ML270 Air intake question

[benzdriver737]

ML270 W163 2002 120k km's (Australian)
Was wondering if something might be missing from my air intake setup.
It looks as though there should be some sort of 'surround' or 'housing' where the air intake joins onto the front mudguard. There is a visible gap approx 1/4 inch wide between the intake housing and the mudguard.
No matter how hard I try, I can not connect the air intake to fit inside the hole in the mudguard.
At present it appears as though the air intake is obtaining air from within the engine bay.
Bottom line.. is there meant to be a gap between the air intake and the mudguard, or should the air intake fit snugly against the guard so that air is only drawn from under the mudguard.??


Would appreciate some other ML270 owners having a look under the bonnet and see if there is or isn't something missing from my vehicle compared to theirs.

regards

 

[BIGjoe]

Yours looks like a different intake housing to mine (UK spec). The intake on mine reaches forward and draws ambient air from behind the bonnet grill. or warm air from above the exhaust manifold.

 

[stumo]

I had a look at mine today (same year and mines an Okker too) and you are missing a foam rubber gasket type thing that wraps around the whole joint - about 30mm wide and only say 5mm thick. Just like a bit of flat wide draft-stop tape for sealing windows etc. I didn't want to disturb mine too much as it has become a bit brittle over time so I didn't remove it to see if I had a gap like yours, I hope not. The engine needs all the help it can get with the temperatures weve been having here in Melbourne in recent weeks - eg. 46 degrees C.

 

[benzdriver737]

Many thanks for having a look.
Will see if I can obtain the missing part from my 'dealer'.

regards