Cold air intake question. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mike690003 · #1 08-08-2003, 10:45 PM

After that heated debate on whether or not a 300E would benefit from a cold air intake, I want to ask one question.

Even though 2Phast removed his cold air intake...Would the cold air intake Mod work If a heat shield was used on the cold air intake instead of the just the open element filter???

Just a thought....

MTI · #2 08-08-2003, 10:54 PM

It would help, but even in a heat shield, the air that gets into the filter is likely to be from the engine compartment. I'm still trying to devise an insulated box that pulls air from somewhere on he bumper cover, below the bumper insert. The easiest way was to gut the fog lights and replace it with a filter screen, but I switched to euros.

Benzmeister · #3 08-08-2003, 11:05 PM

Cold air intakes have been an interest of mine for a long time. I have installed them in several cars, including my last ride a bimmer and even had the ecu reprogrammed to make better use of the cold dense air. IMHO the effects of these system is dubious at best, heat shields can and probably will cut down on the air flow. I have a 99 C280, i replaced the stock filter with a K&N, then disconnected the battery for 15 min, this is suppose to reset your cpu back to default, but keep in mind according to what model you drive your power window, sunroof synchro get screwed up also the ASP is so equipped also needs to be reset. Back to the filter. My C280's air horn is mounted into the front next to the right headlight and it's a short trip to the airbox. I noticed a slight seat of the pants performance increase with the K&N after a few days of driving and considering how the intake horn is set up with the air box, you can't get much colder air then that. Almost forgot I did notice a increase in fuel economy about 1 to 3 mpg according to how far, fast, and traffic was. But lets face it if it is 95 degrees outside, your going to get 95 degree air into your intake. Tne better plan is to increase the air flow to the TB and that's what the K&N does well. According what type of car your driving and the length and location of the air horn, wrap a piece of insulationaround the horn, foil type and tape it secure, get a K&N replacement filter, you just built a CAI.

mike690003 · #4 08-08-2003, 11:11 PM

The 300E has a lot more room in the engine bay for a cold air intake than the 190E.

Would ceramic coating the airbox keep the air cooler???

2phast · #5 08-09-2003, 12:54 AM

The engine bays in both the W124 and W201 2.6l are amost the same with roughly the same amount of clearance and issues with fabricating a cold air intake.

Look at these pictures, this is what AMG has done on SOME of its W201 and W124's.

W124

Since AMG used this design in the past, that there must be an improvement over the stock design. I am a bit puzzled why the earlier AMG vehicles used this design but not the co-op AMG/MB W201 3.2l.

I may try this design and see what, if any improvements can be gained.

andy day · #6 08-09-2003, 11:15 AM

I have no affiliation with these people, but you might want to have a look at www.performancedubai.com as they have a few ideas on keeping the under bonnet temperatures down. I was somewhat interested in the exhaust wrap.

Benzmeister · #7 08-09-2003, 12:23 PM

Just looked over their site quickly, there air tube cover kit is interesting. Like I said in my post cover the tube with insulation would help. I think this would work on my stock 99 C280, from the airbox back, I'm going to take some measurements and then see how much this product is and maybe give it a try.

Benzmeister · #8 08-09-2003, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike690003
The 300E has a lot more room in the engine bay for a cold air intake than the 190E.

Would ceramic coating the airbox keep the air cooler???

You really need to insulate beyond the airbox right to the connection to the Throttle Body.

mike690003 · #9 08-09-2003, 04:58 PM

What about adding this to the cold air intake elbow:

Benzmeister · #10 08-09-2003, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike690003
What about adding this to the cold air intake elbow:

I mentioned that in my previous post, I went to send a message to the company about the price and noticed it is in the United Emirates? But you could the same thing with some pipe insulation or if you could find some thin insulation with aluminum facing to reflect the heat.

On Horsepower TV they did some bolt on's on a newer Chevy Impala, the CAI added 8 HP, they also added a bored out throttle body which only added 2 HP. When they added the Free Flow exhaust it added almost 10HP. They also tried one of those tornado devices, didn't add any HP at all.

By the way how do you post pictures on this board??

2phast · #11 08-09-2003, 06:40 PM

Actually the pictures are not posted here, there linked. I have my own server, so there is where all my pictures are hosted. If you want to link pictures, you need a server to store them on. I know there are a few free ones but can't help you there.

Benzmeister · #12 08-09-2003, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2phast
Actually the pictures are not posted here, there linked. I have my own server, so there is where all my pictures are hosted. If you want to link pictures, you need a server to store them on. I know there are a few free ones but can't help you there.

My son have a server, I'll set it up with his Thanks!

Flash Gordon · #13 08-20-2003, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike690003
After that heated debate on whether or not a 300E would benefit from a cold air intake, I want to ask one question.

Even though 2Phast removed his cold air intake...Would the cold air intake Mod work If a heat shield was used on the cold air intake instead of the just the open element filter???

Just a thought....

Just about any car would benefit from a CAI that's properly installed. To get the full benefit, you really should have the filter installed some where near the bumper to get the full effect of cold air. Like I stated in the other thread, it's such a small market for MB cars that I don't know anyone is making it. If you have a Bimmer or certain Japanese cars(like my Acura), you can get it easily. I really like the performance increase and the improved mileage of my Acura

Benzmeister · #14 08-20-2003, 04:02 PM

There is a person on the MBCA board who sells custom CAI and Performances intakes his email address is bombtrack@sbcglobal.net His company is called Paradigm, they are cut from t6 aluminum and have a K&N type filter. Email him and he will send you pictures. If you are a member of the MBCA go to the Performance section of their Forum, he has some pics posted. I'll see if I can get them to a jpeg on my computer and post them later on.

psfred · #15 09-14-2003, 08:23 PM

I don't know of very many fuel injected cars with intake air preheaters anymore -- main rational for heating the intake air was to prevent icing in carbs set up for very high atomization and efficiency (you can have good atomization or anti-icing, not both, I think).

All the MB D, K, and KE jectronic systems are configured to pull mostly oustide air in, and in my personal humble opinion, could be called cold air intake systems. The M117 does pull in some hot air from the oil cooler, but I suspect the majority come in through the vent under the hood around the ECU.

When you figure in filter efficiency and engine longevity (for which a very good air filter is required) I don't see how one would gain much by messing about with the intake unless actually racing the car on a track. For road use, I'm more than happy to let "preformance oriented" drivers burn up their engines with dirt at stoplight drags. I'm more interested in getting to work in one piece without a breakdown on the way!

Peter