E36 versus E320 Air Box Questions (W124/M104)

[Greg in Oz]

Can anyone provide information regarding the airbox details for the W124 E36 AMG?

Whilst servicing my father's '93 E320 coupe, I noticed how small in diameter the intake to the air box is. I am amazed this car performs as well as it does with the intake to the air box only being about 50mm (2") in diameter. The intake pipe on my less powerful 300TE is more like 80mm in diameter and even that on my 190E 2.3 would match that on the E320. On the E320 cold air is drawn from a cover behind the right-hand headlight, through the small bell-mouthed intake which then gradually opens up to about 100mm diameter over its length within the air box. The air then travels up through the filter and into another bell-mouthed opening of about 75mm diameter before leaving the airbox to travel through the HFM air flow meter and on to the throttle body.

What diameter intakes to the air box are fitted to other HFM M104 powered cars, especially the AMG E36 and C36 models (and in particular the W124 E36)? The tapered intake for the air box on the E320 can be removed from the air box, which makes me question if the AMG models used one of larger diameter. I cannot believe the AMG models could have got by with such a small intake. If a larger intake is used, on the W124 E36 at least, a different cover behind the headlight would also be required. Also puzzling is how sufficient air can find its way around the headlight into this cover, unless it is drawn from behind the bumper.

Can anyone shed any light on this? I would be interested to see pictures of the intake and internals of the air box from a W124 E36. If anyone is interested I can take photos of the same on the W124 E320.

[AustinsCE]

I found a pic of the CE 3.6 which is probably the same as the E36

[Greg in Oz]

Thanks for those pics. Most of that looks the same as the E320 except I suspect the duct over the valve cover between the HFM air flow sensor and the throttle body is larger in cross sectional area, especially given it must be different to the standard M104 item with the "3.6" moulded into it.

The area of particular interest is the air box (air filter box) itself and the duct on the intake (dirty) side of the filter which lives in the lower section of the air box. This becomes visible with the air box opened and the filter removed. Also of interest is the cover over the rear of the headlight in front of the air box. Can anyone get pics or provide dimensional details of these items on a 3.6 AMG version (preferably a W124 E36)?

Over the weekend I will take pics of the same items on the E320 and post them here next week.

Thanks,
Greg

[Greg in Oz]

I measured the diameter of the intake to airbox at 50mm (opens up to almost 100mm within airbox) and the outlet from airbox to airflow meter at 70mm.

Pictures of the engine and airbox from the '93 E320 coupe (Aus delivered) are attached.

Would like to see equivalent dimensions and detailed pictures from a 3.6 AMG version.

[2phast]

The big different with the C36 air box is that AMG cut a hole in the bottom of it and ran a duct down to the air intake (for the cooling of the passenger side engine mount) this was to increase airflow into the box. It also used a different air filter, one that was notched on the end so it did not directly cover up the new air intake duct. The HFM intake to the MAS also has a larger internal diamater.

[Greg in Oz]

Thanks 2phast,

Do you know if AMG did the same for the airbox in the W124 E36? From what I can determine the W124 and W202 airboxes were different. Photos of the W124 E36 engine bay show the visible (top) section of the airbox to be the same as that for the E280 and E320. The only visible difference in the photos is the larger cross section of the duct between the airflow meter and throttle body.

Greg

[ke6dcj]

Originally Posted by Greg in Oz

Thanks 2phast,

Do you know if AMG did the same for the airbox in the W124 E36? From what I can determine the W124 and W202 airboxes were different. Photos of the W124 E36 engine bay show the visible (top) section of the airbox to be the same as that for the E280 and E320. The only visible difference in the photos is the larger cross section of the duct between the airflow meter and throttle body.

Greg

From the data I gathered, and looking at the E36 fiche, the airbox is the same.

Since I have a C36 engine in my wagon, I decided to add a second duct below just like the stock C36 airbox, which uses the same airfilter element as the 1995 W124 turbo-diesel!

:-) neil

[Greg in Oz]

Thanks Neil,

I had a look at photos of your 3.6 TE on your website and your airbox appears to be the same although the duct across the top of your engine appears to be a different one again (compared to the E320 and E36).

Regarding the airbox, it just seems odd that AMG chose to modify it with a second intake duct rather than replacing the existing small diameter removable one with one of larger diameter. Maybe the problem was that airflow around the headlamp was too restrictive. Am I correct to assume the internals of your airbox look the same as the photos I posted except for the additional intake?

By the way, your TE looks great and your mods have been performed very nicely. You were keen to undertake the conversion from a K-Jet M103 to the HFM M104. The E320 coupe I refer to in these posts is my father's so my interest in all this is purely academic (unless I decide to purchase it from him one day). For now, my cars (including a very tidy 300TE) are those featured in photos over several pages here http://www.benzworld.org/gallery/showlink.asp?parentid=50&catid=2007&subname=Greg%20in%20Oz

Thanks,
Greg

[ke6dcj]

Originally Posted by Greg in Oz

Thanks Neil,

I had a look at photos of your 3.6 TE on your website and your airbox appears to be the same although the duct across the top of your engine appears to be a different one again (compared to the E320 and E36).



Am I correct to assume the internals of your airbox look the same as the photos I posted except for the additional intake?



Thanks,
Greg

My donor C36 was an early C36 FIA Medical car, so it did not have the "3.6"-stamped cross-pipe, but the cross-pipe from a M104-powered W140.

I did find and installed a "3.6" stamped cross-pipe, I just need to post the picture. Also, I've done a complete post-1993 facelift to the hood and side-panels.

Yes, the internals of the airbox are EXACTLY the same minus the additional duct.

:-) neil

[Greg in Oz]

Originally Posted by ke6dcj

Also, I've done a complete post-1993 facelift to the hood and side-panels.

:-) neil

Neil,

I also notice it appears you have fitted E500 headlights. I would love to have 500E headlights in my '90 300TE for the additional high beams (the fog lights are rarely needed in Oz). It is difficult to justify replacing perfectly good "euro" lights (standard fitment to Oz deliveries) and also nobody can confirm that true 500E lenses (ie. with additional high beams, not fogs) are available in a right-hand-drive version. I am aware that whilst there was no RHD 500E, some are used on UK roads with suitable headlight lenses. Anyway, this is a subject for a different thread.

Thanks,
Greg

[neilg23]

Hi

Anyone still interested in any photos etc, my wife has an E36 CAB, had it from new and its still mint!

[Greg in Oz]

Your wife is very fortunate to own such a desirable car!

If you get the opportunity to post photos of the area discussed in this thread, I would be very interested.

Thanks,
Greg

[LINDS HANSON]

Hi Greg, we had a E36T in for work last week and the air filter box and intake are just standard E320 parts only the crosspipe was different, the exhaust centre silencer and tail silencer had larger pipework and bore AMG ID plaques but standard tail pipe, Regards Linds

[Greg in Oz]

Thanks Linds,

Amazing to think that so much power is available through such a small diameter airbox intake.

Greg

[e36c_amg]

Originally Posted by neilg23

Hi

Anyone still interested in any photos etc, my wife has an E36 CAB, had it from new and its still mint!

Send me some photos,please!Finally some one with E36C AMG!!!