I got an email from KN filters yesterday stating that the two required air filters for my 2007 E-320 bluetec were now available from KN. Part #33-2940, and looking at the applications it says it fits most all 2005-2008 3.0L V6 diesels in the E, ML, R, GL, etc. I did a quick google search and found it only in stock on Ebay for about $77 delivered. Have any of you tried it on your diesel? I have them on my Yukon and Acura TL and have been very pleased with the longevity and performance, but had read posts about over-oiling and fouling one of th sensors. Any thoughts?

MB's are much more precision automobiles than a GMC or Acura, I personally would not risk it. In areas like this, I tend to believe that the product would come from the (MB) factory if it was so vastly superior. Too many opportunities for problems to occur, IMO. Also, the volume of air the Bluetec consumes is much larger than almost any other car (since it is a diesel) which probably increases the chances that a problem could occur.

Please post your VIN number so forum users can avoid your E320 when it comes on the used market. The engine will be seriously degraded since it will have been run without air filtration, and of course the MAF sensor will be bad, too.

Never use K&N filters, ever, on any engine, ever.

There will be no performance gain, it will destroy your MAF sensor, it will damage your turbo and damage your engine.

Guess I'll delete that email and stick with the oem. Strong opinions all.

Not opinion, fact.

http://home.stny.rr.com/jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm

A-men.

What are you guys talking about!!!

Common, I dont do off road with my car! that test only show that for trucks its better to use paper filters!
Why After market filter are used in competition!? if they do harm they wouldn't be used!
I heard those stories alot, but almost all of them the problems appear after the recleanning of the filter (lot of oil etc) and if all done right there will be no problems!!

In Europe we have many CDI's and TDI's etc... many people using KN or others filters and no problems, since the maintenance is done correctly!

I have KN in all my CDI and TDI and 0 problems!

PS: just clean the excess oil before installing the filter (I use a vacuum cleaner with a soft cloth, and sug all the excess in the direction of the air flow to the engine on the filter, thats how I do it to prevent the oil to stuck on the MAF and air intake at the first miles...

All I can say is that a K & N filter cost me a few hundred dollars. For my 1999 E55 the filter sits on top of the valley and any excess oil will drip straight down and cause damage. Ditto with V-6 engines.

With a straight six or straight four the air-box usually sits on one side of the engine and the filter oil cannot travel sideways to cause damage.

In the V6 CDI it uses an air boxes at the sides, I'm not sure but I think it uses only one!

A filter is a filter and an engine is an engine no matter what type of vehicle the engine is in. You don't WANT to accept the tests because they prove how terrible K&N really is.

Because they can afford to rebuild the engine every few races AND thats the only place where a filter like that will make an actual difference.

That doesn't mean there is any benefit to it.

The tests prove whats always been known, they flow more air because they don't filter worth a crap.

All the filters in the test where made by paper except the KN!?

This is the heart of the problem with oil-media "filters". You never know when you have too much or too little oil. Most of the ones I see are soaked, and then start to bleed down when the weather gets hot. It's a joke. Who needs it?

I'd rather be driving than worrying about some MickeyMouse air filter and whether it's destroying my MAFS or something else downstream

Why? Because K&N filters are just coarse strainers, the oil is what does the majority of the actual filtering. A good air filter will get down to 15 microns with reasonable efficiency (Most filter between 20-40 microns.) Hold a dry filter up to your eye and you will be able to see through it! That is well over 100 microns.



Here is another test: http://www.stripersonline.com/surfta...2&postcount=19

Beside MAF what could be broken with using an performance filter?

MAF's are cheap 60€ I can buy one! Till now, 100000km with KN never need one!

I thinks for diesel engines its worst using a bad diesel than using a bad/dirty air filter!

Many problems in CDI in europe where provoked by water and bad fuel! never heard about an engine broken by bad air filter...

Gajex, I'd luv to send them all to you. I'd never settle for sub-standard crap like that..not even on one of my old cars.

Till now no one could answer to my question... only say that it could damage the engine, but which components!!?? (beside MAF)

marketing

http://www.knfilters.com/MAF/3MAFSensorVideo.htm

Ok, I got a picture that convinced me, beside all the contradictory info I was reading (its not that bad as you are saying) but the picture says alot, but the car could have alot of miles in it, and it could be normal! (Audi A6 2.5TDI)

http://bp3.blogger.com/_twcI22Ynbb8/...197-796482.jpe

What about AEM filters?

I think its kind of ironic that K&N would do a dust test on the MAF sensor. They are kind of tattling on their own filter's filtering capability.

You mean those nano paper filters??

I heard it's better, but so far I can't find any test result on it...

By the way, which part of Europe are you located anyways?

You are right about the V-6 Bluetec engine. There are 2 airboxes at the sides and the air is routed into one tube and into the turbo. There was a photo posted on this site last year or so.

Their sponsored Top Fuel Funny Car just won at the O'Reiley Nationals in Houston, today. I guess there's no shortage of funds, eh?

When all they need to make them is cotton gauze, strainer metal, oil and rubber, production costs are low and profits are high!