Retro-fit dust filter into 1990 W124?
 

I have a 1990 300E. I was wondering if it is possible to fit a dust filter in the car. I used to have a '95 BMW 318i and it had one and was a great feature considering I live in one of the dustiest cities in the country (Tucson). I don't like having a constantly dirty dashboard and center consol. Anybody done this retrofit before??? -- Mike

Mikey:
I'm pretty sure the only way to do this would be to install a whole heater/AC case from a newer 124 that has the filters. It's be pretty expensive to do it. I think it would be doable though, other than the air inlet area, the box should be the same. If the evaporator ever goes out on you, that would be the best time to do it, because the evaporator or heater core replacement requires the box to be removed, unsure what the price would be on the whole new case, but believe you can buy the case complete with evaporator and heater core.
Gilly

There should be 2 intake dust/pollen filter on your car.
They are encased down by the blower and accessible from under the hood. [ not an easy change, but do-able]

There is an article in the archives on procedure and they cost about $20 each....

Arthur:
I don't think the 1990 had it yet.
Gilly

GB,
Ya know, I didn't think they had them til late 124 either, but FastLane shows a part# for it for the early models..
I tend to agree w/you and think it might be an oversight in the parts catalog.

Until I saw that, i was under the impression they were on the 94/95 124s when they converted over to 134A....

I've done some research on this and the dust pollen filters were added in the 1994 model year.

Also, r134a was added in 1993 on the 300E, and I've seen several 1992 500E's with r134a.

P.S.
So your 93/104 does not have filter , but has 134A OE ??

One would think the changes would have come at the a/c system/104 eng production change, but it must have been the next year....

good to know....

Yeah, it does have 134a OE from the factory, but no dust / pollen filters. Strange, but true.

I also have been notorious for disseminating bad information that r134a therefore appeared on Mercedes starting from 1993 model year cars, but every 1992 500E (3 of them, all today at the GTG in San Diego) I've seen with my own two eyes has come with factory 134a.

I do know that 1992 300E's did not come with r134a, but I don't know about 1992 400E's.

We'll just have to ask an owner of a 92 400E about the disposition of their factory a/c, won't we?

Yes, I guess the main concern is not to give early 124 owners
the idea that they are hidden down in there and can be found by simply pulling half the firewall apart........

They are hard to see even when they are there and many late 124 owner are not aware of them either.
Why Benz put a changeable filter that takes that kind of dis-assembly requirements is beyond me...

Thank goddness they didn't make a cloths dryer !!!!!!

Thanks
 

Thanks guys for your replies. I guess I will be filterless until my next car purchase. Yeah, the filter in the BMW I had was a huge annoyance to replace as well. I had to take out the glove box, unplug and move some electrical stuff and disconnect an air duct and move it out of the way just to get to the little compartment that housed the filter. I think the Germans have to take in mind that at some point in time, just about everything in a car has to be replaced (case in point - evaporator). - Mike

Here is something you guys can check out when comparing notes at your next GTG:
With the hood open, look under the center of the wiper assembly, there is a "smile" or "U" shape under the wiper assembly in the center of the car. If the U shape is hard plastic and held down with 5 or so phillips screws, there is no filter. If it is solid rubber, no fasteners, it has the filter.
Gilly

Thanks! You guys just saved me a lot of trouble...
I had purchased a dust filter (because there was a listing for it), with intentions of replacing it soon.
Good to find out that it doesn't exist before I started digging for it!