[bavarianride]

I helped a friend to replace a F30 cabin air filter, which is charcoal activated. He asked if the filter can be cleaned, and my answer is yes, but the activated charcoal can be "spent" after absorbing odor and exhaust and fume etc, etc, so common wisdom says 2 years.

That got me thinking ....

So can charcoal air filter be cleaned, then heated(or something) to re-activate the charcoal?

Also, can charcoal activated filter go stale if on shelf for, say, 2 years, since charcoal can react with pollutants floating around the shelf?

[F32Fleet]

First part: Yes, but you will probably destroy the filter in the process. So for your application the answer is no.

Second part: if left open (not in a plastic bag or a well fitting box) ya, the pores of the charcoal will collect stuff.