they said they couldn't sell me it. They can only order for warranty and routine maintenance.