The E350 MAF Sensor in your 3.5 liter Mercedes-Benz is an air flow sensor that reads and analyzes the amount of air entering your engine. This pass through vane meter converts the airflow to a voltage that your Mercedes engine computer can understand. Using this data your engine computer can accurately control the amount of fuel being delivered to your 3.5 liter V6 engine.
The Mercedes-Benz MAF sensor is also known as the mass air flow meter. When your E350 MAF fails on you, you’ll see several obvious E350 issues. One of the easiest problems to recognize is your Mercedes Benz E350 check engine light. When you see this Diagnostic Trouble Code lit up on your E350 dashboard, you will need a OBDII scan tool to check the code in question.
Today I’ll be showing you how to replace your E350 MAF Sensor in a 2006 Mercedes Benz with the 3.5 liter V6 engine in it. This sensor replacement will require you to remove the engine cover as well as the front air intake tubes that run in front of your radiator support. To begin you should disconnect the negative terminal of your E350 battery to prevent any electrical accidents. Once you are ready to begin you must open your Mercedes-Benz hood.
The first order of business is to grab the front engine cover and lift up. Once it’s popped off it’s mounting points, you can lift forward to remove.
Once the front engine cover to your E350 has been removed, you can access the front of your V6 engine. Because your intake system and piping is part of your upper engine cover, it will require you to undo the clip first.
Reach to the top of your E350 engine cover and push up on the metal clip. Once this is loose you can lift up on the back of the intake system to loosen it.
Lift up and towards the front of the Mercedes by grabbing your intake piping as shown above. The E350 piping leads towards the front of the radiator and terminates at an air duct. You can loosen the front air duct by pulling up on the plastic pop rivet.
Once you have the top of the engine cover and the intake system loosened, you can lift up to access your E350 MAF Sensor.
You will need to pull up on the gray locking tab to undo the E350 MAF sensor wiring harness. This plastic tab holds the connector in place to prevent the harness from coming loose.
Once the E350 MAF sensor has been unplugged, you can begin undoing the plastic arms that snap the unit in place. Gently pry open the front plastic arms to remove the E350 MAF sensor from the intake manifold mount.
Once you have these arms snapped open you can lift up from the back of your E350 MAF Sensor. This should free the mass air flow sensor from your Mercedes Benz and allow you to install a replacement unit.
Snap in the replacement E350 MAF Sensor and make sure that it’s connected securely to the intake manifold mount. Then reconnect the mass air flow sensor wiring harness. The trick is then to install the intake piping and the engine cover securely. This should be a tight fit to prevent any intake leaks.
Use your OBDII scan tool to clear and erase any E350 check engine light. Have any questions about this DIY tutorial? Leave us a comment below and let us know!
