I was going to have the hubby do it the other day, but it doesn't look like there's a way to pull it apart... it seems like it's one piece? Crap- so I found a thread on here that Jim started about MAFs, but none of the pictures/links are working on it. :mad2:
Kitty, here is the link showing yours. It is part #13 and looks to be the same as mine, but I can't swear to that. http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=MF73&mospid=50031&btnr=13_1212&hg=13&fg=20 Jim
The link that DenprDave shows the MAF housing. I did NOT remove mine from the housing, having been warned how delicate the wires are. You see the grid at the front, but the back is open and you can look in and see that the sensor is toward the front and a little off center. I took a spray can of CRC MAF cleaner, with a plastic tube attached and sprayed it through the plastic grid openings, soaking the sensor. It says NOT to touch the wires, just spray it on and let it do the cleaning by itself. It seemed to work for me and was not hard to do. Jim
Leave the MAF together, so it looks like a tube with some wires inside and grilles on the end. Don't unscrew the torx (star-shaped) screws. The only things you're disconnecting are the sensor wires and the hose clamps. Spray CRC MAF Cleaner into the tube, aimed towards the thin wires, and let it dry before you reconnect it. edit: Didn't refresh and see Jim's post. That's the ticket.
I have used Q-Tips to clean the sensor on my Toy and Lex w/o a problem,,,, you just need a light touch!