cheap tune-up for ACC systems, check/change your cabin filter! (if applicable)
 

i read SO MANY posts about ACC system problems, that i just wanted to submit a friendly reminder about cheap preventative medicine for these ever "sensitive" systems.

i just purchased my 3rd MB. a 95 C-280. that's a 202 car.

i was going thru all of the things i wanted to check and bring "up to date/spec" on the car when i pulled the cabin filter for the ACC.

what a DIRTY fouled mess it was! it was dated manuf 94, so i am sure it was probably the origional filter in the car. it sure did it's job, as it was full of all kinds of crap. i could not believe some of the junk imbedded in the filter folds.

dealer quoted $40 and could "probably" get it about a week.
Phil at fastlane (see above link at top of active page) has it for $21, and it ships the next day. quess who got my business?

so... if you have any ACC maladies, and have not replaced the cabin filter, be sure to check the condition of this filter. it can't hurt to replace it, and i KNOW that the airflow will HAVE TO BE IMPROVED on my system.

i hope this may help someone else.

- benton in atlanta

I understand that a clean cabin air filter can also lengthen the life of the AC evaporator.

where is it located?
 

where is it located in a 1986 300E?

Where is it located in 94, C220?
Thanks

i check all data for the location ofit on my 92 190e 2.6
and all it gave me was labor install time.????

additional info, and happy new year!
 

happy new year to all!

p- i don't think my ex 86 300E had a cabin filter. i could be wrong!
a- see details below.
j- unsure if applicable on 190.

the cabin filter install on my 95 C-280 went as follows:

the filter install is pretty straightforward and should take about about 15 minutes of your time with only a small degree of contortion.

the filter is located under the dash on the passenger side. remove the cover panel from the dash botton (under the glovebox) with the 3 or 4 phillips screws attaching it in place. your will see a black housing with 2 white sliding retainers that opens to access the filter. this is located toward the front of this area near the transmission tunnel. slide the 2 clips to the full open position, and the cover plate should then simply pull away. if your filter is as bad as mine was, you may want to place a plastic bag under the cover and filter before removing it to catch all of the CRAP that will end up on your carpet when your remove the filter from this housing! the filter is pretty big, and will require a bit of manipulation or rotation to free it from its home. if your filter is any WORSE than mine, you may want to place a WILD RODENT TRAP there in case your awaken the squirrel family living there! reinstall the new filter by reversing these steps, and:

bask in the LUXURIOUS flow of freshly scrubbed air blowing your hair like a rock star! (or cooling your bald head as the case may be)

all in all; it's a pretty easy way to clean out some of those old german ions, and may actually help to improve the airflow and performance of your ACC system.

the 202 that i bought was very clean and was garaged most of its life. it showed very little if any signs of debris in any of the nooks and crannies under the hood or in other areas that would normally be suspect. having said that, the filter which i am sure was the origional was FILTHY and loaded with all manner of crap. it HAD to have a negative impact on the ACC system and airflow.

good luck! - benton in atlanta

While were on the subject, all W140 owners pay attention! If you've ever had to lay out $$$ for a new blower motor regulator, keep this in mind. The incoming air is what cools the darn thing! If the filter is restricted, guess what! If your filter is filthy and you don't want to replace it, just take it out and save yourself the hassle of frying the regulator! Of course, the twigs and leaves will make a racket inside the motor, but it won't cost you .

1994 is the first model year W124 that got the pollen / dust filters.

I don't know when the W202's got them.

All W202's have them.

Sorry for bringing up this old thread. According to suginami the 1990 300CE is supposed to have no dust filters, but when looking up in ******** az and epc I found the filters listed.

Where are they on my ride? also under the wiper motor?

The filters are also listed on BOSCH website

http://www.boschautoparts.com/VehiclePartFinder/Pages/VehiclePartFinderResults.aspx?MAKE=MERCEDES-BENZ&MODEL=300CE_&YEAR=1990&CAT=CabinFilters