user 29474838

Anyone have a DIY on replacing the OEM engine air filters with K&N ?
Have 2ea 33-5032 K&N filters and all ready to install them.

Glyn M Ruck

See my posts in this regard.

user 29474838

I have used K&N filters in my cars for over 30 years with absolutly no issues.
Thanks for your opinion but thats all it is, an opinion.
If you have no information on 'How to replace the filters" then refrain from posting here.

Glyn M Ruck

No it's not an opinion. It is a tested & demonstrated fact. See my other posts as recommended (some attached for your convenience). If you want to destroy your MAF & cause premature wear in your engine, that is fine. Don't encourage others to do the same. We try to provide good info here.

If you don't know how to change a simple thing like an aircleaner it might be better to leave it to a professional.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...mp%3BN+filters

Also recommend you watch the Cummins film "Operation Hourglass".

Suggest you look at the W209 Wiki for airfilter change. Airbox design has not changed much over the years.

user 29474838

So i did a search of this K&N test and what I found was very interesting.
The charts shown were pulled from the original article done in 2004.
Yes 11 years ago.
The testing method used and testers are as far from scientific as one can get. I would'nt believe their results. If you do, I have a bridge to sell you.

The complete article can be found here,
http://www.billswebspace.com/AirFilterTest.htm
and
http://members.shaw.ca/volkswagen/Spicer/SPICER.htm

Glyn M Ruck

Those tests are backed up by Donaldson I might tell you. If you went back to the W204 forum much of the detail is there. Some of it is proprietary. Donaldson knows more about filtration than you ever will. Stop being a smart ***. Oiled filters work half OK for about 10% of their time when recently oiled. Otherwise they are just nut & bolt catchers. That oil & dirt do damage to MAF's is well documented as it is to engines. He has done a good job of sticking to the ISO methods for small scale testing.

Someone obviously sold you London Bridge hook, line & sinker. I'm a tribologist. I know what I'm talking about. See my profile. Donaldson agrees with the findings. They closely mirror their internal testing.

My recommendation is that Benz owners stick to OE filters that are excellent. Their nominal & absolute filtering capability is very close at 75 Beta Ratio. The highest non extrapolated standard. Their media is uniform & of substantial area for size ensuring high dirt carrying capability before blinding or excessive differential across the media.

Most Benz filters are made by Hengst or Mann + Hummel to Mercedes specification.

All filters are not equal. I have no intention of arguing with you. We've been down this road many times at MBWorld. I am simply giving wise advice to Benz owners. Once informed they can do as they like. If Benz voids their warranty so be it.

user 29474838

You are entitled to your opinion. After all it is a free country.
I will be installing my K&N filters this weekend no matter how much you huff and puff and bang your chest.
If you don't like it, so what !
What gives you the right to dictate what I can and can't do.
As far as I am concerned the issue is dead.

Glyn M Ruck

It's not an opinion. You can do as you like as I've said. You may burst into flames if you wish. It's your car!

All I'm doing is giving wise advice to owners seeking maximum longevity from their cars. Listen to Benz. They test & approve products at vast expense to themselves so that owners can sleep at night knowing that they are using the correct lubricants, filters etc.

user 29474838

The point is, I have used K&N filters in ALL my cars for the past 30 years with ZERO problems.
The last car I used it in was My 2013 C300 and again, absolutely no issues.
How many cars have you had personal experience with in using K&N filters ?
Have you visited the K&N site and looked at their test data ?
Also, as a side note, This is directly from K&N
20. Will a K&N filter cause my vehicle's mass air sensor to fail?

No. This is an "urban myth" and has not been supported by any factual evidence. The oil does not come off of a K&N air filter when it is in use, even when over-oiled or in extreme air flow rates exceeding 1000 CF'M.
If somehow K&N air filter oil were to make contact with a mass air sensor, the oil would not cause the sensor to fail. We have intentionally coated mass air sensors with our filter oil, and monitored the sensors' output when installed in daily driven vehicles. These sensors continued to function normally, even after being sprayed and submerged in K&N air filter oil. K&N air filter oil does not cause problems with mass air sensors. More mass air sensor information.


I do appreciate your concern for fellow MB owners and believe you do have our best interest at heart.
There are always 2 sides to every argument. I'm basing mine on years of experience.
I have contacted K&N, expressing the concerns you have expressed and have given them the opportunity to defend their products.

Glyn M Ruck

I'm recently retired from a global job with one of the worlds largest Multinational oil companies. Yes we have tested K&N oiled air filters in our labs & they look crap. They make the same sort of BS claims that AMSOIL does. They in fairness do the right things with their "fleece" oil filters for Benz & buy them in from Mann + Hummel who developed the spun polyester media with Benz & M+H kindly stamp K&N on them. I look forward to any attempt to defend the poor performance of their oiled air filters. They will have egg on their face. Benz will certainly defend their recommendations.

If dirt enters the intake system & continuously impinges the glass bulb on a MAF it will firstly mess up it's calibration & ultimately damage it.

