dear fellow members,

I've decided to keep my W124 300CE-24 for a few more years, but would like to improve the performance. I'm interested in improving mid range torque. I've got a K&N air filter fitted and they claim a power increase of 5-10%. Not sure if this is accurate, but what is the general consencus of these filters and Induction Kits. Are they worth it. I don't want to spen close to $2,000 on a turbocharger if I can help it.

Any suggestions?

My advise would be to save your money. If you do a ''search'' you'll find tons of posting on this subject.
Bottom line: K&N does not add one ponypower and has caused several problems with the MAFS being coated with oil.
JackD

Hello Jackd

Thanks for the info. I did try a search, but didn't come up with anything conclusive, hence the question. Please educate me. What are MAFS?

Mass Air Flow Sensor. From what I heard, they are a problem if you insist in soaking your filter in oil. Supposedly, if you lightly spray oil onto the filter you should be fine.

Thank yoy very much Aklim.

There are K&N lovers and haters. I've been running a K&N cone on my custom intake since October with no problems. Over oiling the K&N is bad, no doubt about it, especially since most of them come pre-oiled!

Thanks for the input MTI.

I've been told, but never experienced it, that Induction kits are very noisey. Would you guys agree with that?

I think there's universal agreement that intake kits add a growl from the engine bay under acceleration, but not at idle or general street cruising. The stock air cleaner is well designed to dampen engine noises and is actually pretty well designed to get air into the intakes. On the highway, sitting in the driver's seat, you'll hear the difference between a stock intake and a custom cold air unit. As a personal preference, I like the additional growl from my little 190E.

Hi MTI.

I've recently bought an Arospeed Muffler from Ebay. I think it sounds good, but the wife has other ideas . . . anyways, would you think the 'growl' you are describing would be similar from a standard MB muffler to an Arospeed?

I think that's a pretty good analogy, stock muffer vs aerospeed. Ever wonder why wives hearing are more acute than husbands? Maybe they don't suffer as much hearing loss . . .

Mercedes engines (either the 103 or 104) are not starving for air and are not chocked by a restrictive exhaust system.
They are very efficient engines to start with and this is the reason it is so difficult and expensive to measurably increase their output with add-ons.
If you look at some other engines (GM 3.8l at 205HP, Chrysler 3.5L at 224HP, and the list goes on) and engines from japan with 4 valves per cylinder, variable valve timing and very sophisticated computorised ignition/timing systems, you'll see their output is not significantly higher than the old 103/104 benz engines with very basic systems.
Adding a K&N filter, sport exhaust, modified air box or any other gizmo will not do you much good.
If you equate growl and noise with power, go ahead, but if you want more HP, these things will not give you measurably more HP"
JackD