Replacing activated charcoal filters....a must?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 26
From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Replacing activated charcoal filters....a must?
I know that MB says replace the activated charcoal filters at 60K miles, if your car is equipped with them. I'm ordering all of my filters for all of my MB's and I happened to pull the charcoal filters on my E500. They look new to me. Unlike the dust filter and engine air filter which show dirt, the charcoal filters do not. Is there any way to tell if you really need to change the charcoal filters? Or should I just take MB's word for it and do it. These are not cheap. Probably the most expensive of all of the car's filters at about 100.00.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,497
Likes: 335
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
I don't see how one could see the charcoal filter being at the end of life but it should not be from dirt or dust. On a W211 the charcoal filters aren't even used all the time but only when switched on from the control button or by the multifunction sensor at certain conditions. It could be that your filters have not seen air flow a lot. I assume the smog at big US cities isn't that significant that the filters would be turned on. Likely always on in most Chinese cities.
It is not obvious to me that the filter is bad after the specified mileage. Perhaps it needs to be changed more because it would be difficult to see if it has reach "end of life".
It is not obvious to me that the filter is bad after the specified mileage. Perhaps it needs to be changed more because it would be difficult to see if it has reach "end of life".
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 26
From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
I don't see how one could see the charcoal filter being at the end of life but it should not be from dirt or dust. On a W211 the charcoal filters aren't even used all the time but only when switched on from the control button or by the multifunction sensor at certain conditions. It could be that your filters have not seen air flow a lot. I assume the smog at big US cities isn't that significant that the filters would be turned on. Likely always on in most Chinese cities.
It is not obvious to me that the filter is bad after the specified mileage. Perhaps it needs to be changed more because it would be difficult to see if it has reach "end of life".
It is not obvious to me that the filter is bad after the specified mileage. Perhaps it needs to be changed more because it would be difficult to see if it has reach "end of life".
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,497
Likes: 335
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
That is interesting. The charcoal filters reduce air flow, but that isn't the reason I hardly ever use them. It is more because we really seldom have something to filter from the air (with the charcoal filter).
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 26
From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Plus, my allergies are completely out of control and I'll take all the help I can get as far as filtration goes.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,497
Likes: 335
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Trending Topics
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 413
Likes: 6
From: San Diego
2021 Tesla M3SR+, 2017 GLS550, 2011 E350 Bluetec, 2007 GL450 (GONE), 2003 E500 (GONE)
I keep them on mainly because I drive this car everyday in bumper to bumper traffic to and from work. I'm routinely behind school buses, dump trucks, tractor trailors, etc...
Plus, my allergies are completely out of control and I'll take all the help I can get as far as filtration goes.
Plus, my allergies are completely out of control and I'll take all the help I can get as far as filtration goes.
Where did you find the charcoal filters located? Are they under the dash board? Could you please specify how to remove them?
Thank you.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 26
From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Kind of hard to describe it, but it's a 5 minute thing. Just take that panel off and it will become more clear to you.
Last edited by Benz-O-Rama; Nov 13, 2007 at 09:09 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,497
Likes: 335
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Perhaps it was me missing the point, did you actually mean how to activate the mode where the air is filtered with the charcoal filter? This should only appear on a car with a 4-zone AC, not on all of those but there is a specific button to activate the function as in the attached figure (button number 9).
Last edited by Diesel Benz; Aug 9, 2009 at 09:29 AM.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
E550
My new E550 is different. It has the four zone, but in place of the charcoal filter button (which my old '01 E320 had) it has a separate AC button there, which is supposed to turn off the AC (though I swear it still comes on sometimes even with the button and light off).
Any clue how to turn it on or off on the newer models. I don't recall seeing it in the manual.
Any clue how to turn it on or off on the newer models. I don't recall seeing it in the manual.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,497
Likes: 335
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
My new E550 is different. It has the four zone, but in place of the charcoal filter button (which my old '01 E320 had) it has a separate AC button there, which is supposed to turn off the AC (though I swear it still comes on sometimes even with the button and light off).
Any clue how to turn it on or off on the newer models. I don't recall seeing it in the manual.
Any clue how to turn it on or off on the newer models. I don't recall seeing it in the manual.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 26
From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
W211 Under Glove Comp. Cover Removal.pdf
And for those that don't have the separate charcoal filter, but rather a combo filter look here:
This is also the place where the dust filter is located for those of us with the separate charcoal filters.
combofilterpix.pdf
Last edited by Benz-O-Rama; Nov 13, 2007 at 10:14 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 723
Likes: 32
From: Central Jersey
2003 E500, 2004 G35X
Rama, thanks for the useful info. By the way, another way of stopping the exhaust fume from entering the car is to press the recirculating air button so you won't get the outside air into the car.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 26
From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Yep, I use that alot. Problem is, it turns off after 15 minutes or something like that. Weird.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal or activated coal, is a general term which covers carbon material mostly derived from charcoal. For all three variations of the name, "activated" is sometimes substituted by "active". By any name, it is a material with an exceptionally high surface area. Just one gram of activated carbon has a surface area of approximately 500 m2, typically determined by nitrogen gas adsorption, and includes a large amount of microporosity. Sufficient activation for useful applications may come solely from the high surface area, though often further chemical treatment is used to enhance the absorbing properties of the material.
So it is activated by manufacturer with large surface area to allow for adsorption of airborne chemicals.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,497
Likes: 335
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 156
Likes: 10
From: Toronto,Canada
17 E43, 18 GLE400
Can someone explain a little more?
Mine is the 4 zone climate control and I have the cover under the hood that looks exactly like what you guys refer to the combo filter but I also has the carbon filter button on the right most side on the panel!!??!!
Does that mean I have both?
Anyone has the pic of the actual filter?
Is that a sealed one piece like a housing with the charcoal inside?
Not sure if that's possible but can you replace the charcoal / active carbon inside the element?
Mine is the 4 zone climate control and I have the cover under the hood that looks exactly like what you guys refer to the combo filter but I also has the carbon filter button on the right most side on the panel!!??!!
Does that mean I have both?
Anyone has the pic of the actual filter?
Is that a sealed one piece like a housing with the charcoal inside?
Not sure if that's possible but can you replace the charcoal / active carbon inside the element?
Last edited by noyu; Nov 15, 2007 at 01:38 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,497
Likes: 335
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Can someone explain a little more?
Mine is the 4 zone climate control and I have the cover under the hood that looks exactly like what you guys refer to the combo filter but I also has the carbon filter button on the right most side on the panel!!??!!
Does that mean I have both?
Anyone has the pic of the actual filter?
Is that a sealed one piece like a housing with the charcoal inside?
Not sure if that's possible but can you replace the charcoal / active carbon inside the element?
Mine is the 4 zone climate control and I have the cover under the hood that looks exactly like what you guys refer to the combo filter but I also has the carbon filter button on the right most side on the panel!!??!!
Does that mean I have both?
Anyone has the pic of the actual filter?
Is that a sealed one piece like a housing with the charcoal inside?
Not sure if that's possible but can you replace the charcoal / active carbon inside the element?
