W210 Cabin Dust Filters...they are supposed to be WHITE? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

nhdoc · #1 03-29-2006, 06:21 PM

YUCHH...today I replaced the cabin dust filters on my '98. I don't know when they were changed last but they probably aren't original to the car (since the glove compratment was missing the 2 top screws I know someone else has been in there) and I've had it only just over a year...so probably 2-3 years since they have been changed.

These were dark grey, well clogged and covered with small bits of debris from nature. I strugled to remove the glove compartment, it takes quite a pull to free it up...but once it is out it's an easy job to replace them. I vacuumed out all the crud and put two brand new dust filters from MB ($24 for the pair) which were bright white! The noticeable difference is now when the blower is on higher speeds it is much quieter than before (and probably has a lot more air coming through). All in all, it is something I'd been putting off but shouldn't have...I'm sure the blower motor will work a lot less now.

manny · #2 03-29-2006, 06:33 PM

Did you replace them with paper filters ( pure white ), or charcoal ( medium gray color ) filters?
Been told by my friendly dealer, replace paper filters once per year & charcoal every other year.

Southern · #3 03-29-2006, 07:15 PM

Yes the pollen filters behind the glove box are supposed to be white. I change mine every 15K miles. I believe that 30K replacement intervals are recommended but mine are dirty (grey color) around 15K miles.

Your dirty pollen filters caused your blower motor to work harder due to the lack of air flow.

The charcoal filters are only activated when you press the button on the console to eliminate outside stink. I believe the recommended replacement interval is 4 years. Since I don't activate mine that often, I replaced mine at 6 years.

Ali Al-Chalabi · #4 03-29-2006, 07:16 PM

They aren't all white when new. There is a replacement dust filter from Bosch with activated some charcoal media in the filter and is grey in color.

nhdoc · #5 03-29-2006, 07:40 PM

The ones I used were MB and had the same numbers as the ones in the car that were dirty. The charcoal filter is a much more costly one to replace (over $100) and like someone else said, it only gets used when you push the button on the panel to try and reduce an odor. I can live with that one being old since I have never used it in the 14 months I have owned the car...but this one was really bad and since it filters all of the incoming cabin air it seems to be another "to do" every year or so. I suppose if you live in a big city you use the charcoal filter more to eliminate noxious stuff...but in NH we don't have that problem.

I'm sure on the diesels they get a little soot too, they sit right over the exhaust manifold and even though none is supposed to leak out, no car's exhaust is perfect and a little dust gets out under the hood...so diesel owners will get "extra grey" filters.

sokoloff · #6 03-29-2006, 07:42 PM

I need to do my dust filters every 15,000 miles or less. They are cheap and just get too dirty to leave in for the recommended 30,000 mile interval. Charcoal I replaced at 50,000 miles per the manual, but since I rarely use the charcoal filter, I'll go quite a bit longer this next time. They run about $100.

Len
'99 E300TD 89,000 miles

Southern · #7 03-29-2006, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhdoc

I suppose if you live in a big city you use the charcoal filter more to eliminate noxious stuff...but in NH we don't have that problem.

I mainly use my charcoal filter to eliminate the smell of road kill. It works amazing well with skunk stink.

manny · #8 03-29-2006, 09:18 PM

nhdoc

That's the difference between your car & mine.
Mine only has 1 filter.
The paper filter was quoted to me as about $ 20.00, while the charcoal filter cost me about $ 30.00.
I figured oh well, since my wife spends more than that at the hairdresser once a month, I'll splurge & go for the " Deluxe " charcoal.