Flaps in front of the intake tubes?
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Toronto/Mississauga/Moscow
2005 Mercedes G55 AMG
Flaps in front of the intake tubes?
A couple of days ago I got rid of the those plastic flaps/borders in front of the intake tubes that lead to the filter boxes. Driving the car for a couple of days now, it feels a bit more responsive. However it might be just the placebo effect. My question is however, I know a few of you did the same, are there any problems with getting rid of these plastic borders? It wont ruin the engine If I drive it in the rain, right? 
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From: Southern Cali (Ontario)
here is a another tip...
look at your front grill (top corner & passenger side).. you will notice 2 sections of the grill are covered with hard plastic.. basically blocking air going directly to the intake tube.
Used a shard blade and I was able to cut those pieces cleanly. The cuts were made from the back of the grill.
I also removed the plastic cover on the hood vents. Almost 6 months ago.. and no issues with rain, car washes or even additional dirt on the engine. Just takes off the screws.
look at your front grill (top corner & passenger side).. you will notice 2 sections of the grill are covered with hard plastic.. basically blocking air going directly to the intake tube.
Used a shard blade and I was able to cut those pieces cleanly. The cuts were made from the back of the grill.
I also removed the plastic cover on the hood vents. Almost 6 months ago.. and no issues with rain, car washes or even additional dirt on the engine. Just takes off the screws.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,466
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From: Southern Cali (Ontario)
A couple of days ago I got rid of the those plastic flaps/borders in front of the intake tubes that lead to the filter boxes. Driving the car for a couple of days now, it feels a bit more responsive. However it might be just the placebo effect. My question is however, I know a few of you did the same, are there any problems with getting rid of these plastic borders? It wont ruin the engine If I drive it in the rain, right?
Let's think this through..
if water was to get in to your intake tubes... it will need to go through your air filter.. if moisture happpens to get through.. by the time it gets to the throttle body is evaporating.. and by the time is makes it to your pistons.. is gone.
You would need a hose connected to your intake tube to really damage your engine.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,466
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From: Southern Cali (Ontario)
here is a another tip...
look at your front grill (top corner & passenger side).. you will notice 2 sections of the grill are covered with hard plastic.. basically blocking air going directly to the intake tube.
Used a shard blade and I was able to cut those pieces cleanly. The cuts were made from the back of the grill.
I also removed the plastic cover on the hood vents. Almost 6 months ago.. and no issues with rain, car washes or even additional dirt on the engine. Just takes off the screws.
look at your front grill (top corner & passenger side).. you will notice 2 sections of the grill are covered with hard plastic.. basically blocking air going directly to the intake tube.
Used a shard blade and I was able to cut those pieces cleanly. The cuts were made from the back of the grill.
I also removed the plastic cover on the hood vents. Almost 6 months ago.. and no issues with rain, car washes or even additional dirt on the engine. Just takes off the screws.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Seattle
05 E55
If this was so simple, why didn't the manufacturer think of this? With all their expertise of building hundreds of thousands of cars for years and years, hours and hours in wind tunnels, millions in R&D and they forgot to remove those little flaps? Or did they?
Just throwing that out there.
Just throwing that out there.
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From: North Bergen, NJ
germans
If this was so simple, why didn't the manufacturer think of this? With all their expertise of building hundreds of thousands of cars for years and years, hours and hours in wind tunnels, millions in R&D and they forgot to remove those little flaps? Or did they?
Just throwing that out there.
Just throwing that out there.
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haters crazy
If this was so simple, why didn't the manufacturer think of this? With all their expertise of building hundreds of thousands of cars for years and years, hours and hours in wind tunnels, millions in R&D and they forgot to remove those little flaps? Or did they?
Just throwing that out there.
Just throwing that out there.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,030
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E63 AMG
here is a another tip...
look at your front grill (top corner & passenger side).. you will notice 2 sections of the grill are covered with hard plastic.. basically blocking air going directly to the intake tube.
Used a shard blade and I was able to cut those pieces cleanly. The cuts were made from the back of the grill.
I also removed the plastic cover on the hood vents. Almost 6 months ago.. and no issues with rain, car washes or even additional dirt on the engine. Just takes off the screws.
look at your front grill (top corner & passenger side).. you will notice 2 sections of the grill are covered with hard plastic.. basically blocking air going directly to the intake tube.
Used a shard blade and I was able to cut those pieces cleanly. The cuts were made from the back of the grill.
