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While changing the air filters on my wife's ML550 yesterday, I noticed that the driver's side air inlet hose was coming apart. The flexible portion of the hose is a series of connected fabric-like segments, and there was a complete split of about 2/3rds of the junction of two of the segments. With such a gaping hole, that side of the engine was sucking in hot air from under the hood. I've got a new one on order (yes, I could have kludged some duct tape around it, but that's not befitting the masterpiece 4.6L bi-turbo engine), but why MB felt the need to change from the virtually indestructible all-plastic inlet tubes of the W164 generation ML550s and switch to a flimsy felt-like fabric tubes on the W166 generation remains an enigma clothed in a mystery.
Biodegradability? Mercedes seems to like that idea, particularly as it relates to wire insulation. Maybe they gave the idea a go with fabric air inlet ducts.
Just as follow-up, my replacement inlets arrived and I installed them yesterday evening. Here's the challenge with the old ones:
And here are the new replacement inlets:
My suggestion is that if your W166 has fabric-style inlet tubes, given their age, it's probably worthwhile inspecting them for deterioration. If they have split like mine were, your engine will be drawing in hot air from the engine compartment and not cooler outside air.
yuuuppp i think alot of us have gone through this and also questioned the thought process on putting these on such a high performance/expensive engine... i do believe a lot of members have done a spectre plastic replacement from amazon.. me, im more of an original part guy so i just got some from my buddy at mercedes for a discounted price... regardless its annoying and i feared id suck in some debris when mine collapsed...
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
