Second Hand Mercedes-Benz C-Class Air Filter

This depends almost entirely on whether both cars share the same engine code, not just the same year or badge — the W203 generation ran until 2007, and the W204 generation began in 2007, so a 2005 and 2008 car are from different generations and the air filter housings are unlikely to be interchangeable. Check your V5 or run a VIN check to find your engine code, then supply that to the breaker so they can confirm whether the unit from the earlier car matches yours. Never assume fitment across a generation boundary without the breaker verifying against your registration.

The W204 ran from 2007 to 2014 and the W205 from 2014 onwards, and these are distinct generations with different engine families, so the air filter and airbox design differ between them. Even where engine displacements look similar across the two generations — for example a 2.0-litre petrol — the engine codes are different and the filter dimensions and housing mountings changed. Always give the breaker your engine code alongside the generation to confirm compatibility rather than relying on displacement or badge alone.

Trim level and badge name do not determine air filter fitment — what matters is the engine code, because the C220 and C250 designations refer broadly to engine variants but the specific engine code on your V5 is more precise and reliable than the badge. Two cars both badged C220 from different years within the same generation may carry different engine codes and therefore different filters, while a C220 and a C250 sharing the same underlying engine code would use the same filter. Give the breaker your engine code and they will identify the correct unit quickly.

The W204 was facelifted in 2011, but because the air filter follows the engine code rather than the facelift revision, many engine codes carried over unchanged across that 2011 boundary and the filter itself may well be the same part. That said, ancillary mounting details and airbox configurations can change mid-production, so you should confirm with the breaker against your registration rather than assuming the pre- and post-facelift units are identical. Supply your engine code when you contact the breaker for the most accurate answer.

Yes, fuel type matters significantly — diesel and petrol engines on the C-Class use entirely separate air filter assemblies with different housings, dimensions, and filter element shapes, so a diesel unit will not be a straightforward swap onto a petrol engine. Within the diesel range, differences also exist between engine codes such as the OM651 and older OM646 units, so the engine code rather than just 'diesel' is the key detail to give the breaker. Confirm the engine code from your V5 and supply it when requesting a quote to avoid being sent an incompatible part.

Gearbox type does not generally affect the air filter itself, as the filter and airbox are determined by the engine rather than the transmission fitted to the car. However, gearbox type can help a breaker identify the correct donor vehicle when searching their stock, so it is worth mentioning alongside your engine code. The engine code remains the single most important detail for confirming air filter fitment, so always lead with that when contacting a breaker.