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

[AZ Desert Driver]

The HEPA filter is "active" anytime you have the climate control on outside air. There is no alternate path from the outside to the inside that bypasses the HEPA filter.

hmm - I thought if you had the official BWDM system, it operated one way, and the after market operated slightly different.
1) air flow needs to be set to 9 or 10 to activate, 2) recirc need to be selected.
Makes sense that recirc is not bringing in fresh air through the filter, but I thought it would be cleaning the cabin.
Makes sense that all outside air goes through the plenum - whether you have a filer mounted or empty (default). If you dont buy the aftermarket - is there not a small cabin filter that is also in operation, or are you getting unfiltered air in the cabin?

In the summer, I run recirc so I dont have to cool the very hot outside air. The rest of the year, I run fresh air and at various fan speeds.

So what is the deal with the high fan speed requirement?

 

[croman]

So what is the deal with the high fan speed requirement?

BWDM button will operate the fans at a very high speed to create negative air pressure in the cabin to ensure only clean air is present. As @jelloslug mentioned, that has nothing to do with HEPA filtration of the cabin air but has to do with the marketing specs and chart that Tesla presented when unveiling the feature.

 

[jelloslug]

hmm - I thought if you had the official BWDM system, it operated one way, and the after market operated slightly different.
1) air flow needs to be set to 9 or 10 to activate, 2) recirc need to be selected.
Makes sense that recirc is not bringing in fresh air through the filter, but I thought it would be cleaning the cabin.
Makes sense that all outside air goes through the plenum - whether you have a filer mounted or empty (default). If you dont buy the aftermarket - is there not a small cabin filter that is also in operation, or are you getting unfiltered air in the cabin?

In the summer, I run recirc so I dont have to cool the very hot outside air. The rest of the year, I run fresh air and at various fan speeds.

So what is the deal with the high fan speed requirement?

The button is basically a preset that turns on outside air and cranks the fan up.

 

[AZ Desert Driver]

BWDM button will operate the fans at a very high speed to create negative air pressure in the cabin to ensure only clean air is present. As @jelloslug mentioned, that has nothing to do with HEPA filtration of the cabin air but has to do with the marketing specs and chart that Tesla presented when unveiling the feature.

BWDM button will operate the fans at a very high speed to create negative air pressure in the cabin to ensure only clean air is present. As @jelloslug mentioned, that has nothing to do with HEPA filtration of the cabin air but has to do with the marketing specs and chart that Tesla presented when unveiling the feature.

I presume you meant that the fan INCREASES the cabin air pressure, not create a negative pressure.

 

[croman]

I presume you meant that the fan INCREASES the cabin air pressure, not create a negative pressure.

Sorry, meant positive air pressure so the air constantly pushes the outside air out (keeping only clean filtered air in the cabin).

 

[Teacherspet]

can Some till me the site for walmart that has the filter 14/27.5/1

 

[AZ Desert Driver]

can Some till me the site for walmart that has the filter 14/27.5/1

As far as I know, Walmart does not carry this oddball size. But you can get this filter at Filterbuy. Fits perfect and they ship it right to your house. Why waste time shopping up and down isles?

From: FilterBuy.com <[email protected]>
Subject: Your FilterBuy.com order from December 31, 2017 is complete
Date: January 4, 2018 at 7:01:25 AM MST
To: [email protected]

Your order is complete
Hi there. Your recent order on FilterBuy.com has been completed. Your order details are shown below for your reference:

Your order was shipped via UPS. Tracking number xxx

Order: xxx
Product Quantity Price
14x27.5x1 MERV 13 Custom Filter 2 $37.78
Cart Subtotal: $37.78
Shipping: Free shipping
Order Total: $37.78

 

[hpjtv]

Wow that was a long read, too many people asking the same questions cause they didn't read original posts. Anyways, just wanted to bump this thread as I think it's very helpful.