Your personal experience is likely due the fact that you have lived in areas with low air born dust levels (Si). So you got lucky. You don't state what mileage these cars did. One has to consider how much air and/or fuel an engine has seen. Mileage is not the best measure but better than nothing.

user 29474838

I really dont understand yor fanaticism against K&N.
When you say "we have tested K&N oiled air filters in our labs"
Why would a multinational oil company be testing, of all things, automotive air filters ?
Where you integral in the testing and can you provide proof in the way of test results to back up your statements?

Glyn M Ruck

We endlessly test all types of filter media, some of it in conjunction with the filter manufacturers. We have complete forensic labs in conjunction with our development labs around the world. Other than lubricant development we work with some of the largest fleet operators, Mining Houses, Steel, Pulp & Paper, Cement, Automotive, Power generation ad nauseum customers around the globe on failure analysis & failure prevention. Guess what happens when a failure occurs. Most people blame the oil company. It is very seldom the oil company's fault even with product misapplication. In mining, railroad & automotive it is frequently the air filtration or an inlet system leak that leads to the early failure. Sophisticated customers of course work with us to maximise component life.

I have nothing against K&N. I do not like their oiled air filters having taken a close look at them in the lab & having consulted with other competent filter suppliers. The very performance of lubricants & fuel is governed by keeping dirt out of them. Poor air filtration leads to silica in the sump & abrasive wear.

Have you got any idea how clean diesel requires to be to look after & protect modern 2000 to 2500 bar diesel injection systems with amplifier injectors?

Glyn M Ruck

I'm going to bed. Suggest you phone Benz Stuttgart and ask them if they will condone the use of K&N oiled air filters in their cars. I know the answer.

user 29474838

Dont have a diesel, will never own a diesel, dont care about diesels.
As I posted before,

"Where you integral in the testing and can you provide proof in the way of test results to back up your statements?"

Glyn M Ruck

Yes I was integral in the testing & physically there to witness results (did not perform the tests myself ~ we have plenty of PhD's doing the work) and all testing is done under perfect laboratory conditions to ISO, US & other global standards. All information is proprietary so you will have to take my word for it. Large multinational Corporations don't publish their research data on internet forums. I'm not permitted to do that. We test all types of media because it directly predicts the potential life of our products in service. e.g. You can't run extended drain on a Benz gasoline engine without a "fleece" filter where applicable. As I say ~ phone Benz Stuttgart. Having worked with them over many years on their approvals regime for service products & initial fill I know what the answer will be.

The diesel info was for your edification.

I note you have still not looked at my profile.

BTW ~ It's "Were you integral....."

StanNH

I've used K&N filters in the past on various cars and never had a problem. I no longer use them; not because of any issues but rather due to the lack of any apparent benefit. From my point of view, why spend money on an aftermarket item that has never seemed to offer any real advantage over the OEM product?

user 29474838

Sorry, Dont believe you.
To quote you,
"Large multinational Corporations don't publish their research data on internet forums"
So,Exactly where did they publish there findings ?

Exactly how much experience do you have modding mercedes vehicles or any vehicle for that matter?
Have you ever used a K&N product, do you know of anyone who had there warranty voided by mercedes for using a K&N product and can you provide evidence of mercedes successfully proving a K&N product was directly responsible for causing any sort of engine problem ??

My initial post was requesting information regarding changing the 2 air filters on a C400.
A typical DIY project probably being done by other members on this forum.
Why don't you head over to the "Performance and Upgrading " posts of people looking for information on installing and using BMS, Renntech etc as these products will definitely void their warrantys.

I get it. You are against using K&N filters even though you have never used one.

If you don't have the information I am looking for, then there is really no need for you to continue with your crusade against K&N on my post.

Glyn M Ruck

I used to run/was involved in various racing operations our company sponsored. Both Motorcycle & Car. We certainly played around with K&N filters & found no benefit on the Dyno (mainly Schenk) on engines that required to only last for the race so we did not care.

Large multinational Corporations don't publish their research data. They consume the information internally. You don't understand the business.

You do as you wish. I'm not anti K&N & I'm only criticising one of their products. Discussion over. Please go & fit your oiled filters & try not to drive through a dust storm. Watch "Operation Hourglass", it is old but as valid today as it was at the time of production.

Mercedes will void the warranty in countries that allow them to. As I've suggested phone Stuttgart because your type will never believe me. Have a fine day.

user 29474838

Again, absolutely no proof of Mercedes voiding warranty or K&N causing issues.
I expect this is the last of your comments on my post on this matter.

Glyn M Ruck

Hint ~ read the forums. Search is your friend. I've told you to phone Benz. Now please do so. You can get it from the horses mouth.

Glyn M Ruck

user 29474838

Thanks for your input, now if you have no relevant information on replacing the air filters then stop wasting my time.

Glyn M Ruck

You have been provided with where to find the very simple air cleaner element replacement.

Glyn M Ruck

Hold engine cover on left & right & remove by pulling it upward with a firm tug. Place carefully aside. Open airfilter compartments at rear left & right. Exchange elements. Reverse process to reassemble.

user 29474838

Thank you, just what I was looking for.