Sanjuro Makabe

I've been searching everywhere on this forum and others and I couldn't find any pictures regarding this, the closest one was the engine cover removal pics located here (which helped a lot btw). But since I'm a noob and have never done this, I decided to help out others that are wondering how to install the air filters (or maybe I'm the only one that doesn't know how to lol)

Anyways, the engine removal pics can be found here

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-pictures.html

So I ordered the K&N Filters 33-2181 (2 of them) and decided to install it myself

Engine Cover


Remove bottom cover (just yank it)


Remove top cover (first remove the 2 air tubes on left and right, its tough, then the small rubber tube, then yank it again)


Then flip over the top cover and on both sides there are 4 torx screws per side. Unscrew them to expose the filters


OEM Filters


KN Filters


Screw them back...OH NO, one of the corners bulged out! now my question is, is this ok?? does anyone here who have installed this know whether this is normal? coz I checked and checked, this is caused by the harder rubber on the filter itself (unless i cut the corners abit but I won't do that)


Same deal here...any ideas guys?


Stuck the 2 "Beware" stickers



So my question is, anyone who installed this think the above is correct? coz I did all the above by guess work...anyone care to confirm? and what about the corner, is it normal?

please help? thanks in advance!!

benz_addict

one messed up looking air box on the C300s... I mean why does it have so many openings? Then what's the point of having a ram air setup? It's just sucking in warm air. This was the one from my engine on my C-Class: As you can see it only has one little hole to let the dirt 'escape'





My S500's Airbox had no holes at all just a straight ram air setup. I upgraded to the AMG 55 air box and it has no holes either...

Sanjuro Makabe

hmm so is it normal to have that little bulge at the corner of the cover?

C300Sport

I wouldn't want to leave it set like that. Looks like it may end up cracking the case and/or leting dirty air in.

Sanjuro Makabe

so what should I do? I just checked it again and it is definitely installed correctly, comparing it to the OEM one which has much software foam trim vs this one. The included instructions also said it is harder. Should I cut off a bit of the edge of the filter? I don't really want to mod it....


any suggestions?

C300Sport

I have used K&Ns in the past...Don't they have a 1-800 help line??

C300Sport

Where are you located? It looks like you have a lot of dust wherever you are...just another reason to make sure the filter fits properly.

Aggressive

Sanjuro,
I would say the you did everything correclty for your install. I think that K & N should redesign the filter to fit properly. I am pretty good with an exacto knife and I would trim it to fit............ but in the mean time being careful not to take to much off so that the seal is not lost. I do not like the idea of so much pressure being placed on the plastic. K & N is supposed to be the best at this and that design causes some concern for me. Let me know if you will or have allready contacted K & N.

Sanjuro Makabe

Thanks for the replies guys, I'm located in Vancouver, the air isn't too bad up here...

I have sent K&N an email already, i'm still not comfortable trimming the rubber off but I guess I could if necessary. I'll wait for their email first before I do anything. I don't think any air can get inside from the sides since there is so much pressure held on the rubber edges. My only concern is I'm afraid the air box will break...

I know a few of you guys have the same filter, if you guys can check yours and let me know if its the same, that would be awesome...thx

micropower99

Hey Sanjuro, mine fits perfectly. Either you have the K&N's backwards or take the cover out and put it on again cause it should go in more than that. Did you just try once and that's it or did you try a few times and each time had that problem?

Regards

Sanjuro Makabe

hey micro,
I've tried so many times it just doesn't go in any more. I'll try it again tonight. There's definitely a 2-3mm rubber edge that sticks out and there's only one way that it fits so it can't be flipped maybe my air box is different? Coz looking at the pics above they seem slightly diff.

I'll try again tonight...

mac911

So did they do anything for the car? Make it sound or perform different?

Sanjuro Makabe

no difference at all, I wish there was. But micro mentioned before that the mileage was better I think I'll need to confirm. I'm gonna check the filters again later tonight if it's still the same I'll just leave it. KN should reply tomorrow.

Sanjuro Makabe

ok I just worked on the air box again, this time I took out both filters, took out all screws and just seat the box without the filter, looks like this is a manufacturing defect from MB because the edge does bulge out slightly even without the filter. So I tried my best to reseat the filter again and now its better, but the bulge still exist. I can only blame MB. I'm not worried air would get in because the filter trim is hard and thick enough to not let any air in. Not to mention its very tight.

Its definitely better now but still bulges out, I've decided to just leave it...

micropower99

That's good that you got it in a bit more, hopefully it won't cause any problems down the road. (I doubt it will) Yea the only thing I noticed is a little more mileage gain about 1 extra L/100km.

Sanjuro Makabe

yea its still too early to tell for me, it was around 12.2 - 12.6 L/100KM, and now its about 11.0 - 11.6 L/100KM, so yea bout 1L, I'm still happy tho

blackstallion22

did you guys see any increase in horsepower or acceleration ? just wondering because its 70 bucks to purchase these unless you know where to get it cheaper just wanting some feed back before i make the purchase.. thanks...

TB5...

*notices all the horsepower ****** comin out*

blackstallion22

Well you now I'm an 18 year old kid who likes to drive fast do I'm gonna want to put somethin in my car

C-Class_GREEK

First off, your not gonna get any horsepower on an air filter. Gas mileage.. imho its not worth the money. Two the MAF will eventually get dirty and clogged from the oil. Have ever noticed how hot the engine bay gets??? That thing is gonna be dripping oil like crazy. Imo just leave the paper air filters in there. You're not going to get any increase in horsepower, sound, etc. Plus, do you really wanna play with the life of your engine? Just my two cents...

skillz1318

Def noticed a HP gain and one of the members here posted dyno chart showing his results with K&N filters with a 6 speed manual which I have and it was about a 10hp gain i believe....not sure what difference is with an auto trans

C-Class_GREEK

10 hp?? i don't know about that bro. Did he modify the airbox itself? I can't see those gains from just an airfilter.

Sanjuro Makabe

I cannot prove whether there is a gain or not, but I can tell you that I did not feel any difference, sounds the same, horsepower the same, no difference at all.

The only reason I did that mod is

1) Parts were so cheap I couldn't pass the deal, something like $50 for 2 (favor from a good friend lol)

2) I wanted to know how to DIY it

white46

If it was for me, I wouldn't change to K&N air filter even if it was given to me for free.
There is very good chance for oil based filter, such as K&N, clogged MAF with oil and throw check engine light on. And new MAF cost easily over $300.

skillz1318

It was a 6 speed with just air fitlers installed.

Default Mercedes C300 is 228 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque.

When he did dyno results were 241 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque.

At the wheels he pulled 207 hp and 196 tq.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w204...6-speed-2.html