Take a pic of your engine bay and post it, also try a search there was one other guy with a posted pic that may be similar to yours.

 

http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235573&highlight=air+filter+install

unclip d&e in the top pic and slide out the old filter, new one in.
not as easy as it sounds, but you can do it.

there is another pic further down in the thread.

 

I thought that's where it was, but I didn't want to remove any of the hoses on top of it. So, I can just lift it up, slide in the filter, without undoing any of the hoses on top?

 

i have same car. you need to remove the entire airbox. and just attach the new filter to the factory airbox inlet.

 

NO, he has the panel replacement filter. Scott's got it right. http://www.tobio.info/passat/howtos/passat_air_filter.html 1.8T is very similar to the pictured V6. Be prepared to get scraped up a little reaching under/around to clip it back together. You will NOT be able to pull back th top of the box like shown in the write-up. Just slide it in and reseat the top of the airbox.

 

He's clearly asking for 1.8t instructions...the v6 pics don't help at all.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid80/p156e485f00f9ad332c2c1978213879ae/fb0a1032.jpg

also, unscrew the heat shield, and unclip the 4 clips that hold the top of the box down.

 

No shit. I even mentioned it was a little different for the 1.8T. They are pratically the same to change out.

 

http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239708

 

Good god. It's not nearly as complicated as they show. Definitely a pain in the ass, but they've got you disconnecting all kinds of stuff.

Unhook the EVAP purge valve from the top of the airbox. (That's the thing that has hoses AND an electrical connector going into it.) Then unclip the clips that hold the top of the airbox on. Then muscle the top of the airbox out of place just enough to pull the old filter out and put the new filter in. Be careful not to pinch the rubber seal around the edge of the new filter.

 

Thanks for all your help. I finally got in last week. Thanks to your pics and instructions, it wasn't that difficult, just time consuming.

So far, I haven't really noticed much of a difference from the filter. When I was on the highway with my car crammed with five people, I accelerated so smoothly merging on at like 80 without even a hiccup, but that's been about the only time I could tell. Can't beat $40 for a filter that won't need to be taken out for 50K miles though.

 

you wont notice any kick in the ass performance gain but your car is now breathing better and that is always a good thing for the engine.

 

i felt a difference but i also had tons of stuff stuck in my slush trap

 

You still have that thing? (snicker)

 

Thanks for the tips. Put that k&n in about 15 minutes. Much thanks.