Curious 300D Air Cleaner Setup
 

While perusing the MBZ diesel offerings on ebay (always looking for the rust free 300TD with blown motor within walking distance to pick up) I came accross a 1985 300D with the air cleaner mounted in the front corner of the engine compartment instead of atop the turbo. Looked like a fine engineering solution to the pesky rattle of the air filter housing, and the engine looks even better than usual with the turbo and intake manifold exposed. Is this a factory setup? A California setup? An aftermarket mod? It sure looks great, and would block the A/C reciever /drier but not interfere with much else. Has anyone seen or had such a setup?

Doug

here's the thread to the air filter query
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=6330&item=2434764991

I was at first being cagey thinking that I needed this car, which would make another benz diesel to add to the four I already spend way too much time maintaining, but I do like the look of the engine compartment!

Doug

1985 CA car; used to have a trap oxidizer before it was removed.

Yep. That's a standard California setup in 1985. The air filter setup is entirely different in addition to it having a few other emission mods that later appeared on the 124. If you look closely you can see the trap is still in place. On the 123 it's below the turbo. In the photo of the right side of the engine you can just see part of it behind the black A/C hose.

Thanks for the explanation. I do like the way it looks, but that is perhaps from being so used to seeing the standard federal turbo model. What was their idea behind changing the air filter setup?

Doug

They needed to make room for the trap oxidizer. The trap sits below and slightly behind the turbo so the turbo had to be moved up to make room. There isn't enough clearance under the hood to fit the standard air filter housing so they moved it forward. The good news is you don't have the annoying problem of weak filter housing mounts. The bad news is it takes a special air filter that only fits that model and costs about twice as much as the standard filter.

All the more reason to modify your intake setup! :D
Likn to the thread:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/63464-air-intake-mod.html?perpage=15&highlight=intake%20mod