$22 air filter...ripoff?
 

I just paid $22 for a Knecht air filter for my 300TD at a local indy parts shop. I don't think I've ever paid so much for a throwaway air filter. Is this the norm for this part, or did I get ripped off? Why does it cost so much? Is it worth it?

I guess that is not to bad.

Here at fastlane they are between
$12 and $17 but you still need to
add shipping to that so it would
be close to what you paid.

Mind you non are Knecht but
they are as good as.

Louis.

Is it a 300TD non-turbo, or 300TDT? If non-turbo, you should be able to get a Mann air filer for about $15. I'm not sure how much a air filter for a turbo will cost. I almost put a non-turbo air filter in my 300SD, but was alerted that it was not right for turbos. So, from the stealership, they quoted a MB air filter for a turbo would cost around $30. An indy place would probably be about $15 less.
-Joe

Sorry, yes, it's a 300TD turbo. So it sounds like $22 isn't too far off the mark. Thanks!

Thats about what the air filter for my SDL costs. $23 I think.

I tried to go the cheap route with air filters, but the quality difference is huge. I could see stuff had physically gotten past the cheapo, and the one from the dealer had rubber that was softer and thicker, and sat so much nicer. And worked better.

Yea, dealers are a rip-off, plan in advance and buy your fuel, air, oil filters and associated gaskets and washers online; and buy enough stuff to get free shipping ($50 to $100. depending where you go), and buy out of your state to avoid sales tax, and you end up saving big.
Like half the dealer price.

WannaWagon, do you have a CA emissions model? If so $22 for the filter was a good deal. I've seen those filters going for $24 to as much as $36. I paid $24 for my last one.

I bought ONE for mine. $36 with shipping. Never again.

Is this your size?
 

Re: Is this your size?
 

That's definitely not the CA filter.;)

The CA filter looks like this one.

http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/live/B100028564KNE.JPG

Not to sound rude.. but $22 is not "a lot" for an air filter. Mind you you've got a Mercedes of all makes, albeit an old diesel, still the parts and maintanance items could become pricey. However, $22 for any make is not outrageous.. and "rip off" is definately what I wouldn't say it is. My friend recently bought an air filter for his late model Pontiac... and spent I think $45.

I would like to add more on this.. but I am afraid I would start a "flame war". So I will keep it at that.

BS. Just because you own a MB doesn't justify paying alot for ANY part.

Thank god for cost cutters...
 

...I love working on 15 year old cars that people have scrimped and bought "inexpensive" parts for the past 5/10 years. I guess before I get to crazy hehe....$22.00 is a fair price for that application, no matter what the catalog websites will sell for, add another 3 to 4 bucks for shipping, + the interest your'e paying on your credit card. No, just because you own an MB doesn't mean you have to pay a premium for parts...but generally you WILL get what you pay for.

Thank you thank you! I'll be here all week! Thank you!:eek:

Re: Thank god for cost cutters...
 

But if you shop around carefully you get get premium parts for the same price the chain stores charge for their "cheap parts".

Good thing there is the internet!:D

MB parts and OEM parts for Mercedes are usually high quality... thus you PAY for quality. Also, Mercedes in the US is a status symbol.... so you pay for that as well.