Owners of other VW or Audi vehicles such as the Jetta, Passat, CC, Atlas, Touareg, Golf, Beetle, A3, S3, RS 3, A4, S4, A5, A6, S6, A7, S7, RS 7, A8, Q3, Q5, TT and Q7 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.'

A few compatible replacement engine air filters with their part numbers are as follows: Mann Filter C35154, EPAuto GP154, K&N 33-2865, Fram CA9711, ECOGARD XA4622, AEM 28-20865, Wix 49020, Volkswagen 1K0-129-620-D, MAHLE Original LX 1211, POTAUTO MAP 6048, Purolator A15622 and Hastings AF1417.

The only needed to access and replace the engine air filter element is a Torx T-25 star bit screwdriver.

The rectangular shaped black plastic engine air filter box is located in front of the 12V automotive battery box and just behind the blue windshield washer fluid filler cap and driver side headlight assembly.

There are eight Torx T-25 screws holding the top half of the air box assembly in place to the bottom half.

Loosen the 8 screws by turning them in the counterclockwise direction.

So there is no risk of loosening too much and having them fall down into the engine bay.

Be sure to also loosen the two screws that are located on the sides of the air intake hose in between the engine cover and the 12V battery box.

Once the cover is out of the way, you'll be able to access the old engine air filter.

Pull the old filter straight out of the bottom half of the air box.

If the old filter is dark grey or black and clogged with dirt, dust, sand, leaves, insects, soot, pollen, hair, twigs and other debris, it should be replaced with a new element.

I recommend buying the Mann Filter C35154 since it has excellent reviews on Amazon.

(The Mann-Filter is also known as part number C 35 154/1 or 1K0129620E. Their is also a version of the filter that does not include the white foam pre-filter which is part number C 35 154 or 1K0129620D.)

If your vacuum cleaner has a hose with a crevice attachment, clean out any sand or other debris in the bottom half of the air box.

Lower the new filter into the air box with the pleats facing down and the rubber seal facing up towards you.

Tighten the eight screws in the clockwise direction with the Torx T25 screwdriver until they are snug.

Try to avoid over tightening the screws to prevent from cracking the plastic air box.

Be sure to record the engine air filter change in your SUV's service records.

For more, please check out my other 2009-2017 VW Tiguan DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.