Please excuse me if I'm not posting these questions in the right forum. I would like to know what is the purpose of that noodle-strainer metal ring thing that the air filter wraps around inside the air cleaner. It has hundreds of little holes for air to flow through but it looks like it's a MAJOR air restriction. Could I free up some air flow by cutting part of it out so as to leave only enough to support the air filter? I thank you for your help. -Jim380

Could someone please answer my question about the air cleaner on a 1981 380SL? What is that metal perforated air-strainer thing the filter wraps around inside the air cleaner? Please? -Jim380

Please??????? -Jim380

Pretty please...?????? -J

This part keeps anything, even a collapsed air filter from entering the intake manifold. Considering the high state of engineering of the Mercedes models, I would assume this screen does not limit the intake volume. I believe that you would get no power increase by removing it. K&N air filters claim to increase air flow and power, but there have been posts and discussions that lead me to believe that it does not increase anything but intake noise. Although I really want to believe that the air filter can increase power, there is no evidence. Also, it lets larger particles into the intake, which could increase engine wear. I think you need to do a lot more than that to increase the engine power. This is my personal, unqualified opinion.

Steve
'85 500SL Euro

I have tried OE, K&N and without on a dyno and came out with 160hp, 164 and 167 respectively. As far as larger material passing through, without specs on the OE units who knows. But at 211,000 miles on a gas motor it can't be to bad.

__________________
Happy Benzing
Darryl, Hill
2005 SL55 AMG Kleemanized
1984 500 SEC
1967 W113 California Coupe
[SIGPIC]
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/myphotos

Thanks guys. If there are any possibilities for this mod I want to be absolutely sure I'm not screwing anything up. -Jim380

Darryl - what are you having in your air filter now?

__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

I use K&N filters on both of my cars. I have used them without a failure in almost every vehicle I have had since my dirt bike days in 1972. The posts on this site are the only reason I ceased to be a believer. I am happy to hear about successful power increases from these filters.

Steve
'85 500SL Euro

I keep forgetting that a lot of the people on Mshop are pushing really expensive iron. If there was even a chance of doing damage to something that I couldn't fix or was to expensive. OE would be the way to go. By the way I to used a
green weenie on a Combat Wombat.

__________________
Happy Benzing
Darryl, Hill
2005 SL55 AMG Kleemanized
1984 500 SEC
1967 W113 California Coupe
[SIGPIC]
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/myphotos

I haven't heard "Combat Wombat" in 20 years. I used the K&N oiled foam on my old PABTCO Wombat. Was that the name of the old filter? I just don't remember. What a coincidence!

Steve
'85 500SL Euro