Hi all,

I read a lot of threads related to the gain performance while switching the 430 OEM airbox (on top of the engine) by another one. Among them there is the 320 airbox option that is ideally positioned in a colder place on the left enside of the engine bay (and much easier to find here around)

I've not seen any video to make sure it is an easy mod.

As I am going to get the 320 box next week, I would like to make sure I can do it easily. So if you can share your experiences and knowledge that would be highly appreciated

1 - remove the OEM AIRBOX with the 2 air pipes in front (already did, sounds OK )
2 - install the 320 AIRBOX (I believe there is room to do, how do I make it sure it doesn't move?)
3- install one single air pipe in front (is this the same shape to fit in the previous "hole"?)
4- link the airbox to the flow sensor (Is the 320 airbox back pipe the right size, length, shape to reach and being plug to the sensor?
5 - set back the engine cover without the airfiltering system to keep a nice look (could it be?)
6- install a new "sport" filter (K&N/Green/BMC I've not decided yet)

If you have any recommendation or advise don't hesitate.

Then I'll do a stage 1 chip/ECU tuning since I would have changed the airbox and the exhaust. I hope I could reach the power and especially the torque of the C43 model.

Thank you

Julien

You realize that the position of the 320 airbox has almost nothing to do with intake temps on this car as the hoses you removed essentially function as ram-air? Intake air charge temp is not going to rise much in the 3 or so feet the air travels from the front of the hood to the back of the airbox. All this re-engineering you're doing will give you less power.

The C43 made the power it did with an AMG exhaust and the AMG airbox. If you're really trying to duplicate those performance numbers, you should be getting the same parts they used to do it instead of trying out unproven solutions to make a filter work that's already been shown to be problematic over time in many cars.

The only person I ever saw talking about the 320 airbox after all these years was a guy vipclk or something who had a 320 not a 430. He would tell people how non-restrictive the box was but never had any dyno numbers to back up his claims. To be honest, that box would be more restrictive than even the 430 box because it has a single inlet vs. 2 and the size of the box itself is significantly less volume than the properly sized ones. By putting the 320 box on there you're essentially making the engine breathe through a thinner straw. Think of the filter area - 320 uses a single filter with about 122 sq. inches of filter area. The 430 and 55 use two filters with about 209 sq. inches of area. You're decreasing the amount of intake area by like 40%!

I've personally done a before/after dyno of the 55 box and that's how I know it works. No before/after dyno numbers=waste of money.

FYI, I just found my old dynos. My stock rear-wheel HP and TQ were 216 and 232, and with the box was 235 hp and 245 tq.

So the gain was actually closer to 19 hp and 13 tq at the wheels. Again, this isn't butt-dyno, or "feels faster," or sounds more free flowing. This is: strap stock car to dyno, make a pull. Replace airbox, make second dyno pull. A 320 box with a K&N or green is not going to give you 19 hp and 13 tq. If anything you're going to lose a few by choking the intake down to one filter (even if it is a freer flowing filter).

Hi Josh, Thank for replying and sharing your experience,
Unless I am wrong I've been through the thread below stating dyno tested by Da Guitarist.
MYTHBUSTERS DYNO run w/ 430 and different intakes!!! - Page 3 - MBWorld.org Forums

Here what was said:
The 430 airbox is the worst of the 320/55 combos. The 320 gets almost the exact same hp as the 55, maybe 1-2 hp less, but with a hair more torque. But, the 320 airbox is in a position such that it shouldn't heat up as hot as fast (it doesn't sit ON TOP of the engine). It's in the bay on the left side of the engine behind the headlight. The deal is, it's within 2 hp of the 55 box, and maybe a hair more torque, but at a significantly lower price.

dyno results:
Stock (2 runs) about 234 hp 242 tq (10 am)
55 Box (2 runs) about 240 hp 247 tq (10:30 am)
320 box (2 runs) about 238 hp 250 tq (11:30 am)
played w/ tunings (4-5 runs) about 220 hp 230 tq (going down)
My car w/ amg box (2 runs) about 230 hp 240 tq (12:00)

If I could find a 55 airbox there would be no discussion but here around it is like a unicorn. As ML 55 as the same configuration as CLK 320 my assumption was to improve air induction swapping the OEM airbox.

Other question, I guess for you Josh

Can we set in the 430?
-E55 box + pipes
-55 Kompressor box + pipes (CLK / E...)

If I enlarge the field for my research I would be easier to find the best pick for air intake for my 430

The 55 Kompressor box will not fit. I'm not sure if the e55 pipes will fit but the airbox should. The box from a w202 c43 will fit as well.

I'm actually pretty surprised at daguitarist's results. I'm assuming the longer runner for the 320 box is how it's making more torque. The main complaint with the airbox design for the on-top of the motor versions is heat soak but again - it's a shorter distance for the air which is being taken in right from the front of the car. It's not as much of an issue as it's being made out to be. The kompressor models also have their intake and filters mounted this way. I doubt AMG would be using a more inefficient intake method on their performance cars than their entry level versions.

That being said, you provided dyno numbers for the 320 intake which totally contradict what I said so it's nice to see that as a viable option to the AMG box. I was looking at the filters and the 320 filter looks to have a big section on it that is significantly thicker than the rest of the filter so I'm assuming they're making up for not using two filters but increasing the depth of the pleats on the one filter it does have. Interesting. Good on daguitarist though. He was really getting active on here when I was starting to wind down my CLK involvement so I never saw too many of his posts but the ones I've seen were always pretty informative.

Well as we discussed, I am in line with you and I don't believe AMG's engineers are dumb and haven't considered all the options. If they have confirmed model after model the on-top configuration there should be for one good reason. Now that is said it doesn't mean it so much better than the 320 / ML 55 configuration. Maybe this option is made available to improve torque while on top if for extra power at high RPM.

Now i'm balanced between the AMG box and the 320

maybe I should wait and look after an AMG box. Seems like the W209 55 box is easier to find that others so I'm trying to find one

I don't find dynos for this type but perf should not be so different from the W208 box and look is great

Hi Josh,
I would like to thank you,
thanks to our discussion I've try hard to find a CLK 55 AMG airbox and finally managed to fetch one. Ok it is much more expansive than the 320 box but I believe it worths the extra money.
It comes from a W209 model, sweet design to my opinion.
For the story, the seller didn't need it as he installed a krompressor on his CLK 55 (347HP). He said his car is now with 510HP. The funny thing he is a a VTC driver using a very calm Toyota Prius on a daily basis

I am now waiting for some new pipes as they are different from the 430 ones.
I should be able to install the box by the end of the week.

if that’s the case then how come the e430 uses a single air box with one tube and makes 275hp while the clk430 uses the dual tube airbox on the top of the motor but makes 275hp also? both engines are exactly the same too.

the c43 made its power from the amg cams they added not exhaust or airbox