I just bought a new USA version of the 2004 E320.

Can someone tell me how to remove the engine covers to get to the air filters?

Will I find the dip stick tube under there that will permit me to use a Topsider to drain the oil?

Thank you in advance.

Bud

The dipstick tube is at the rear of the engine with a black cover on it (LHS, but close to center when looking from the front. accessable without removing engine cover, not the one with the black or red LOCK on it).

The air filters (2) are accessed by removing the engine cover (gently pull it vertically) and then unscrewing the torx screws you'll find on the underneith of the cover since the air filters are in the engine cover. From memory the service interval on the filters is 120,000km/75,000mi/4years.

I hope you're not going to put in a "performance" aftermarket filter.........2 large air filters gives much more than enough flow for that size engine. By giving the filters so much surface area they can still have enough flow when the fliters are nearing replacement age. BTW, if you install a filter you need to oil then you run the risk of over oiling and damaging the air mass meter (won't be cover by warrenty due to aftermarket parts causeing the falt) or under oiling it and allowing larger dirt particles to enter the engine and prematurely wearing the silica cylinder bores.......

Sorry for the long story if you're just interested in where the filters are.........we would want you causing you're self any problems with your new car

__________________
Alex.

MB Tech
Sydney, Australia
Volvo 122S
W201 190D 2.5 manual
W202 C240
W203 C32

Thanks for the Info.

No, I'm not going to use anything but OEM filters. I live in Arizona and it's VERY dusty. I won' be going very long without checking the filters nor will I wait until the FSS system tells me to change oil on MBUSA's schedule.

The only tube that's visible at the rear of the engine has a red cap and I assume that's for the transmission.

There is a seperate cover over the front of the engine that seperates from the rest of the cover containing the air filters. I've removed that and see no tube there either. I think that's where the tube used to be.

I wonder if Mercedes have eliminated the ability to drain oil with an extractor such as the Topsider. I hope not since I just bought one after doing oil changes the old fashioned way for more than 40 years

You may be right about the cap, I've heard some have red caps, but I've yet to see any myself. The auto has a "lock" on it so you can't get the cap off unless you break it. If the red cap just slides off and there's a dipstick tube then that's the one.

Yep, Mercs can still be drained from the top, infact they are designed to be drained from the top.

That's a good idea to change your oil and filters more often in those conditions. It's worth it considering the value of the car

__________________
Alex.

MB Tech
Sydney, Australia
Volvo 122S
W201 190D 2.5 manual
W202 C240
W203 C32

Thanks Alex. I still have my low mileage, mint '91 300E and quite frankly it makes the new car seem cheap. I need to sell the W124 so it won't remind me of what Mercedes used to be like