hey don

ever think about making a custom ram air kit for all 300e's and selling it. i'd buy it. what about using the factory a/c (route a hose from the a/c into the air intake? just a thought.

andy

I just wanted to throw an idea out there that I have always wanted to do, but never had the resources.

My idea was to take the front quarter panel from a w124 diesel. I guess some of them had slotted fenders. Hopefully, it would bolt on. Then make a psuedo air box and route it to the intake.

Just a thought... Please discuss...

on my '91 300D 2.5 turbo, my air intake is on the right fender behind slots, where it goes directly into the filter. Ive been wondering about putting somekind of scoop over it that faces foreward to make it like a ram-air intake. if theres anyone out there who also has this kind of intake (not all 124's have it apparently) and would also be interested or if someone has already done something like this i would like to know what the best way to do it is.

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1991 300 D 2.5 Turbo, 220k
also in the family:
1981 240 D 185k
1991 350 SD 185k
2006 S 500
2005 SLK 350

Couple of thoughts...

I agree with rackne. The air at the windshield base/cowl area is generally high pressure, not low. That's usually a good place to get intake air from.

The problem (danger actually) of the low scoops, as in the front air dam area, is water ingestion. Hitting a puddle at high speed in a rain storm could destroy an engine. That's what scared me about Don Swinfords original design which picked air from below the lower engine cover area. Maybe OK for Texas, but I wouldn't want to chance it here in Seattle.

Side note: MB had an option (code 916 - additional parts for vehicles exported to hot countries) which was actually a scoop and duct that fit in the front air dam, just to the right of the tow hook area, that ducted cooling air onto the engine support (motor mount) on the passenger side. This side's motor mount is prone to quicker failure in high temperature environments since the exhaust manifold is right above it.

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Steve

1992 300CE Sportline Sophie
1990 300E Emma - in the family
1979 240D Josephine - sold, but not forgotten
2004 Pacifica AWD

http://web.mac.com/dakota/Mercedes/Home.html

Pretty much all W124's, W201's and W202's have this duct that directs air to the motor mount on the passenger side, even cars destined for Seattle. The C36 for example, uses a air intake extension that comes from the bottom fo the air box and connects to this duct, sort of a ram air design.

As for the puddle situation, I did manage to almost submerge my lower part of my bumper (on the C36) while at SIR. I know my air intake sucked up some water but no permanant damage was done, lucky I guess. If your air intake intake system includes one of the AEM water filters, then you would not have much to worry about. THe AEM water filter is designed to prevent water from being sucked into the intake, it has been tested by several magazines.

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1993 500E
http://2phast.com/500e/500e-sig.jpg