I had my 2006 R350 in for Service D last week and was told that Cabin filter needed to be replaced - get this at a cost of $150 - I told them no thanks. I got the filters from Autohausaz at about $42 - now the question part, I took the bottom of the glove box out but cannot locate where the filter is supposed to go - there are 2 of them in the packet I received so if anybody know the location, I would appreciate the help.

 

Hmm... I just got mine but it only has 1 filter - didn't know 2 were required. I haven't looked into installation yet. Post the location once you find out.

Also, did you go to Tyson's Corner for service? I took my car there also, they wanted $500 for Service D and they were basically going to change the oil and kick the tires. I opted out - changed the oil myself. How much did they charge you?

 

I searched my pdf copy of the owner's manual for my 07 R500 and was disappointed that the only mentions of the air filter stated that ventilation could be hampered by the filter becoming dirty or clogged. There is no information on how to replace it or where it is located. One other mention was in regard to having the car washed in an automatic car wash. It warns that the ventilation system should be set on "recirculate" to protect the system: "To protect the filter system, switch the climate control system (page 218) or the automatic climate control system (page 232) to air recirculation mode."

That suggests that the filter may be installed and replaced through a beneath-the-dash method (Change to comfortable clothes. Move front seats to rear-most position and recline seatbacks as needed. Enter vehicle so as to have head and shoulders near floorboards. Lie on left or right side depending on which side of the vehicle you enter. Be sure to have flashlight handy. Obtain assistance of agile teenager if over the age of 60 or otherwise not physically flexible.)

I have had good luck calling MBUSA "tech support" - Customer Service - at (800) 367-6372 with certain tech questions, e.g., how to reset the tire pressure monitor. Their personnel have always been helpful. Once, when I was getting flashing lights and dinging from the dash of my second-hand SL, the tech guessed correctly that I had a concealed radar detector installed! My wife had accidently turned it on by brushing against a switch hidden on the lower left edge of the instrument panel.

Another resource is the Mercedes Benz Club of America. I belong to the Greater Washington Section (GWS). Our website is www.gws-mbca.org. To my knowledge, I'm the only active member with an R-class. However, there are shops who sponsor club activities who have lower labor rates than the local dealers and who may give free technical advice to a customer. Membership also allows the dealer to give a 5% discount on service costs.

JR

 

Probably depends on your type of A/C. I have base model A/C without the rear temp selection that mimicks the front one. To be specific, check your option code list - my A/C is code 580 and yes I have two filters.

You have to remove the glove compartment - including the side guard seen when the pass. door is open.

The filters are just above the blower motor - you have to remove the cover and then slide them out - and in with the new ones.

 

I had not been checking the forum but it seems I will be changing the filters tomorrow as per directions. I had the bottom out but did not feel lilke taking out the glove box .. which was going to be my next thing .. thanks for confirming the location. I take my vehicle to MB of Alexandria who quoted me $350 for Service D. I have been to Arlington once who was bait and switch .. different price on phone and a lot more when I got there and Tyson's who are simply crooks .. as they tacked on things on invoice after saying one thing and did not wash my car when I went to pickup-- I stick with MB of Alex as they seem to be more honest of the lot.

 

UPDATE: Just replaced the filters - took about 20 minutes. They are indeed behind the glove box. Here is how you do it

1. You have to first take out the side panel which is to the right of the glove box, to take it out first pull a little bit of the rubber molding which runs along the door edge by the side panel and the pull out the panel starting from the front. Takes a little bit of force.

2. If you have a CD changer then move it to the up position at this point.

3. Now there are three screws on the bottom of the glove box towards the front. There are two more by the side panel that you took out in step 1 and when you open the gove box, there are three more along the top edge.

4. Once all the screws are out, pull the glove box a little from the right side and then unplug the connector which connects to the inside light of the glovebox. Now pull the glovebox downwards. The left side of the glovebox has a pretty secure catch and requires a bit of brute force to pull it. I did not want to put too much pressure as I did not want to break it so that took the longest.

5. Once you have the glovebox out, you will see behind it and above the blower, a rectangular compartment. The front panel slides to the left and comes out. Inside there are two filters. Notice the direction of the air flow for the filters when you take it out. The arrow faces down. Replace the filters, slide the panel back and reverse the steps to put back the glovebox.

That should do it .. the filters were available at Autohausaz at about $42 whereas dealer wanted $150 to replace. Not bad for 20 minutes of work. I am sure it would be 10 minutes next time.

 

pictures?

 

Sorry .. didn't have the camera handy so did not take the pictures. Hopefully still helpful.

 

That's not a catch on the left. There's a screw there. It's almost impossible to see, but if you pull the plastic panel down and look up you may be able to see it. I didn't know about the screw so I pulled hard enough to tear the plastic out from around the screw. Not until the glove-box was out was I able to see the screw. Even then, I couldn't quite get it back in after.

 

Hope this helps !!!

 

Oh man! Two days too late!! That PDF could have saved me a trip to the cardiologist and chiropractor.

And the hidden screw I was referring to in my last post is Step 11 in the PDF.

 

I have a 2006 R350 and reading thru your post was very helpful. Also noticed another post (below) that had the access from the hood. Planning on trying that first before removing the glove box. Thanks again for posting the detailed pdf.
http://m.www.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=346206

Thanks,
Vuv

 

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!