Go ahead an pry it. It is secured by clips on the inside. There is a small frame around the outside (1mm), but the filter will come off. It is meant to be replaced at some point, so I am sure that it should be removable in your car.

 

That's how it was on my 05 545, but on my 07 the filter is indeed welded to the top plastic housing covering the filter bx. It looks like you need to break the welds to get the filter out. I started to do this but when I saw you needed to physically break the welds I left it as was. On the 05's you could remove and refit the charcoal filter at will (and it did definitely seem to make a difference). Not sure if this welded design is limited to certain engines as it sounds like your 07 still has the metal clips

 

That is a strange one. My 530i is only a few months old, and I just removed the filter this morning. I too thought that my filter was permanently attached. When I started to pry it off from the left middle, the whole thing loosened up and came off. There were six clips holding it on from the inside, but with a little pressure, everything came off. That would be strange to permanently affix a filter when it may need to be replaced. I guess you have one of those permanent filters.

Best,

 

Just removed the charcoal filter from my N52 engine (255hp). It was secured to the top housing by clips, no welds of any sort at all. Just had to get a little blade in between the filter and housing, and it came off easily.

As for performance and sound.... I'm not too sure. I just reved the engine a little before I took it out, and reved it after, sounded pretty much the same. There probably was some difference, but I couldn't tell.

 

I put my filter back in. There was a little extra noise, and I figured it was not worth the extra 2-3hp on a 255hp engine.

If I had a 550i or an M5, maybe I would care more.

Best to all.

 

just removed mine right now and took it for a spin and it seems great more responsive now than before

 

I've been driving around with the filter taken out for a few weeks now, and I can't say that the engine is necessary faster.

 

'04 530i....no filter

 

just removed the charcoal filter and replaced the stock orange air filter with a k&n. car pulls much stronger and it roars a bit louder.

 

Does the K&N filter differ that much against stock? For $50, it sounds like the cheapest performance improvement.