Does anyone know of any place other than a dealer where I can get 2 air filters for my car? The dealer wants $123.00 for 2 air filters which I think is way too much. I want OEM filters, not some cheap $20 filter. Is there any online place that I could get OEM air filters? My part # is 276-094-05-04-90.

Thanks in advance!

 

https://mbparts.mbusa.com/oem-parts/...r-276094050490

theoretically
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_In...4-05-04-90-MBZ

Also try FCPeuro I dont know specifics for your car, bunch of auto stores also. Just go with good brand and your alright, no K&N, fram, or wix.

 

I always go with K&N, if that's an option for you. For my E550 I think it cost me $100 for the pair, and that's it, never buy any again

 

And continually dust your engine.

 

+1 on what Quint said. Hold your K&N rock filter up to the sunlight next time you have it out to clean it. Note: Shield your eyes, cuz the sun will be pouring through all the holes that don't filter anything.

FCPEuro.com for your OEM air filters. Buy once, then just put up the (refundable) money for replacements as needed. I hear PelicanParts.com does the same thing now also, but haven't looked into that yet (but I have used PP often in the past).

 

Thank you guys for your input. I just ordered from FCP Euro and it was $84.00 out the door. Much better than $123.00 from the dealer. Thank you very much!

 

People usually get K&N for more airflow not filtration, and as a result better performance but side effect is extra engine wear. Instead, there are a few that can be considered, including OEM, Mahle, Hengst. I think Hengst was who made OEM engine air filters for Mercedes, not fully sure.

 

I use FCP Euro for all my MB Parts.

 

usually people respond with "itll ruin you maf", which ive never seen.
sure they dont filter as well, but well enough imo. paper filters are overkill, also imo, and too small, which i dont think anyone will argue. i want max power, and dont want to buy expensive filters every xx months, or have to change them out, so its a hard pass. id assume a twin turbo owner may want the same?
optionally one could install a k&n prefilter, which i did on my truck because it was easier to clean the ton of dust that was collected. if you think a cotton k&n has big holes, check out the red prefilter, which ants can walk through, yet it works so well it catches 99.9% of the dust, leaving the cotton one looking new. now if i did want max filtration, id just modify the k&n. in rare cases i do have a need for that. i know most people dont understand, but thats what supports the paper filter industry im only half kidding :p

 

A twin turbo doesnt really care if its got a kn or paper filter onboard. Unless one or the other is clogged. My cummins air filter is same size as the KN except its 3 times as thick if you will. Provides plenty of airflow (cant tell difference) and I change it every year when I was running 25k miles a year. Now Im only driving it about 5k miles a year so probably last 5-7 years. I can get about 6 filters for the price of the KN, at this rate thats 30 to 42 years.

My other cummins I put a KN in, only had truck for 36k miles and before I sold it the intake tube was full of dust. I cleaned it, put a paper one in, threw the KN away, and sold it.

By the time a KN is filtering adequately it is reducing airflow to same or worse than a quality paper filter. If ya put a prefilter on that catches 99.9% of dust I would have to question the validity of that for one and will say its not flowing any better than a paper filter. You can put prefilters on any other filter out there as well if you are playing in the desert or wherever in the situation you described.

Anyhow rock what ya want, Ill stick to my good quality paper air filters and enjoy my 5min filter changes and cleaner engine as well.

 

I’ve been very satisfied with all my OEM parts purchases from FCP

 

Quint; You seem to have very good reason to use what you're using, but I have a good reason for using K&N.

K&N does not filter as well, nobody will argue that, but like an oil filter, how much is good enough? Oil filters could certainly be better and catch smaller particles, but at the expense of flow. Actually, I discovered long ago, an oil filter spends a lot of time in bypass mode and none of that is filtered at all. They could make filter better and not bypass, if the mfg made room for a larger filter, but that costs $ and they don't give a sht about your engine, only that it makes it past warranty. Same with air filters, imo, but no bypass for when you really need flow. You get a good enough filter for most people because manufacturing costs are #1.
Trucks generally have more room under the hood for bigger filters, and diesels need bigger filters, so apparently you have "enough" filter. The vast majority of gas burning cars have one that is too small. This is why there are a lot K&N's out there, and quite a few cone filters too, because the oem air box is not cutting it either. K&N is no doubt mostly marketing, selling to people that don't really need one, but I do need them. Ok, maybe "want" is a better word since I don't "need" power. But if I want power I need K&N

