BiTurbo Cold Air Induction Kit For Mercedes Benz CLS550 E550 S550 SL550 (2011-2020) with AMG 4.7L V8 M278 Engine

Optimizing BiTurbo Efficiency: High-Flow Induction Solution for the Mercedes M278 V8

Who It’s For: Engineered for Mercedes-Benz owners running the M278 4.7L BiTurbo powerplant who are tired of the stock sluggishness and want their twin-turbo V8 to breathe without restriction.

The Symptom: The factory intake system on the M278 engine is a significant bottleneck designed for absolute silence rather than peak performance. From the factory, the air filters sit deep within the housing, effectively shrouding nearly 45% of the filter’s surface area and creating significant pressure drops before the air even reaches the turbo inlets. On a heavy chassis like the S550 or the GLS550, this restriction causes a noticeable delay in boost threshold and a feeling of the engine being choked out when you’re trying to merge or pass on the highway.

The Engineering Fix: This UPD Cold Air Induction Kit (CAIK) fundamentally changes the fluid dynamics within the OEM airbox by eliminating the restrictive inlet design. By utilizing precision-engineered aluminum spacers and brackets, we raise the filters up out of the inlet shroud, allowing for 100% air flow across the filter surface versus the measly 55% found in stock configuration. This increase in effective surface area, combined with high-flow re-usable filters, increases total air volume by over 30% and improves flow velocity under the filter by up to 50%, resulting in a sharper throttle snap and a much more aggressive induction note under load.

Why Mechanics Choose This Kit

• Substantial Power Gains: Dyno testing has confirmed 23-25 rear-wheel horsepower gains on stock M278 engines, with even higher results on vehicles with aftermarket ECU tuning.
• Superior Filtration Surface: By raising the filter height, this kit utilizes the entire filter media, outperforming standard drop-in K&N filters by as much as 18 horsepower.
• Premium Hardware: Every kit features blood red anodized aluminum brackets and spacers paired with special stainless steel German-made hardware for a seamless, factory-plus installation.

Technical Specifications

Compatibility & OEM Reference

Fits the Following Vehicles:

• 2011–2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (S500 Europe / S550 US)
• 2011–2014 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class (CL500 Europe / CL550 US)
• 2015-2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe/Cabriolet (S500 Europe / S550 US)
• 2011–2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class (CLS500 Europe / CLS550 US)
• 2012–2020 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (SL500 Europe / SL550 US)
• 2012–2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (E500 Europe / E550 US)
• 2012-2014 Mercedes-Benz M-Class/GLE-Class (ML500 Europe / ML550 US)
• 2013–2014 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (GL450 Europe and US)
• 2013–2019 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class/GLS-Class (GL500/GLS500 Europe / GL550/GLS550 US)
• 2016–present BAIC BJ90 (GL-Class Based Chassis)

Interchange Reference:

M278, 4.7L, V8, BITURBO, UPD-CAIK-M278, S550-INTAKE-KIT, E550-INTAKE-KIT, CLS550-INTAKE-KIT

The Performance Promise

Buy with confidence. This kit is designed for the enthusiast who demands measurable performance without sacrificing the clean, sophisticated look of the Mercedes engine bay. Backed by real-world dyno data and fast shipping from automotive experts.