In my quest for better gas milage & performance, I decided to remove the metal screens on both sides of the paper element of a replacement air filter for my 280E. It had seemed that with these 2 screens, plus the screen built into the housing, there had to be a lot of resistence to inflowing air. Before doing so, I put my hand over the intake to feel the suction at idle with the typical replacement filter. Then I did the same with the other filter without the screens. The amount of suction was remarkably greater. I then did some research thu MBZ maintenance library; in all the photos, the filter shown is WITHOUT screens. The moral of this story: Question OEM parts as well as aftermarket parts.

Unless you do a "before & after" dyno run to measure any performance effect . . then it's still a question of what benefit there might be.

I am not knowledgeable and I don't know if too much suction is a benefit either. The air-gas mixture could be disturbed.
Can an expert comment on this?

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1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

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1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE

Since the devices that measure the air to decide how much fuel to supply are downstream from the air filter this should not be a problem.

I would not alter the air filters. The air filter on a benz is not a source of air flow resistance. They are good sized. Seeking to improve effeciency here is a waste of time, IMHO. Altering the air filters would seem to me to risk the filter coming apart. The mesh was put there for a reason by the manufacturer. If it were not needed they wouldn't waste any money on it. I would recommend throwing that filter away that you have altered and putting in a new one, asap.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

After further investigation in the MBZ Maintenance Library, I find that the reason for the metal screen on the air filter is so that it can be cleaned at service intervals. The filters without screens must be replaced when dirty - never cleaned.

Yeah, I've never really known manufacturers to incur additional expense for no appreciable reason. They typically look for every place that costs can be reduced or eliminated.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

This is what draws in the customers for K & N air filters.

Don't be fooled. There is no free lunch.

It's not free. The cost is less filtration, and more airborne grit and dirt gets sucked into your engine.

I wouldn't want to do that, the normal air filters chosen by Mercedes Benz engineers seem to be fine, and under normal conditions, last 15,000 to 30,000 miles. And the replacements are not too costly.

K & N are oil bath filters. And, you are supposed to use only their oil!
And you have to be careful to not over oil them, or there can be resultant mischief.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I agree with you, jim_b, and some of the other commentators as well. What everyone seems to have missed, or at least not commented on, is the fact that in the MBZ maintenance library, mention is made that all paper filters must not be cleaned but changed, and screened filters may be cleaned. In addition and according to the original photos in this library, MBZ first presented the 110 engine and others with paper filters. So the natural conclusion is that one can use either type of filter as long as it is cleaned or changed properly.

Waiting for feedback

One of the best ways of describing filter changing options goes like this:

You can wear a pair of underwear for six months and either wash it or buy a new pair for the coming half year, your choice.

If you're in a dusty, sandy or otherwise dirty air environment, where filter change intervals are accelerated, then a washable filter might make some sense. That was my reason for using K&N on my motorcycles.

Okay, then,. So, change air filters annually at same time as discarding old drawers and donning new ones. Got it! Thanks.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Thank you for sharing that, Dee8go.

But, you will never ride in my car ever again!!!!

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Every 15,000 to 30,000 miles of use?!!!! Ewwwwwwwwww....

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Oh, Jim, I always change my drawers before going on a trip!

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles