Hi all,
My CLK320 (2001) has a very strong odor when I turn the AC on (for a few minutes) then the smell goes away.
The Mercedes dealership tells me that changing the combination filter does not help and I have to bring the car in for defumugation and it costs $400.00. I read about the combination filter in this forum and I saw pictures some nasty filters. Does changing the combination filter actually help my car to get rid of the odor?

By combination filter I mean the filter that is in the engine compartment and sits in a box b/w firewall and the engine compartment.

By the way, the online autopart places such as authohausaz.com do not carry the combination filter.

I have changed the cabin filter twice already (in the last couple of years) and it did not help to get rid of the smell. (By cabin filter I mean the filter inside the car under the passengers foot area).

Thanks,

-Bob