Any thoughts on air filters?

[dave.robbo]

I've done a search, but not found anything conclusive...

I'm wondering what to do at my W202's next service.

Get a standard replacement air filter for about a tenner, and replace every service, or go for a 'performance' 'lifetime' type air filter, for about £40, and just give it a clean every service.

Any words of wisdom on the merits (or otherwise) of either option?

 

[wireman]

It will make little if any difference to your cars performance except that under full throttle torture there may be a very slight increase of power for the sporty types.
It is often found that with so called sports filters the noise level in the cabin increases and this may be perceived as more power, it ain't but it is nice to put your foot down to a healthy roar.
What you get for your money depends on which engine you have as to how much so called improvement you will get, if you are tuning it with other engine mods it might be worthwhile. MB designed the original filter and intake to give the best overall engine efficiency and life, changing it it may have hidden costs.

I would not buy a second hand car fitted with one, in my mind the previous owner is more likely to have thrashed it on a regular basis.

The air filter only needs changing when it begins to restrict the flow this is generally when the engine side is beginning to show up a bit grubby. There is no easy way to determine life expectancy of the air filter since operating conditions vary widely dependent on where and how the car is used.

 

[dave.robbo]

Fair point! I wasn't thinking of getting a performance filter to improve performance (!), just to help the engine breath a bit better, possibly....