Quote:
Originally posted by manny
Huhhhhhhh ?????
You still have to suck air into the engine, before you can compress it.
If anything, the amount of air required for a supercharged or turbocharged engine is even greater than on a naturally aspirated engine. Hence any method of reducing air intake restrictions would be of benefit. 
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This is true, but why would MB strangle a pressurized engine? Isn't the point of the supe to develop more HP? I have yet to see a modern engine that makes big, even noticable, gains with the replacement of the air filter.
On the 189HP engine, increasing it to a whopping 192hp won't be felt.
Think about it this way:
Suppose the C230 Coupe weighs 3200lbs for the sake of math. The power:weight ratio of the 189hp car is 16.931 Pounds per HP. Now take that same car at 192 ponies (engines don't make more power when "moving" as opposed to on a dyno, 3HP is 3HP) and your power:weight ratio is 16.667 pounds per hp.
Suppose the driver weighs 200lbs. Your power weight ratios are:
Stock: 17.99
K&N: 17.71
Suppose instead of buying a K&N, our 200lb driver loses 40lbs.
Stock with skinny driver: 17.77.
Not only will the car be every bit as quick as the K&N equipped car, the driver will be healthier!!
Now, the K&N is a washable element, so it has that advantage. It that's the thing you want, go for it. But, too many people buy the filter on the claims of drastic performance improvements. 99.99% of the time, it just ain't so.