A turbo eng does care about the filter. On my car it would feel any loss of flow at all starting ~4k. A restriction would not only lower power from that point on, but lower the rpm where the problem starts. Virtually all full power acceleration in most cars takes place at 4 and above. Restriction also hurts when not on boost, but not really a big deal. A normally aspirated on the other hand will suffer. They need less air per cc but they also have smaller filters as a general rule. Just can't win...
Since a turbo eng makes more power, the greater the loss, and the turbo will spin faster in its effort, which is not good for it. So I'd say a turbo cares very much.
Now if you meant it won't notice because of the electronic limiters, then you are probably, mostly, correct, but with a lot of exceptions. If you have an engine that is programmed to make 75% power you wouldn't see as much loss, or any, but what about the cars with filters that are too small, and all those filters will get dirty. Then if you're making 75% power and decide to bump that to 100, now your paper will be a much bigger problem.
I do not have limiters, so I'd feel any loss in air flow. When they do paper flow comparos, at least all those I've seen, they used brand new paper. Not sure how much dust hurts flow, but I do know it doesn't take much at all.
Many cars have sensors to detect air filter restriction, mine being one of them. Hmmm, must be a very real issue for the mfg to spend $ on that, but still substantially cheaper than using bigger filters like they should've. So it's basically a band-aid fix. They wouldn't give us big enough, so they installed a warning system. The K&N could never trigger a filter restriction in my car, unless, perhaps, it was programmed to detect a missing filter, which K&N would no doubt register as.
K&N don't seem to be bothered by dust at all. Maybe they are a little, but maybe they flow so much better that the losses from dust are still not an issue?

A few months ago I saw a cars chart while making a pass and the MAP was 1.5psi below ambient. Not sure about you but I've never had a car with anywhere near that much restriction.
My truck was the first time I compared paper to K&N. I used K&N first, because why wouldn't I. Years later, and I forget why, I tried paper. I think it was an experiment. I do recall buying the best flowing paper out there. I want to say Motorcraft but not certain, but it did flow a lot more than the most restrictive brand, per whatever hotrod magazine or website I got the info from. Despite being the best paper element available, and bright white clean, it hurt power bad. I mean grabbed it by the collar and punched it square in the face. I removed the paper element moments later. A short time later I tried an Outerwears pre-filter over my K&N. Outerwears is what most people buy for dust. You can just look at it and see it's highly restrictive, but they have good marketing so people buy them. I just wanted to see how bad it was, and it was probably worse than the paper.
The red K&N pre-filter is the only one I know of that doesn't restrict. I'm sure it restricts some, but no power loss on my end.
Originally I thought K&N's claim about dirt not hurting flow was marketing hype, but I've had so much dust in them that there was more dust by weight than filter, yet no power loss I could feel. I wanted a pre-filter mainly because cleaning a K&N packed with dust like that is not fun, especially when away from home. Since red foam caught almost everything, and was a breeze to clean in comparo, I was/am, quite happy.

I always check my intake tubes, but I'm looking for oil, and have never found any dust/dirt that I noticed. I take that back, there was some dust in my current car when I wiped them out before I put the K&N in there. I wipe them because I over oil the K&N and I want to see if, or how much oil gets past. I shouldn't say I over oil, I should say they come under oiled, very under oiled imo, so I'm properly oiling them and checking to se if any gets past. Surprisingly, I haven't found any in my current car. Some dripped down into the air box, but none went up into the intake tubes.
So I'll enjoy my car that is not choked down, and if I wanted, I don't need to clean the K&N, ever.
If I had some lame daily driver and the best filtration was most important to me, I'd still use K&N. I'd just mod it to filter better than paper, and I have no doubt it would still outflow paper, even when filthy. So all bases covered
I understand most people disagree with me, but I also believe if they put some real thought into it, they would at least consider K&N. I think most people are simply too afraid to do anything like that, especially with all the naysayers.

