Mercedes C320 V6 engine air-filter replacement
Saprissa illustrated the airbox and paired-filter replacement on his 3.2L V6 C320 coupé and sedan. The discussion adds an important correction: the front cover can stay attached, avoiding unnecessary handling of its fragile tabs.
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A cover-removal question led to an illustrated reply
Hugedrive had received Green filters for his coupé and asked how to remove the engine cover. The detailed work account and photographs that follow were contributed by Saprissa, rather than by the person who opened the thread.
C320 work scope and the fragile front-cover tabs
Saprissa said he had performed the work on a C320 Sport Coupé and C320 Sport Sedan, specifying the 3.2L V6. His photographs show the bonnet raised to its service position and the airbox identified. He initially removed the front plastic cover separately and described its five attachment points. MB-BOB later warned that its tabs are fragile: he had broken his and replaced the entire cover. He said the front cover can remain attached while the rear assembly is lifted as one piece. Saprissa explicitly agreed; his separate-cover removal should not be read as a required step.
Two intake hoses and four airbox mounting points
Saprissa disconnected the two intake hoses, then gripped the airbox at its sides and lifted it straight up. He described four metal clips seated on four rubber grommets. His accompanying note was to cover the exposed central intake so nothing falls into it while the airbox is being worked on. The photographs below belong to this contributor’s C320 work, not to Hugedrive’s car.
The two filter compartments use captive T25 screws
With the airbox upside down, Saprissa used a T25 Torx screwdriver on four screws per side to open the filter compartments. He noted that the screws loosen enough to release the compartments but do not come all the way out, and that dirt, dust and insects can fall out. He fitted Green filters to his Sport Coupé and K&N filters to his Sport Sedan; each uses a pair. These are his reported product choices, not a measured comparison or a current parts-compatibility guarantee.
Remove any temporary intake cover before refitting
Saprissa reattached the filter compartments and aligned the airbox with its four mounting points. He explicitly warned to uncover the central intake before reinstalling the airbox if it had been covered. He reconnected both intake hoses and pressed at the four mounting points to confirm seating. In his separate-cover sequence, the front cover slid from front to rear with its latches aligned and engaged; this does not override the later agreement that separating that cover is unnecessary.
Perceived response and a later fault remain separate reports
Saprissa could not identify a clear response improvement from switching filter brands, and said his wife noticed no difference from stock in her C320. A later contributor, joman, separately reported rough startup, a check-engine light and code P0170 after a K&N installation; he put the stock filters back and planned further inspection. No confirmed cause or repair outcome was reported in that exchange. The code and timing alone do not establish that filter oil, the airflow sensor or a particular installation mistake caused the fault.