Mackhack

Guys,

I hit the 61k miles now and I'm wondering if I should get my air filter changed! What is the regular turnaround time for air filters on the 2004 E320?

Benz-O-Rama

I believe the engine air filter is supposed to be replaced at 60K miles. Buy the OEM Mann filters online and do it yourself. It takes 10 minutes.

Here's what mine looked like at 55K.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...rs-batman.html

Mackhack

I thought it was 60k. Will do then!

Thank you!

Benz-O-Rama

No problem. And also make a habit of checking them at every oil change. Don't just forget about them for another 60K. I do my own oil changes too, and every time, I pop them out and vacuum them or at the very least give them a good shake. Since my first change, I've been buying new filters every 20K, just because I'm a freak. It's so cheap to do them yourself, there's really no reason not to swap them more frequently.

Mackhack

Hm,

unfortunately I don't have any chance of doing the oil changes myself. Although doesn't you need a vacuum to suck the oil out from the top rather than through the screw on the oil pan on the bottom somewhere?

I only did my oil changes myself back home in Germany on my VW Golf 3.

I'll go ahead and order the new Mann air filters tomorrow and put them in myself and post some pix!

Benz-O-Rama

Buy this:

http://www.amazon.com/Mityvac-7201-F...9074471&sr=8-3

It's the topside oil extractor that I use. I can do an oil change on my car in 15 minutes and never get my hands dirty.

Mackhack

Benz-O-Rama, is I'm amazed what Amazon sells nowadays... Seems like everything, even books still? haha!!!

Thank you, this is really a alternative to stealership prices for the services!

Benz-O-Rama

Amazon is really nothing more than a storefront for a bazillion businesses. They don't stock this junk, they're just a portal for e-tailors to sell their wares.

With this product, you end up paying about $75.00 for an oil change, instead of $125.00 or so. You still need the 8 quarts of Mobil 1, plus the $20.00 filter at the dealer. But, it saves you time because you can do it in 15 minutes, plus I just like doing crap myself. That way, I know it's done right.

Mackhack

Hey,

I didn't criticize you, and you are right. This 75 bucks is invested only once. Divided by the times you use it makes every oil change cheaper and cheaper if you look it that way. Filter of course is fine and of course, the oil itself you need.

Benz-O-Rama

Huh? No offense taken. Didn't realize I sounded defensive.

The extractor is pretty cool. The only pain in the butt is having to take it to an authorized used oil depository to dump it. I have one that's 15 mins away. So that gets me away from the screaming kids for 1/2 and hour or so.

Mackhack

Ok cool!

starbrite

Hey Benzo, I took a quick look at the covers and don't see how that metal latch/catch, at the rear, is removed. I tried prying upward, backwards.....no joy. How does it release ?

Benz-O-Rama

Are you talking about the whole air cleaner assembly? There's no latches or catches, you just need to pull straight up towards the sky on all 4 corners of it. It has a ball&socket type connector at each corner.

Or are you talking about once you have the air cleaner off, getting the actual air filter lids off?

starbrite

I'm not sure. I just saw this metal catch at the rear of the top assembly and assumed it had to be released in order to access the filters..

Benz-O-Rama

Not on mine. On mine, you take of the little front cover that goes around the oil filter. Then you pull straight up on all 4 corners of the big mammoth air cleaner. They just pop right off. In the rear, it seats directly on the MAF sensor but comes right off that as well. Once you do it once, it's very easy.

starbrite

Then am I correct to assume that the metal latch/catch in this photo stays right where it is and has nothing to do with the removal process ?

Benz-O-Rama

Took me a second to figure out what that was. No sir, that stays with the car. That my friend, is your MAF sensor. And that is the rear clip that holds the MAF in place. There is also a ring with two clips in the front of the MAF. You can see that once you get the air cleaner off. The air cleaner seats on that at the rear.

starbrite

Ah so, thank you Clayton san, Oh wise weed hopper !

Edit : It was post#22 in the thread that you linked above, that threw me off :

Benz-O-Rama

Yeah, I don't what he's talking about in that post. The MAF stays put.

starbrite

Hey Benzo, just finished checking them (yes, easy to remove) and they both pretty much looked like yours in the above linked thread. Thanks for the help.

Someone posted there (E500) that it takes a #25 Torx to remove the actual filter covers.

On mine, '04 E320, it took a #27 Torx driver. Fortunately I had one.

Still a mystery how that metal latch is disengaged....was just curious, but couldn't figure it out.

Benz-O-Rama

That latch really just bends out of the way when you're removing your MAF. When you had your cleaner off, you should've seen a plastic ring that clips in the front, that goes around the MAF. You release those, then bend that rear clip out of the way, while lifting straight up to remove your MAF. Just did mine 2 weeks ago.

Piece of cake.

starbrite

I did see that ring. Never thought that the metal would bend. I always think of those kind of things as sliding or "snapping" out of the way.

02W220slammed

i personally change out my filter every other oil change. make agood habit out of it. Rather spend a few bucks now vs. having to worry later.

Mackhack

Worry about what? It's just an air filter?

Benz-O-Rama

You just push it towards the firewall until it clears that little notch on the MAF, then lift the MAF up. Kind of a weird design.