 

The turbo spins primarily (with other controls) in direct relationship to the exhaust gas that drives it. The air restriction you posit in your diatribe would slow that exhaust gas flow and thus the turbo (and pressure built up in the intake).
K&N's aren't bothered by dust at all, as you rightly say, because dust (the really fine stuff) flows right through it. I hear piston rings, valve seals, and everything else that the dust touches (including your turbo exhaust turbine) loves dust.
Your engine is a vacuum pump. The intake MAP is lower than ambient because physics.

There's a lot of opinion in your post, and that's fine - you do you. BUT: Don't pretend that K&N is superior air flow AND lets an engine live a long and healthy life. They're great for race cars where an engine can get rebuilt often. Not so great for the folks who want an engine to last. The microdust that goes through every pore in the K&N that sunlight will go through is not good for an engine. A decent paper filter has no trouble filtering that out, and the engine is thankful for it.

I've tried the K&N rock filter, had one on an old diesel for years. Never again.

Again, you do you. Good luck convincing anyone that the K&N is superior.

 

The exhaust can easily over spin a turbo, it doesn't need full power to it. Try to focus on the only real drawback to K&N, which is filtration. It's your best bet.

The diatribe was to answer all the questions that would otherwise follow, because I've been down this road before. There's always at least one guy who is dead set against them, like a bible thumper telling me I'm going to hell for (pick a reason) because he believes whatever the guy collecting 10% says.
Dust becomes part of the filtration, rather than clogging it like paper. It doesn't mean it passes through. As mentioned, I've had the peats packed in my trucks filter, but somehow it still flows well. I can't explain how it still works so well, but it does. In my car, when I've cleaned them, there is a ridiculous amount of dirt. I wash them in a sink and it turns to muddy water with a lot of sandy crap at the bottom. How much gets by I can't say, but I doubt much at all.
If dust did pass through then why am I not seeing in the intake? My intake is coated with thin layer of oil, which is ideal to catch any tell-tale dust, yet it's clean. The intake duct before the filter is awful, because it's extremely dusty where I live. I literally pour the crap out my air box, blast it with water and use a parts brush to clean it.
Why is the pre-filter on my truck, which isn't nearly as good at catching dust, still so good at it that barely any gets past? Hmmm, how can that be? Maybe they work a lot better than you think... The dust level where I live is another negative for paper because I'd be worrying about how clogged it is the entire time. I don't feel like spending that much time or money changing filters. So even if there was no power gain, compared to clean paper, I'd still use K&N to avoid changing clogged filters. Ever wonder why dirt bikes don't use paper? That is why. Plus, I don't think paper could prevent the dust from working its way through, which is another factor that has always bugged me. K&N holds dust, paper only tries. I won't run paper on my generator either, or my air compressor, for the same reasons. Basically install and forget. Paper is especially bad for a carbureted engine like my gen. It would be, imo, the #1 reason for cyl wall wear. Good thing I have K&N on it

I never said an (EFI) engine would last as long on K&N, I said it was probably good enough. If it works as good as it does in my environment it's saying a lot, and imo an engine could live its entire life on one. If I were concerned, I'd run a pre-filter.
I've run K&N since I was a kid and have never wore cyls or rings any more than the usual wear you see in all cars. Not one was a problem, except my truck when a gasket failed and it sucked unfiltered air at the worst possible time. Got some baja bore from that. All my mechanical eng problems, my entire life, have been valves or bearings, really just valves.
Is the tiny bit of dust that gets past bad? It sure aint good for it, but it is all that bad? If people were honestly concerned about long life in their engines they would get a pre-oiler, but very very few do. My car, as a whole, will probably fail like most electronic cars have for me, and especially MB, which is an electronic issue that cannot be fixed, won't pass smog as result, and I have to sell as a parts car. In fact, I have a major electronic issue right now that I'm not certain I can fix. Smog is due in a couple months, which is when this always happens to me. Now that is a real concern, and this may be it for this car.

You know, for a long time, people wouldn't eat Tomatoes because it was believed they were poisonous. Did anyone ever die from them before? No, it was all naysayers. The story is some guy had to sit in some town square eating a basket of them while naysayers told him what an idiot he was and he's going to die. Since he didn't, and lots of people saw that, we now eat Tomatoes. K&N will never get there, but imo they should make a street version that will please the naysayers and we can do away with paper.

