IIRC Mercedes deliberately vents the front wheel wells from slots and ducts in the front bumper to lower air resistance. The wheel well is an aerodynamic mess anyway.
The scoop is functional, as you want to contain a bubble of slow moving air up front. That bubble gently moves the air around and over the car. Without the bubble there'd be more friction around the edges. Better not cover it.
My old '98 Almera had plates over the foglight holes. And it got mediocre fuel economy; the high-revving DOHC 1.6 and short gears made ecodriving hard. I got it up to maybe 35 mpg by sticking to the right lane, following semis at a respectful distance.
20 years and still soldiering on... Do you garage yours?
Mine was an absolute rustbucket 6 years ago. I fixed some holes with glass mats and resin, but when the fuel tank started to leak I had enough and sold it.
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2011 Honda Insight + HID, LEDs, tiny PV panel, extra brake pad return springs, neutral wheel alignment, 44/42 PSI (air), PHEV light (inop), tightened wheel nut.
lifetime FE over 0.2 Gigameter or 0.13 Megamile.
For confirmation go to people just like you.
For education go to people unlike yourself.
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