nightmare experience with BMC Air Filter
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Super Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 583
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From: South Florida
2019 AMG GT63S, 2020 Ferrari 488 PISTA
nightmare experience with BMC Air Filter
All of the sudden my car just broke down on the road. I had it towed to the Mercedes dealership to later find out the reason it broke down was due to the fact the my BMC air filters over time started to disintegrate causing pieces of the air filters to fall into my engine. To make a long story short, the damages to my engine was over $5,000.00 and not covered by warranty since it was an aftermarket part. I really don’t know what to do at this point. Any suggestions??
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
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E63
All of the sudden my car just broke down on the road. I had it towed to the Mercedes dealership to later find out the reason it broke down was due to the fact the my BMC air filters over time started to disintegrate causing pieces of the air filters to fall into my engine. To make a long story short, the damages to my engine was over $5,000.00 and not covered by warranty since it was an aftermarket part. I really don’t know what to do at this point. Any suggestions??
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Joined: May 2009
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Black '10 E63
A google search shows others have had similar issues with their BMC filters. What exactly disintegrated? Was it the cotton filter material or the silicone gasket molding around the filter? How long have you owned the filters?
Either way, that's terrible this has happened. If you were the purchaser of the filters, I would absolutely call whomever you purchased the filter from or BMC themselves. BMC is fully aware they had an issue with certain production runs of their filters.
Either way, that's terrible this has happened. If you were the purchaser of the filters, I would absolutely call whomever you purchased the filter from or BMC themselves. BMC is fully aware they had an issue with certain production runs of their filters.
Last edited by sikm3; Sep 15, 2012 at 11:43 AM.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 583
Likes: 14
From: South Florida
2019 AMG GT63S, 2020 Ferrari 488 PISTA
A google search shows others have had similar issues with their BMC filters. What exactly disintegrated? Was it the cotton filter material or the silicone gasket molding around the filter? How long have you owned the filters?
Either way, that's terrible this has happened. If you were the purchaser of the filters, I would absolutely call whomever you purchased the filter from or BMC themselves. BMC is fully aware they had an issue with certain production runs of their filters.
Either way, that's terrible this has happened. If you were the purchaser of the filters, I would absolutely call whomever you purchased the filter from or BMC themselves. BMC is fully aware they had an issue with certain production runs of their filters.
The (RED) molding around the filter, over time started to melt with the heat creating a WAX LIKE goo that clogged up my engine. I really dont know what to do at this piont.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,279
Likes: 58
From: OC
i drive them all, fast and hard
filters dont really give more than , what 10-11 hp at most right????
i remember back in the days i put a neuspeed cone in my jetta III, cool sound but didnt go any faster...
i suppose if i was gonna change filters in my car, id go with K and N, atleast they have been around....everythng else is a copycat....never even really heard of bmc
i remember back in the days i put a neuspeed cone in my jetta III, cool sound but didnt go any faster...
i suppose if i was gonna change filters in my car, id go with K and N, atleast they have been around....everythng else is a copycat....never even really heard of bmc
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Member
Joined: May 2009
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Black '10 E63
If it were me, I'd contact BMC. Show them pictures of the deteriorated filters and the receipt for the engine repair. Their filters are covered under warranty but I doubt at this point you want replacement filters. There's always the legal route and hope they cough up some money towards your repair bill. Like I said, BMC is very aware their filters are doing this. Best of luck and let us know how it turns out!
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Planet Earth
2006 CLS500 - Iridium Silver w/ AMG Sportline
http://www.bmcairfilters.com/warrant...g_pg747_5.aspx
7.3 Whenever the existence of a defect is acknowledged, BMC will proceed to the replacement of the defective product at no expense to the client. Nothing else will be required from BMC because coverage under warranty is limited only to the replacement of the defective material.
Sounds like you're going to have to lawyer up.
7.3 Whenever the existence of a defect is acknowledged, BMC will proceed to the replacement of the defective product at no expense to the client. Nothing else will be required from BMC because coverage under warranty is limited only to the replacement of the defective material.
