Greetings - this thing is a PITA. I've replaced the seal that connects the air cleaner to the turbo intake, but I can't attach the air cleaner back to the turbo intake. I tried a lubricant but I think the problem is that the seal itself can't expand within the turbo intake. I feel the edge of the air cleaner "catching" on the seal. I even tried dieselgiant's suggestion to only put it in halfway but when I try that there's no way the seal is going to compress to get in the turbo intake.

Right now, it's in the boiler room to warm up a little. I'm thinking this will soften the rubber seal and plastic turbo intake a little and make it easier to install.

Anybody have any other thoughts on how to attach this?

Thanks,
bigmaq

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2009 R350, now the daily driver
1980 300SD, was the daily driver

Yeah, that's one of the PITAs I forgot when I posted my list. The vibrating air cleaner also helps to pull the lower section back off, so I have had the pleasure of fixing this a few times. I expect Mr. Walgamuth to "get prickly" and chime in to chastise us because we're "... knock(ing) the engineering on a benz..."