Smelly cabin.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Vronsky · #1 10-30-2004, 03:02 PM

When I bought my W210, the MB dealer assured me the car had a complete service history. But ever since I got it, the cabin had a bad odour. So then I thought: let's pull the cabin filters >>>>

I'm now wondering just how 'complete' the service history really is... New filters look quite different BTW.
Anyway, bad smell is gone

haasman · #2 10-30-2004, 03:13 PM

Ask the dealer for the RO's from its service history. You have the right to see them. Look in the parts list for the filters. See in the labor section when the last service was and whether it included the filter replacement.

BTW, just because the filters were replaced doesn't mean they don't get mold on them. Parking a car in a humid enviroment after using the AC can cause this. I know some people who turn the AC off and let un-airconditioned air run through for a couple of seconds before shut down to try and avoid this.

Haasman

Gilly · #3 10-30-2004, 05:19 PM

Yeah, no matter what anybody says, the service work is only as good as the tech doing it, or possibly the person writing the work order, and also the owner comes into play too as far as authorizing the work.
The charcoal filters should be done every 45,000 miles. What if the car comes in at around 50,000 miles, shouldn't the tech suspect the filters weren't replaced yet? Maybe some techs have to see "45000" on the odometer, THEN it will dawn on them......Sometimes they just don't think or really give a rats ash to do it right. Same thing with researching the history quick to see if the coolant or brake fluid flush is needed or not (and spark plugs, and fuel and air filter, and a whole bunch of other things where you have to use your head to determine if it's time to do it or not). Sometimes the dealer admittedly will have a reduced flat rate they'll pay for doing this type of work so the price can be attractive to the owner. Myself, I'd rather do it right and have a little pride that the cars I worked on were maintained properly. If you can't do it right and manage to make a decent living, then something is wrong...end rant.
Gilly

#4 10-30-2004, 07:04 PM

make sure you check both filters, there are two pollen filters behind the glove box that are to be replaced at each A or B service and the single charcoal filter in your picture under the dash near the blower. the charcoal is supposed to be done every 4 years or 45,000 miles whichever comes first.
send me an email and i will send you the mercedes e sheet for your car, it gives some info on what gets done and when.
hope this was helpful Ray
mercedessd@cox.net

Vronsky · #5 10-31-2004, 05:40 AM

Thanks. And yes, had a look at both the active coal filters aswell: just guess what I found there...

Another item unserviced. Cabin is so... fresh now!
Didn't go back to the dealer because I expect to end up with an annoying yes/no discussion on the renewal interval, and its not a major thing. But again: there's only one way to make sure it's done right: do it yourself.

AusMBtech · #6 10-31-2004, 06:47 AM

At my workshop all dust filters/combination filters are changed regularly, sometimes will will see mould, usually on ML's.

Active charcol filters on the otherhand, I've changed 2 in the last 12 months. Advisors don't want to call customers at tell them they need a $200-300 filter ontop of a few thousand dollars worth of service, brakes and service items. The owners rarely want to spend that money when they don't get a benifit they can feel or see.

Charcol filters aren't worth it, combination filters are the way to go in terms of cost Vs benifit, charcol are way too expensive.

Gilly · #7 10-31-2004, 07:48 AM

That's fine that you feel a combination filter design is better, Alex. But if your car has the dust filter/charcoal filter design, there's not much you can do about it.
Will the combination filter they introduced into the ML fit the older ML's? I thought it had a different shape.
Oh, the filters behind the glovebox on the 210 is the DUST filter, not a "pollen" filter. The activated charcoal filter is the one that can filter out pollen.
For those who don't do their own work, one way to make sure everything is done when required is to at least be aware of the maintenance schedule (usually there is a maintenance book which lists everytrhing) and save your old work orders and before even making an appointment, be aware of what will need to be done, you don't have to be a mechanic to do this. So for example you see on the schedule "Brake Flush-Every 2 Years", look in your records and see when the brake flush was last done. YOU can even decide "Hey, it will be 2 years in another month, let's do it", then when you bring the car in you can tell the service writer you want the brake flush done. You can avoid some of the calls later on doing it this way too (some calls will still be needed for things they find wrong, brake pads, serpentine belts, etc).
Gilly

Vronsky · #8 10-31-2004, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AusMBtech

...Advisors don't want to call customers at tell them they need a $200-300 filter ontop of a few thousand dollars worth of service, brakes and service items. The owners rarely want to spend that money when they don't get a benifit they can feel or see.

