Dear All,

I recently saw a commercial about performance K&N parts, I believe air and fuel filters is what they're selling. These parts supposedly add some HP and enhance the sound of the engine.

My questions are:

1. Will these parts increase the wear on the engine thereby reducing the lifespan?
2. Would you recommend this for a 2007 ML350?

Thanks and regards,
NSZ

 

Dear ED209,
if you love your ML, please don't do it.
It would be same thing as driving without filter. Just take your stock filter box off and see how nice the engine will sound, almost as a racing car and it will increase some hp.
YES, for No.1.
NO, for No.2.
I don't think K&N design engineers (if they even have any) are better then the ones working for Mercedes Benz.
I would stay away these jokes.
How can they add hp by diferent fuel filter? Your fuel rail has constant pressure of about55psi and I believe the fuel pressure regulator is build into your oem filter.
More air into manufold and your computer will atomatically supply more gas to keep same mixture ratio so throttle respond is there but I don't know about fuel economy.
Maybe other members who tried and use K&N product have different opinion.
Good luck.
Bernard

 

Thanks gents for your replies...I do love my car and the last thing I wanna do is wear it out. Looking at the stats from the link provided and by your explanations I just realized how bad these filters could actually be for the car. Not to mention all the dirt buildup that could accumulate. Even if the issue WAS debatable, frankly its not worth the risk...

Thanks Again,
NSZ

 

I thought that it was the oil that you treat the K&N air filters with that actually attracts the dirt to the filter element. I changed to a KN air filter in my 560SL with my mechanic's blessing (MB cert), but then again, I only drive it about 3-4,000 miles per year. Since mine is not a race engine that will be rebuilt frequently, I'm likely going to change back to the stock MB filter.

 

If K&N filters are the magic cure all giving
Better fuel economy
More Power
quicker acceleration
Longer engine life.
1,000,000 warranty (the filter and not the engine)

One has to wonder why major auto manufactures have not used K&N filters nor cloned them, since either way the cost would be the same. Certainly they have tried them.

Bill

 

It is hard to nail down the filtration level of Air Filter as the Microns the filter are not often given.

Of the Paper Element type filter I have read of that listed the Mircon levels the were listed as around 15 Nominal Microns of filtration.

Another issue us that you need to be carful when how you ask your question to the Filter Companies.
As an exmple if I throw a hand full of BBs at a Chain Link Fence even though the Mesh on the Fence is 2 or 2-1/2 inches some of those BBs will not make it through the Fence (filtered out by the Fence).
So if you ask me what is the smallest level my Chain Linik Fence will filter down to I could say 0.177 (the size of a BBs) when in fact a lot more extremely larger things, and things as large as 2 or 2-1/2 inches could be passing through my Fence.

 

What I meant is that I can easily go to the WIX Filter site and get Micron level Filtration on specific Oil Filters from the spec the give.
For Air Filters the site gives dimensions and Cubic Feet Perminute but no Micron level of filtration.
http://www.wixfilters.com/filterlookup/index.asp

I took a quick look at the site. I did not see any easy way to look up let us say the Filter for my Mercedes.
It also looks like you might have to pay for some of the info.

 

My Porsche mechanic showed me a 911 intake that had been using a K&N filter to illustrate why NOT to use them. It was loaded with fine dust and grit. The intake on the car next to it with a stock paper filter was perfectly clean.

 

Pretty grim report for K&N, I always knew I didn't like them, now I know why. I was always too cheap to buy one just to tear it apart and see what makes it "tick". It seems to me if you want to increase volumetric efficiency you would need to start by installing a larger filter, space dosen't always permit. For normal driving conditions why would you want to do any of that. All you need is the ability to safely achieve and maintain the legal speed limit, economy comes from the weight of the foot on the accelerator pedal, assuming the engine is properly tuned.

 

I have a 1998 E320 with 111k miles on it. I've just replaced all 12 spark plugs and the original Mercedes air filter to K&N air filter. I do notice the difference when using the original Mercedes air filter, the engine seems like wanting more air, but not able to. With K&N, it seems more air flow to the engine. I do pray that it will not bust my air sensor.