ericpd

I know you guys are going to laugh me out on this one, but I just don't know. How do I replace my air filter? I'm assuming they're hidden in the two rectangle boxes on the outside of the two boxes with AMG stamped on them. I say this because I can follow what seems to be air intake hoses leading right to them. If this is true, how do I get in there to change them. Because they have the funny type of screws keeping the box closed, it's easy to assume they mean no end user access. In most cases there's a flip clip keeping things secure if it were meant for us to gain access. Is this a safe assumption?

I haven't gotten a malfunction warning on my cluster,... it's just that I've never seen them before and don't know what conditioin they're in. I'm not even sure whether they've EVER been changed.

neihouma

Close, it's the plastic ones that the air filters are sitting on.

What filters did you get? Didn't it come with instructions?

ericpd

I haven't gotten any filters yet. I'd like to get a look at them to see what condition they're in. Like I said,... they could be the originals for all I know and full of grime. I'm hearing everyone talk about the green filters so I may seriously look into those if they look bad. Problem is, I can't figure out how to inspect them.

I see by your sig that you're using K&N's. Satisfied? What they set you back?

neihouma

Well the labor is gonna take you anywhere from 30-60 minutes.

Look at the plastic cover next to the aluminum AMG plates,
there's at least 10-12 screws you gotta take out (5-6 X 2).

I bought these back in Oct or Nov 06, I can't recall. I think my
tab was $150ish because I bought four instead of two.

I'm happy with them, never tried green filters because they
remind me of those HKS filters, and I had a mishap with a
HKS filter back in my IS300 Turbo days.

gkstar

Note that you need to first remove (pull up) the plastic cover on top of the Supercharger clutch/pulley as it also covers one of the air filter cover screws, one on each side.

Another tip - do not unscrew all the way out as these as crews are designed to stay on the cover when it is removed. Otherwise it is too easy to drop a screw in the engine compartment.

Fifth Ring

You need a funny type screwdriver. Do yourself a BIG favor and get a set of "torx" bits that work in an electric screwdriver/drill. Being able to take them out with a power instrument will save a TON of time.

ScottW911

Amen to that. I learned that the stupid way. Never saw it again.

ScottW911

Not to be a kill-joy or anything, you should read this thread. You might be wasting your $$.
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...=k%26N+filters
I am a firm believer that the OEM fleece may still be the best thing for our cars.

bmjdevelopment

Here you go.


http://www.euroteckmotorsports.com/i...2437&pageid=84

Scoop55

It a Torx 20x4 screwdriver. These instructions are all you need :
http://www.euroteckmotorsports.com/i...0669&pageid=84

Scoop55

crap, you beat me to it!

Fifth Ring

Yeah. Seems like there really is no reason to mess with the filters Dr. Z designed for the car. I suspect that the [oil contamination] problem is worse with boosted cars since the air volume (speed) is greater than in an NA car; so any residual oil is going to get sucked in.

Zeppelin

How many times do we have to say it - The C32 does not use a MAF, it has a MAP which is not subject to oil contamination.

ericpd

Thanks,... you too Scoop55. But I own a C32,... I should have said so from the beginning I guess. Hey, you guys got a similar link for the C32?

ericpd

MAF? MAP? What are they and how do they differ?

ScottW911

Hey Zep, are you running with K&N's? If so what is your experience with them? I toyed with the idea a year ago and shied away because of the bad news I was hearing. I also considered the Green Filters but saw that there were some fitment problems with them. Any advice?

Scoop55

Here ya go, bro:
http://www.kandn.com/instructions/33-2256.pdf

neihouma

Damn thanks for reminding me how long it took to unscrew
those 12 screws

Scoop55

yeah, those instructions look harder than they do for the C55.

Zeppelin

I installed K&N's maybe 4 years ago. I do not have any issues with them. I check them every 10k miles or so and knock the loose dirt out of them but they are never dirty enough to be cleaned.

They are not without risk. They do allow more particulate through and therefore could reduce the life of the engine. I'm taking the chance that it will reduce the life from 300k to 250k miles Since I plan on throwing the car away when it reaches 150k it no big deal to me.

itsmeek

use a drill attachment- it will take u about 15 mins.

Slater126

Figured I'd bump this thread. I went to put a Green filter in the car today and, low and behold, the thing doesn't fit correctly! It doesn't fit squarely in the plastic top like the stock one does and, if you place it on the lower portion of the air box, you can see that it leaves a small gap at the front or rear portion! Nice little pathway for grit to get into your supercharger.

I double checked the part number and it's the one recommended for the 2002-04 C32. Even says that on the boxes. Way to go Green!

I dropped the stock one back in and will get a new pair, from the MB dealer -- and do the job all over again. And FYI, the part number for the Fram filter is wrong for this car too. Fram Part Number CA8768 does NOT fit the C32 air box. It is way too large.

Just one more reason to ignore the "performance" filter hype. What a major waste of my f'ing time today.

MRAMG1

Hey ScottW911:

I have run the K/n's since the day I picked up the car, about 17 months now. NO PROBLEMS. However, they did drop my 0-60 times by over 0.15 seconds, accoding to my G-tech. I don't know whoever said K/N's are a bad thing, as they have been on EVERY car I have EVERED owned. Including wife's Freestyle, my work Taurus, and of course ALL FI cars I have owned. From what I have seen and read/heard. THE only oiling problem is people SOAKING them from the satart thinking if a little oil is good, MORE IS BETTER, which of course is NOT TRUE. HP for the buck, K/N is the best mod I have EVER done, period!

See yeah

ohlord

at www.autohausaz.com order an oil filter kit to get above $50 and shipping is free.
OE out flow k/n,who could ask for anything more.

ScottW911

Which leads me back to my question...Why?

If the K&N's lowered your time, the oil is a risk and they allow more particulate into the engine, is this a good thing?

I am not trying to pick a fight over filters, but I just don't get the whole "spend extra $$ for worse performance or possible engine damage" thing at all.

My fleece filters seem to do just great and get replace at each service. No worries.