Sounds like you're going to have to lawyer up.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 796
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From: Raleigh NC
2007 E63, 2006 C55
RE: BMC Filters
I had BMC's on my V12 SL. Made in Italy, excellent quality, and made a big difference on a tuned blown engine. At $250 for 2 filters, I expected excellence. Cleaned them annually, never had any problems with them in 2.5 years. My BMC's came with a 2 year warranty, don't know if that would apply to filters self destructing and damaging an engine, but I'd certainly get in touch with them and raise cain if they had.
For what it's worth, I have K&N on my 07 E63, also excellent quality, but they probably amount to about 10 HP over clean OEM filters on the M156 engine. I went with K&N mostly because they were less then half of what BMC's were, and looked to flow about the same. No issues with them at all to date.
Good luck talking to BMC.
For what it's worth, I have K&N on my 07 E63, also excellent quality, but they probably amount to about 10 HP over clean OEM filters on the M156 engine. I went with K&N mostly because they were less then half of what BMC's were, and looked to flow about the same. No issues with them at all to date.
Good luck talking to BMC.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
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e63 2010 W212
Gosh.. crazy... amazing how much of a screw up that filter was! Gosh!
Good luck!
At least you got it fixed. Sucks though! I guess you'll never get another BMC! Hopefully they'll get you another car!
Good luck!
At least you got it fixed. Sucks though! I guess you'll never get another BMC! Hopefully they'll get you another car!
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 49
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From: Los Angeles
W211 E55
Sorry to hear about what happened.
Buy K&N. They are the biggest filter manufacture & probably have very good quality control.
Playing devil's advocate here. No offense but I would like to know if there is any back story before fully spreading the word. Maybe fake BMC filters on eBay? Installed improperly? The part was not for your specific model?
Buy K&N. They are the biggest filter manufacture & probably have very good quality control.
Playing devil's advocate here. No offense but I would like to know if there is any back story before fully spreading the word. Maybe fake BMC filters on eBay? Installed improperly? The part was not for your specific model?
Last edited by SamBoler; Sep 23, 2012 at 02:32 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2012
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AMG SLS White
Very interesting, thank you for sharing. I run BMCs in all my cars so guess what my tech will be doing this weekend?
Again sorry for your loss, sad we can't even count on aftermarket filters these days
Again sorry for your loss, sad we can't even count on aftermarket filters these days
Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 177
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Black '10 E63
I'm running AFE Pro Dry's as well and wondered the same. I'm beginning to wonder what the life expectancy really is on some of these after market filters especially given the high heat our engines maintain. Some say lifetime (K&N), some are rather quiet but lead you to believe that with regular maintenance they would last a long time....whatever that means (BMC, AFE, et al). Not sure if anyone can comment on the heat resistance of the plastic molding surrounding the filter.
Super Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 569
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From: Lynnwood,WA
07 E63
Old thread, don't care.
How long were the filters on the car? How would the interior of the intake get hot enough the melt the filter?!? I ran BMC filters in my M3 for close to three years and had zero issues. Could this have been prevented by proper maintenance?!? This sucks but BMC is a very high quality product, I can't see this being a question of quality had to be some contributing factors.
How long were the filters on the car? How would the interior of the intake get hot enough the melt the filter?!? I ran BMC filters in my M3 for close to three years and had zero issues. Could this have been prevented by proper maintenance?!? This sucks but BMC is a very high quality product, I can't see this being a question of quality had to be some contributing factors.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Southern Cali (Ontario)
same issue with "green filter" with my c32.. they were poorly made.
Since then K&N in all my cars, including the Land Cruiser.
FYI: Airboxes from AMG M157 and M278 are the same.. hope you don't have pay premium becuase they are for AMG model.
The OEM filters are way too think.. they block air flow. While I do like OEM relialibity, the K&N are great option. They are slightly thinner and great quality.
Since then K&N in all my cars, including the Land Cruiser.
FYI: Airboxes from AMG M157 and M278 are the same.. hope you don't have pay premium becuase they are for AMG model.
The OEM filters are way too think.. they block air flow. While I do like OEM relialibity, the K&N are great option. They are slightly thinner and great quality.
