Oxygen

If you have not had your W220 serviced with "B" service recently (which includes the cabin dust filter change) I highly recommend checking and changing your cabin filters.

They may be causing musty smell or poor flow of air in the climate control system.

The part that includes 2 cabin dust filters is A210 830 10 18 and should cost you around $45.00 at the dealership. I've also seen non-oem filters on eBay for about half the price.



It is very simple to change the filters and is definitely a DIY task.

Remove the 4 philips screws (top and bottom) in the glove box and pull the glove box assembly out. Unclip the connector for the light and undo the cable for the release. Pull out the whole unit. You'll see a white latch on a black plastic door. Release the latch and open the door. Pull out the filters and replace in the same manor.

Here is what my filters looked like:

newton22

I haven't changed mine in like 6 years. Should be one giant...thing of dust and leaves in there.

02S430

yea thats what mine looked like, i bought my from autzone, bosch $35

Sysopz

@ only $45.00 and DIY I will be doing it for sure, thanks for the great info as usual Oxygen.

Busa196

Having my "Service B" done shortly....I'll make sure they check it out....thanks for the info

Arlen777

Do you have any pics how to change filter?

alfa

"The part that includes 2 cabin dust filters is A210 830 10 18 and should cost you around $45.00 at the dealership. I've also seen non-oem filters on eBay for about half the price."

Guys i did this on my ML320 i got OEM Cabin filters. The filter was great it really cleaned the air but i noticed that the air con didn't emit that new car smell or freshness that permeates the car when you open the air conditioning.

Most of the OEM filters in ebay are actually real but unless you are buying from a trusted source i suggest you get from the dealer to retain that new car smell.

benz_addict

bought from the dealer they look different from my original ones they have a 210 part number and they don't fit as good.....anyway already replaced mine last week as well as the charcoal filters.

my06clk

Those filters are less than 20 bucks at the local parts store and have nothing to do with that "new car" smell.
No need to bother with the dealer OR ebay when they are readily available from FRAM. I got mine at Advanced auto parts and I think they were like 15 bucks but definitely a lot less than 40.

Sysopz

Unless your still under warranty, I would not put it past stealerships to void your AC warranty because you did not put MB filters in, stealerships are getting really nuts these days.

~CL500~

So true. I did mine last summer, both the dust filters and active charcoal filters. They were disgusting to say the least. Moldy, smelly and dirty. The Charcoal filters were the worst. Just touching it would get your hands really dirty. The best comparison is like getting laser printer toner on your hands. Very fine black dust.

The charcoal filters are located in the passenger footwell.

#1dad408

Did mine last month. The musty gym sock smell went away after a couple of minutes. I think I paid about $90.00-$100.00 for the charcoal form dealer and $45.00 for cabin filters from parts store

Destination Unk

My question is how many Charcoal filters are there and can you get them from anyone other then the dealer? Also how often should you change them? Are you just replacing charcoal or is it a self contained unit? Is it a messy process? How can you tell if they need replacing?

Besides the two filters behind the glove box and the charcoal filters is there any other things that should be changed on your own? I know there is two air filters for the engine under the hood.

Thanks

Oxygen

The charcoal filters are part number A210 830 11 18 and should run you about $100.00 at the dealer. The box contains 2 filters. I don't know if they are available anywhere else.

It's a self contained unit. According to this diagram, you will get 2 filters and they both need to be replaced:

Part 280 is the dust filters and part 290 is the charcoal filters:

Oxygen

Here's a list:

-Engine Air Filters
-Cabin Dust Filters
-Cabin Charcoal Filters
-Fuel Filter
-ABC Fluid Filter (if equipped)

I'm sure theres others...

Oxygen

Here you go guys, these are the charcoal activated filters, one box, part number: A210 830 11 18 gets you these two filters:

benz_addict

my old charcoal filters were yellow when I took them out

Destination Unk

Are the charcoal filters easy to replace?

rccmerc

You can get the Charcoal Filters from the Dealer or from this place
http://www.autohausaz.com

#1dad indicated he got them from the dealer for $90 - $100, my local dealer quoted me $220.00. Autohaus is $90.00 some odd dollars. They come in sets of two.

It is a relatively moderate pain in the ***. The filters are located under the passengers side dash towards the console. You need to move the the passenger seat all the way back, and then contort yourself to get under the dash, bring a flashlight or drop light with you. There is a two part plastic paneling system under the dash, you need to remove the panel towards the front/firewall of the car, you'll see how it interlocks with the piece towards the glovebox. Be gentle and patient as this is german plastic crap. Then look up towards the console side and you will see a white latching mechanism. This is where the charcoal filters are housed. Now you will have to bend slightly the plastic panel (the one towards the Glovebox) bend it down slightly at the the location by the filter box this will get you enough clearance to to open the box and remove the filters, they drop out from the bottom - you will have to pull them out. Note the orientation of the filters as you remove, install the new ones, and reinstall plastic panel towards the front/firewall, take your time interlocking the panels and refastening

All in all, I am making it sound worse than it is. Take your time and be gentle and patient.

Also see this thread

https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w220/201109-my-car-stinks-i-mean-smells-real-bad.html

Post 14 has diagram

chibial

wholly mess! i just followed rccmerc's guide and man it is a ROYAL PAIN IN THE BUTT to get to these filter. i was literally hanging upside down.

keep in mind that the plastic you have to un-interlock is bendable and flexible... just dont flext too much or you might break a part..after that.. its just unlocking the white latch.. pulling the plastic lock off and poof. there comes your dirty filter!..

i didnt change mine yet.. as the dealer did it about 2 years ago.. we hardly drive the car. just went down to check and see if they were dirt or not. a little black. but i think i'll order a set from autohaus and replace em next weekend.

thanks for the diy!

my neighbor was looking at me like a crazy man wondering what the heck i was doing.

rccmerc

Hell of a way to spend a Saturday! Ain't German engineering grand

chibial

lol. we have a w203 c-class at home too.. that car seems a little easier to replace parts..

i dont understand why mbz made it so complicated to change the charcoal filters on the car..

i did swap out the cabin dust filters today.. it wasnt hard, but it removing the glove box parts i felt like if i put too much pressure i would break all the plastic. its one thing for a manuf to cut corners...but this is a s-class man (flagship car).. at least use some higher grade plastic or something.

my c-class seems like it has higher grade plastic than the s-class.

chibial

just swapped out the charcoal filters on the car....

but had one question.. i didnt even think about looking at the placement/direction of the Original charcoal filters in the car when pulling them out.. so i forgot which way the airflow was supposed to go.. there is an arrow on the new charcoal filter pointing the location of the airflow, but i dont know which way to place em.

if you were sitting in the passengers seats.. would the airflow be going left or right?

i installed them so that the airflow arrow was pointing right..

did i choose correctly?

rccmerc

See here -

chibial

ahhhh oy vey~~!!!

i did it the opposite way.. time to reverse em... what a way to spend a thanksgiving. hehe