I also removed the plastic cover on the hood vents. Almost 6 months ago.. and no issues with rain, car washes or even additional dirt on the engine. Just takes off the screws.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 463
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From: South Florida
2014 E63, Cobra replica, 68 Camaro, 66 Chevy II SS, Z4 BMW, Honda Element, Birel 125cc Shifter Kart.
the only way water can ruin your engine.. if it mixes with your oil.
Let's think this through..
if water was to get in to your intake tubes... it will need to go through your air filter.. if moisture happpens to get through.. by the time it gets to the throttle body is evaporating.. and by the time is makes it to your pistons.. is gone.
You would need a hose connected to your intake tube to really damage your engine.
Let's think this through..
if water was to get in to your intake tubes... it will need to go through your air filter.. if moisture happpens to get through.. by the time it gets to the throttle body is evaporating.. and by the time is makes it to your pistons.. is gone.
You would need a hose connected to your intake tube to really damage your engine.
I've seen two ricer motors destroyed by hydro locking the engine with water picked up through a modified intake placed below the bumper. They tried to drive through standing water that was just a little too deep and instantly sucked up enough water to kill the engine and bend a rod.
Doubt it could happen to our 55's by removing the intake flaps but it can be done if you try hard enough
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Feb 2003
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haters crazy
Umm, not exactly.
I've seen two ricer motors destroyed by hydro locking the engine with water picked up through a modified intake placed below the bumper. They tried to drive through standing water that was just a little too deep and instantly sucked up enough water to kill the engine and bend a rod.
Doubt it could happen to our 55's by removing the intake flaps but it can be done if you try hard enough
I've seen two ricer motors destroyed by hydro locking the engine with water picked up through a modified intake placed below the bumper. They tried to drive through standing water that was just a little too deep and instantly sucked up enough water to kill the engine and bend a rod.
Doubt it could happen to our 55's by removing the intake flaps but it can be done if you try hard enough
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 463
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From: South Florida
2014 E63, Cobra replica, 68 Camaro, 66 Chevy II SS, Z4 BMW, Honda Element, Birel 125cc Shifter Kart.
The discusion was about the possibility of water entering the intake and damaging the engine. I agree it's unlikely under the scenario being discussed but it doesn't take a garden hose to kill your engine.
Just passing on knowledge gained at someone elses expense. The lesson being...don't place your intake down low in the car where it can suck up water.
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From: NJ
2005 E55
Not really.
The discusion was about the possibility of water entering the intake and damaging the engine. I agree it's unlikely under the scenario being discussed but it doesn't take a garden hose to kill your engine.
Just passing on knowledge gained at someone elses expense. The lesson being...don't place your intake down low in the car where it can suck up water.
The discusion was about the possibility of water entering the intake and damaging the engine. I agree it's unlikely under the scenario being discussed but it doesn't take a garden hose to kill your engine.
Just passing on knowledge gained at someone elses expense. The lesson being...don't place your intake down low in the car where it can suck up water.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 402
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From: Houston
E55
You're second guessing a bunch of engineers here. You paid them $$$$ to design the best car possible......it's why you get a Mercedes in the first place
There's some reason those deflectors are there.
There's some reason those deflectors are there.
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From: Brisbane, Australia
2003 E55
That may be true but their design brief was for the car to cope under almost unimaginable, worldwide, conditions and without performance being the priority.
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From: Phoenix
E55
Second guessing Mercedes' engineers' choices is the very way AMG began.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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Posts: 1,880
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From: Seattle
05 E55
eh, went ahead and cut the flaps a few weeks ago.
Now I'm thinking to fabricate an L shaped funnel to route the air better into the intake tubes. Has anyone done something like this?
OR
More extreme, but, replace our front grill with a mesh grill...
Now I'm thinking to fabricate an L shaped funnel to route the air better into the intake tubes. Has anyone done something like this?
OR
More extreme, but, replace our front grill with a mesh grill...
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: San Jose
08 E 6point3-sold- 11 caddy cts-v-sold, 2012 E63 Palladium Silver
flaps
there is actually a compnay that makes ram scoops for our cars, rpi i think it is.
Alot of times manafactures do stuff like this to limit horse power to sell higher end cars. Look at the c63, there should be no reason why the car cant push 507 hp like the e63 and cls 63.
If the lower end cars with the same engine produce the smae HP, people would end up with the lower end cars for the HP
Alot of times manafactures do stuff like this to limit horse power to sell higher end cars. Look at the c63, there should be no reason why the car cant push 507 hp like the e63 and cls 63.
If the lower end cars with the same engine produce the smae HP, people would end up with the lower end cars for the HP
