doctorpimp

I've been researching how to lower my GL using my STAR diagnosis system (Made in China) I've read the procedure listed on the W211 forum:
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...ts-o-pics.html

I can put the values in, but for the X164 it lists the suspension height in mm, not in voltage like described. It also doesn't say what the high and low values are. My stock levels are around (-30)mm and I can drop the car down to (-70)mm, but when I try to enter the inclination angles (within specs listed in STAR) it won't accept it. If I raise it back to (-30)mm the values are accepted...

Anyone experienced with this type of procedure?

I was either going to use STAR to lower my GL or make the brackets - but I thought I'd try this method first

Primus63

I had my car lowered with star an the ride quality was horrible, so I had them put it back to stock. Now my car is lowered with a ELM an the ride quality of the car is almost as smooth as stock. Food for thought.

alx

Lowered is lowered. One lowering method does not produce better ride than another in the case of airmatic. It is all in your head.

Btw, lowered gl trucks ride really crappy...

Primus63

Disagree, its a night an day different I'm talking from first hand experience. Elm an star gives two different ride quality.

doctorpimp

Thanks for your replies

Yeah, I've explored all the options available and figured that since I have a STAR already, I would try that option (least expensive...)

I don't want to slam my GL to the ground, but I would like a 1-2" drop if possible. The factory setting has a ton of wheel clearance and it looks weird IMHO. I roll on the factory 18" wheels in the winter and have aftermarket 20" for the summer...

I tried different heights in mm and different inclination angles (within listed specs) and nothing would stay - except for the (-30)mm setting that seems to be the default and is what the automatic levelling option gives you. I suppose fully lifted would be 0mm...???

Does anyone know the maximum drop you can do in mm and still stay within specs?

alx

lol. no.

lowering is pretty much less air in the bags. airmatic is very slow acting (actually not acting at all) and all it does it maintains certain pressure in the system.

less pressure - less height. how you achieve the less pressure (star, elm, links) is irrelevant.

N_Jay

Doesn't airmatic actually use sensors on the suspension to set height, not just maintaining some set pressure in the air springs?

alx

it does. but those sensors are just feedback how much air to be pumped into the bags. once the target height is reached pressure remains steady. the system is not dynamic/ reactive or precise like the abc is.

N_Jay

It is somewhat dynamic as it adjusts when you jack the car up or load it down.

doctorpimp

That's what I'm looking for... the range of "target" heights that STAR will accept. Quite different system than for the W211 - mm vs volts

I already know that (-70)mm and (-50)mm won't be accepted for some reason but (-30)mm will

Maybe on the GL, with Airmatic and the lift suspension button - "normal" ride height is already lowered as far as it will go...???

Anyone know for sure?

Or, anyone with an ML (Airmatic) or GL have their vehicle lowered with STAR?

alx

very slowly. the system is not designed to respond in real time like the abc is

N_Jay

Very true.


I also don't see how changing the height with either a controller or in Star should make any different in ride. The spring rate and suspension angles should be exactly the same at any particular height no matter how it is accomplished.

doctorpimp

The rate and travel would hypothetically remain constant - the only change would be height and the wheel's alignment.

Unless you go super low and hit the bump-stops all the time over bumps - or if Airmatic has to increase air pressure to compensate for lower height...

Unlike coilspring cars, where if you cut the spring you drastically change rate.

Airmatic itself can have the Comfort, Normal and Sport options (if so equipped) - raising and lowering the car. Does this make the ride more stiff?
Or, does it just lower centre of gravity?

N_Jay

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but if it has Comfort, Normal and Sport options it is the adaptive suspension and not just airmatic.

doctorpimp

Yes, but the Adaptive Suspension is an add on to Airmatic. You need the Airmatic system and all of it's components.

doctorpimp

So if Adaptive can lower the car into Sport mode, theoretically STAR lowering is the same thing...

doctorpimp

Just like an ELM

N_Jay

EXCEPT the adaptive suspension is also adjusting the shock rates and not just lowering on fixed dampening shocks/struts).

doctorpimp

Does anyone know how much lower a 164 with Adaptive goes on Sport mode, apposed to Normal?

And, in Sport mode, does it still lower itself at highway speeds?

doctorpimp

Makes sense - so an ELM increases rate too when dropped?

N_Jay

I don't know what the ELM does, but if the car does not have Adaptive Suspension (ADS) option, the hardware to make the adjustments is not there.

doctorpimp

Gonna have to research this... But...
I would think that with ADS (thanks for the acronym!) all the sensors under the car would be the same - the only different hardware should be the dash switch, wiring and some sort of control box (or maybe just programming)
The level sensors just report height based on set voltages.

N_Jay

No, ADS has different shocks with (I think) electronic (Maybe pneumatic or hydraulic) connections so the control can adjust the dampening (separate from the height (base air pressure in the bladder).


I think there are also sensors to read the road surface, but that might only be on the new S class.

doctorpimp

Ok - I'm learning new info about this car all the time... I'm a GL newbie

doctorpimp

Anyone find out info about heights in mm, compared to voltages...?

I could drop it to (-39)mm but no lower, without rejecting the inclination angles
Even still, after accepting the angles and saving - once I started to drive and stopped - it would raise back to the factory preset (-30)mm

Is the option to raise/lower Airmatic not available for the X164 on STAR...?

I even looked through developer mode - nothing there either