Aside from the cold air intake issues, the filter arrangement that MB proscribes is for a reason. Other filters (including K&N) allow more than enough impurities to intrude and foul the MAS in short order...not an alternative I would even consider...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car