Ive an '88 300e and after about a year, the air filter is still reasonably clean...what is the life on those babies? i highway drive daily in the country, small community (no industrial air pollution), no traffic jams).

There a small hole at the top of the air filter container which is open and has a rubber gasket on it; it does not appear to vent into the fuel injector; is this supposed to have a hose connected to it? Ive never seen a new 300e engine, so iom unsure of there is something missing here that allows the air to bypass the air filter.

According to MB, the air filter should be changed every 30k (@ the 30k mile service) under "normal" driving conditions. However, if live in a dusty area or drive on dirt roads, more attention will be required.

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2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

I generally changed the filter in my 300E between 20K and 30K. This was in Minnesota.

I moved to Arizona where it's really dusty. I checked a filter recently that had only 9K on it and it looked perfect until I tried to see light though it. I couldn't, so I replaced the filter.

I'd certainly check the filter at least every 15K.

Hi,

For the price of an air filter I usually just automatically change at least every year if not twice a year.

For the money it's probably one of the cheapest maint. items other than an oil filter.

Joel