Volkswagen Repair: Clicking post air filter replacement, air filter element, passat vr6

Question
I recently replaced the air filter element in my 1996 Passat VR6 and I now hear a clicking noise when I am outside the car, when it is idling that I do not remember hearing before. The car drives fine and the clicking noise is not audible inside the car either when idling or driving. The click originates on the passanger's side of the car, but it is hard to pinpoint exactly where it is coming from.

Removing the top of the air cleaner box was not easy and my concern is that I may have damaged something out-of-sight while strugling with it. I had to remove both the incoming and outgoing hoses  from the air cleaner box, and move upwards, the two small hoses immediately adjacent to the engine to remove the top of the air cleaner box. The two hoses that were removed were replaced properly, the hoses that were moved were slide back in to place, and the air filter element was placed in the same way the previous one was and secured tightly in to place. I checked all of the hoses after a short drive and all were still securely in place.     

The replacement filter was the OEM part (Mahle) and fit perfectly, so a mismatch in size can be ruled out.

The engine oil is properly filled and an oil change w/filter was performed ~1000 miles ago.

Do you have any insights as to the origin of the  click is? My experience repairing cars is very minimal, but hopefully I have given you sufficient information.

Thank you for the help.

All the best,
Matt

Answer
I know nothing in the air filter area that could cause a cliking noise. Most likely the noise was already there. You feel guilty about the air filter job and are now sensitive about noises in your car. My best guess is that if you have one of those seatbelt motors that slide back and forth, the seat belt is jammed and the clikking noise is the assembly trying to go foward or back. If the clikking noise is when your turn, maybe your CV joint on your drive axle is broken.