 

Most of K&N filters, beside being poor filters also suck hot air from engine bay.
I have whole list of MB parts suppliers, but often, once I find the part #, I just google it.
Here is MB dealer, who has low, internet prices and excellent CS if you are looking for OE parts.
Discount Genuine Mercedes-Benz Parts & Accessories | MB Direct Parts

 

You do know that tomatoes came from south america where they were consumed reguarly, then imported to Spain when they occupied several places (most of the world), where they were consumed for some time (hence why they were imported). Then there were some europeans I believe that thought they were poison at some point and hence that story. Just saying thats not all of it and not a good example for crappy filters.

 

Just an example of how the belief was strong for that group of people. Like religion, where some believe so strongly and blindly that they will kill you if you don"t believe the exact same version they do, despite zero proof they are in the right. A South Park episode said Mormon was the correct religion, so now we know.
There's all kinds of fun car related stuff, like one guy I met with an old 302 Mustang insisted it was faster than a big block version because the engine was lighter. Another insisting you can't put a different engine in a car because it was designed around the one it had. Never add additives to oil because bla bla bla, followed by; "do you think you know more than the engineers?" Or; "never put a battery on concrete". Some good ones right here in this thread, like K&N doesnt get clogged because dirt passes through (I assume he wasnt serious). Or; most K&N filters suck in hot air from the eng bay (pretty sure he was serious). Comments like that are what propagate the bad rap and make me think of things like religion, but the Tomato story is more fun. From what I recall, the story was due to a/some horses ate Tomato plants and apparently died.

 

Each forum topic is up to reader interpretation, what doesn't differ much from choosing your President.
Still in technical aspects you can find some research and hard lab data, what shows the chart below.
Than how much intelligence it takes to notice if filter sucks the air from engine bay, or is having cold air intake in front grille?

 

The plants are night shades in case ya didnt know. If ya eat the plant yes it can have seriouse effects, same as potatoe plants for example. Heck kidney beans will kill ya quick eat enough of them raw (10 or so I believe) however cooked they are perfectly healthy.

FYI most KandNs I have scene open up the air box and do pull in hot air from engine bay just like classic 60s tech, all modern vehicles pull in air from outside engine bay just FYI. Not sure what religion has to do with it.

 

kajtek
Oh, so you just wrote it out wrong. Good. I thought you were clueless :p I love those hot air intakes, very entertaining. Seems it's usually kids, but it must suck to spend all that $ and time only to end up worse off. I've seen worse though. I too have fallen for crap when I was kid, like going with "suggested" camshaft, intake, carb etc for my car. Now I know why I was sold bs parts, but live and learn.

I'd imagine some/many K&N "kits" that replace the airbox are like that? I've only seen a couple pictures of them in magazines, because the K&N ad caught my eye, and that's the extent of my knowledge. Most all the ones I have seen are lame no-name chinese type stuff from ebay, or full blown redneck jobs which aren't really much different. Those BlackBox intakes for MB seem a bit sketchy imo. Seems like they would let in a fair amt of hot air. And gains are iffy with some saying it's better than stock, some say it's worse, or no change. In most all cases it seems to me the oem airbox is ok and not much can be done excluding a complete redesign you do yourself. Like the BlackBox, which I'd do similar, just better. I have modded a few oem boxes but never tried aftermarket, mostly because I'm too tight to pay for what is no doubt little to no gain. Now if you really want power, get a Tornado Turbine: https://walmart.com/ip/253841225
They work so well I put on on my bicycle. Imagine how many people have bought these? Maybe as many who bought a pet rock...

That filtration chart is very interesting! The K&N did better than I thought! Thanks for posting it So now I wonder if people will shame/flame anyone who uses Purolator?
I wish I could do a test like that because I always wanted to see how my over oiled filter compares. Plus how thicker/stickier oils would work, and if, or by how much, it restricts flow. And of course, test that pre-filter I like so much. Ironically, I have the equipment at work to test it, but not worth getting caught. Tempting though.

 

Looks like you are enjoying yourself here, what is good.
Just a pointer how to interpret the charts.
K & N allows 40% more dust than ****ty Purolator, or 1700% more dust than AC Delco
Is that what you mean by "better than you thought"?

 

last time i saw a chart has been ages so maybe i remember it wrong. or maybe purolator wasnt on it. i dunno