I have 2004 E500 and it has 4 zone climate control so I suppose it should have activated charcoal filter. I wanted to replace them since my car is > 50K already. In every forum, they all say just take out the kick panel on the passenger side and I should see a slide lock or plastic sliders that should eventually release the filter.

I cannot seems to find this "slide lock" anywhere nor I don't see where the filter might be stowed. I attached a picture below (facing up from the bottom mat), so if someone could help me identify the place where this filter is stowed then I'll be so thankful!

 

If they are there, they will be more to the left.. in that picture all I see are the dampner for opening the glove box and the blower motor cover.. If you find nothing there, then your car doesn't have them.

 

Since you have a 2004 model, then (if fitted) the activated charcoal filter can actually be switch (more a type of bypass) on or off on the thermatronic. If you miss this button (see attached) then you probably don't have the activated charcoal.

 

@RonaldK: yes, I do have that switch. I just cannot find the damn filter.
@Racin_fool: I cannot see the filter anywhere, I know what the filter looks like by looking at online store but I just cannot seem to locate it and this is the 2nd time I open the kick panel to look for it.

If someone is nice enough to show me the pic where the filter is located by either searching it online (I tried though) or from their own car. I would really appreciate it. I also heard that some newer model of W211 has combined dust/charcoal filter in the engine compartment (I know how to replace that one). I have 2004 E500, do you think mine using the combined filter?

On the side note, while I open the kick panel, I fixed my glove box where now it opens slowly by re-attaching the shock absorber (those white cylinder tube) and loop it to the broken clip by using electrical tape

 

Here a page from the climatronic documentation I have. It clearly shows the two activated charcoal filter locations behind the passenger footwell cover. The H-shaped tabs need to be shifted (either forward or backward) in order to remove. Hope this helps.

 

@Ronaldk: Hey thanks for the picture. If I remembered correctly I did see those H shaped tabs. I will try it again tonight.

 

okay, finally I was able to take out the charcoal filter. However, it still looks pretty clean to me. I attach the picture here. Do you guys think I should replace it?

 

is that really behind the passenger footwell covers ?

Andy

 

That is exactly what the filter housing looks like. Slide the gray H latches to remove the lock. Then remove the H latches attached to the bottom cover.
Look into the housing you will see a tab in the center of the filter. PULL the tab down to remove the filter.

Note..pay attention to the H gray lock position on the bottom cover and install it the way it came off.

I pulled the under hood filter and cabin filters (MB # A 211 830 08 18). Then ran a spray disinfectant through the system. Closed it up for an hr. Then installed the filters.

All is well with the system after the new filters and clean up.

 

If you don't get a bad smell when you turn on the Charcol switch then you do not need to replace them. Plus, you cannot tell by looking at them to tell if they are dirty, that depends on how often you use them. I use my nose to tell me when to change them out.

 

Changing my cabin filter as well. My 04 e320 doesnt have the H-tabs like the ones showed above. Does that mean I dont have Climatronic?

If I dont where should I be looking? To the left of the blower box I see another box with silver clips and 2 gold sliding tabs. are the filters in there?

 

If you have 2-zone (standard on 320), your vehicle is equipped with cabin filter in engine compartment only and does not have additional charcoal filters.

 

Thanks. Mine would be standard.

 

I have a 4-zone system (2004 E500). I purchased the charcoal filter at the MB dealer, it goes in the engine compartment, right in front of the firewall on the passenger side in the big black box. By the way, the auxiliary battery is under that box (it took me a while to find it)

 

MY 2003 211 is the only year that have the Dual Charcol filters under the glove box...if you have that option.

 

Beg to differ, MY03-04 equipped with 4-zone AC (500 standard, 320 optional).

 

I stand Corrected

 

That's the dust filter Robbie, the charcoal filter is under the glove box after you take off the kick pad.

 

The charcoal activated filtration is not automatically switched on during normal AC operation. I'm sure most people rarely use it. Unless you use air filtration through them it shouldn't have to be replaced that soon.

Of course your owner's manual is going to say something like change it every 30 or 50K. Well, we all know they want you to spend money.

 

hey konig,

first i want to thank you for everything you do. obviously mercedes doesn't make it easy with their innumerable 'tweaks' within a model year, as i *think* (key word, i may be wrong) is the case here.

i have climatronic (4 zone) on our 05 e320 4matic, BUT, we do not have the charcoal filters. in another post, you stated

so i think this holds for climatronic vehicles as well. i do not have the charcoal filter button, either.

i found this a little unusual. i could be wrong but my cursory search did not yield a w211 owner with climatronic and no charcoal filters, but i didn't go in-depth.

freakin mercedes hey. what _i_ wanna know is if the charcoal activated feature is worth it. does the cabin have the scent of fresh ozone? i love that smell.

a little salty, but a little curious. however i'll refrain from committing on something that may be lofty.

 

 

wow! so the 05 somehow got robbed of the freakin charcoal filter option.

if someone was willing to purchase an entirely new HVAC assembly for an 03-04, plus the 03-04 LED cluster, would it work?

WHY DID THEY ABANDON THIS OPTION? I WANT TO SMELL IT.