Charcol filters aren't worth it, combination filters are the way to go in terms of cost Vs benifit, charcol are way too expensive.

$200-300..? That's pretty steep.
I paid 130 Euro's in total for both the dust- and active carbon filter sets, at the local MB dealer!

#9 10-31-2004, 04:00 PM

Major newbie here...

Does a 82' 300CDT have cabin filters?

Thanks for putting up with my wbte.

Joe

wbte= wet behind the ears

Southern · #10 10-31-2004, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vronsky

When I bought my W210, the MB dealer assured me the car had a complete service history. But ever since I got it, the cabin had a bad odour. So then I thought: let's pull the cabin filters >>>>

I'm now wondering just how 'complete' the service history really is... New filters look quite different BTW.
Anyway, bad smell is gone

If a car salesman told me that the car had a complete service history, I would insist on seeing the complete service history paperwork. The service history in a car salesman's mind might consist of a handfull of quick-lube oil change receipts.

Gilly · #11 10-31-2004, 05:59 PM

Joe
No cabin filters on your car, MB didn't start installing them until the early 1990's
Gilly

#12 11-01-2004, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilly

That's fine that you feel a combination filter design is better, Alex. But if your car has the dust filter/charcoal filter design, there's not much you can do about it.
Will the combination filter they introduced into the ML fit the older ML's? I thought it had a different shape.
Oh, the filters behind the glovebox on the 210 is the DUST filter, not a "pollen" filter. The activated charcoal filter is the one that can filter out pollen.
For those who don't do their own work, one way to make sure everything is done when required is to at least be aware of the maintenance schedule (usually there is a maintenance book which lists everytrhing) and save your old work orders and before even making an appointment, be aware of what will need to be done, you don't have to be a mechanic to do this. So for example you see on the schedule "Brake Flush-Every 2 Years", look in your records and see when the brake flush was last done. YOU can even decide "Hey, it will be 2 years in another month, let's do it", then when you bring the car in you can tell the service writer you want the brake flush done. You can avoid some of the calls later on doing it this way too (some calls will still be needed for things they find wrong, brake pads, serpentine belts, etc).
Gilly

Gilly,
just to let you know as a person with severe alergies to pollen and other spores, the paper filters definately filter the pollen. i have noticed a major difference in my reactions since i bought my E320, the charcoal filter is mainly for smells or road pollution. mine only activates manually or when the smog sensor senses too much exhaust. you may want to check your sources on your info.

Gilly · #13 11-01-2004, 04:42 AM

OK, I will~!!!
My info is pollen is too small to be filtered by a dust filter.......
Maybe you are sensitive to really large bore pollen.......
Gilly

#14 11-05-2004, 09:22 PM

not sure what you meant by that i was sensitive too large bore pollen.
care to elaborate on your conclusion?
Ray

Gilly · #15 11-06-2004, 04:47 AM

Mainly just messin with ya. To elaborate, maybe the reason you think the paper filter (dust filter) makes such a big difference is that the "large bore" pollen is being filtered by the paper filter, which is what helps you, but smaller pollen (which I an surmising is NOT being trapped by the dust filter) is still making it through, but doesn't bother you.
I can try searching some of my documents here at home and see what MB says the advantage is to the charcoal filter, I was sure I read it traps finer pollen particles than the dust filter.

Gilly

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