 

[MIT_S60]

So now that Tesla is selling the HEPA Filter Retrofit for the Model S for $500, I wonder how much they would charge to push the firmware to those of us who already installed the OEM HEPA Filter:
Model S HEPA Air Filtration Upgrade

 

[DriveMe]

I’ve been wondering the same thing.
How much will it cost to add the button?

Not sure if I really need it, but it would be cool!

 

[twonius]

I’ve been wondering the same thing.
How much will it cost to add the button?

Not sure if I really need it, but it would be cool!

it looks like they do the Bioweapon firmware update as well. It seems like a lot of money but if you have kids and live in a relatively polluted area it could be money well spent.

Model S HEPA Air Filtration Upgrade

 

[DriveMe]

it looks like they do the Bioweapon firmware update as well. It seems like a lot of money but if you have kids and live in a relatively polluted area it could be money well spent.

Model S HEPA Air Filtration Upgrade

I mean, I already have the HEPA filter installed (by Tesla) and it works great. So, all I am missing is that Bioweapon Defense Mode button in the UI. As I understand, all that button really does is sets the fans to the highest speed resulting in a positive pressure in the cabin. I can do the same manually now, but it would be cool to have the button in the UI. I am just not sure it would be worth $500.

 

[LukasSwan]

Do you remove the.inside cabin filter if.you install the aftermarket HEPA filter?

 

[DriveMe]

No. The HEPA filter is completely separate. It is installed at the point of intake (behind the frunk).

Check out the video in the first post of this thread.

 

[am_dmd]

AFAIK you do not need to remove cabin filter.

 

[KArnold]

I did the self-upgrade. I've asked my local SC twice about the cost of adding the button. Twice the answer was "won't do it for any price". I'd be surprised if the $500 filter includes the 30 seconds needed to add the button.

But someone let me know if they achieve otherwise. Maybe I need to try a different SC.

 

[MXWing]

I did the self-upgrade. I've asked my local SC twice about the cost of adding the button. Twice the answer was "won't do it for any price". I'd be surprised if the $500 filter includes the 30 seconds needed to add the button.

But someone let me know if they achieve otherwise. Maybe I need to try a different SC.

For you - the button upgrade is $500, and you get a free filter replacement as a bonus.

 

[ishareit]

I guess someone at Tesla looked at my tweet from Nov 2018.

Sumit Garg on Twitter

 

[Red Falcon 1]

Try Amazon for a Tesla Model X air filter. We did and it seems to work well.
https://www.amazon.ca/TeslaHome-Fil...=1548917565&sr=8-11&keywords=Tesla+air+filter
If you want to install it by yourself,you can see the installation video in this link：

 

[ecampi]

This is my first post. Sort of the “Long time listener, first time caller”. So be easy on me.LOL

I have a 2016 MS P100D. Non-Biofilter. Picked up 2/10/2017. Been following this thread for awhile considering the upgrade. I’m very mechanically gifted, so I decide to buy the filter and install myself. $500 for the upgrade for a $175 filter and 15 min. of labor is too much in MHO.

My 2 yr annual was scheduled for this Fri. 2/8/19. So here goes. My service rep comes out to do the walk around when I arrive. I tell a her a few things I want to address and then I say, “I would like to order the HEPA filter” She says “ok I’ll put that down, look it up and call you with a price later” Cool, I’m on my way, with a loaner MS, happy as a clam. My past experience is that they have my car for three or four days. But, Saturday at noon, I get a call, “Mr. Campiotti your car is finished, if you can be here by four that would be great, otherwise you can pick it up on Monday.” I live more then an hour away from the SC BTW. This morning I picked up my car and I’m presented with the bill. Included is $200 for the filter and $35 labor to install it. The tech wrote it up as replacing the HEPA filter. But I didn’t have one to begin with. And no he didn’t enable the button.

So now what? I’m fine with the cost but now wish I had the button.LOL Has anyone figured a hack for enabling it? I know, I wouldn’t have had it if I’d done the install. But human nature!