VW Concealed the Filter So Effectively That You’ll Have to Take Apart the Front of This EV | Carscoops

      ID. Buzz owners are likely to avoid handling this task themselves due to the need to remove multiple panels.

      19 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      Volkswagen concealed routine maintenance components beneath various panels at the front of the ID. Buzz.

      To replace the cabin filter, one must remove the hood and the surrounding upper sections.

      While maintenance access is achievable, it can be quite time-consuming, which may drive owners to seek assistance from dealerships.

      Electric vehicles have transformed not only how cars operate but also how they are constructed. With no requirement to accommodate a large engine and transmission, designers gained enhanced flexibility. Batteries and motors can now be positioned in ways that optimize the vehicle's layout, efficiency, or aesthetics.

      However, the engineers at Volkswagen chose to utilize this flexibility by placing the cabin filter in a location only accessible by removing the hood.

      Indeed, changing the cabin filter, which is a standard maintenance task, necessitates the removal of an entire body panel. This involves not just the hood but also adjacent panels on both sides. Furthermore, the space where the cabin filter is located also contains another essential maintenance part. We're getting ahead of ourselves, though.

      Not Where You’d Expect It

      Generally, cabin filters are situated behind the passenger side glove compartment. Simply opening the glove box, clearing its contents, and compressing it slightly is usually enough to access the filter. In many vehicles, it takes less than a minute to reach and replace the filter. This makes VW's choice of placement in the ID. Buzz quite unexpected.

      Completing the task involves several steps: one must first open the front panel, then unbolt two upper body panels on either side of the hood. After these are removed, the hood can be taken off, but only after disconnecting its electrical connections and windshield wiper sprayers. Once these steps are finished, the filter is located in the area between the body panel and the firewall.

      While this is theoretically something anyone can do without specialized tools or expertise, it isn't particularly straightforward. It might be less of an issue if the only item beneath the panel was the cabin filter, since it is not a frequently serviced part.

      It’s Not Just the Filter

      Unfortunately, Volkswagen has also placed additional important components, such as the brake fluid reservoir, in that area. This means that to check your brake fluid level, you have to go through all these steps as well.

      Consequently, many people are likely to pay dealerships for this service, when it should have been simpler. As Jalopnik, who first highlighted this issue, noted, “the ID Buzz is already expensive enough." Perhaps Volkswagen assumed that customers willing to pay a premium would prefer to have the dealer handle maintenance. This underscores a significant shift from the brand's original values.

      Photos Katarina Brattli / YouTube