M-Class (W166) Produced 2012-2015

Too stiff ride on ML 350, 2013. Oh my God

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Old 07-09-2014, 02:43 PM
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Too stiff ride on ML 350, 2013. Oh my God

Too stiff ride on my ML 350, 2013. suspension is base, non-airmatic. i need extremely comfortable ride, handling is not interesting to me at all. i live in bulgaria, the roads here are damn so bad...
the car came with 18 inch original european wheels, michelin non run flat tires. still the suspension is too stiff for me. i even tried airmatic version, it is even stiffer than base suspension. what else can i do? is there a chance to tweak the suspension anyhow by change the suspension springs or other parts names of which i technically do not recall?
thank you for any kind of help.
Old 07-09-2014, 04:55 PM
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Good luck Taleh, the ride seems really soft to me.
Don't bother trying the Lincoln MKX then (if it's available there). It's a feature packed car, but the ride quality is slightly harsher than the ML.
Old 07-09-2014, 08:33 PM
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A start would be 17" wheels
Old 07-10-2014, 12:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Nanook
A start would be 17" wheels


I was going to say "a start would be a Mercedes Benz" ... oops
Old 07-10-2014, 12:14 PM
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Get rid of the run flat tires.
Old 07-10-2014, 04:19 PM
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I'm afraid with the steel springs there will not be much you can do. Some here might be able to recommend a wheel/tire combination that might soften the ride a bit but probably not much.
Good luck.
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Old 07-10-2014, 06:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Taleh
Too stiff ride on my ML 350, 2013. suspension is base, non-airmatic. i need extremely comfortable ride, handling is not interesting to me at all. i live in bulgaria, the roads here are damn so bad...
the car came with 18 inch original european wheels, michelin non run flat tires. still the suspension is too stiff for me. i even tried airmatic version, it is even stiffer than base suspension. what else can i do? is there a chance to tweak the suspension anyhow by change the suspension springs or other parts names of which i technically do not recall?
thank you for any kind of help.
What tire pressures are you running? I hope they are not the mercedes max load pressures. They should be at 33-34 cold psi. Sometimes dealers over inflate the tires on the MLs when in transport to prevent flat spots.

The ML350 is so smooth over the worse pot hole ridden roads we have in Michigan during the winter time. I love how it soaks them up with ease even with 4matic that it feels refined as the S-class.I got michelin all season latitude tour Hp tires and use 34 psi cold. Are you with summer tires? They will cause stiff ride regardless of pressure,
Old 07-10-2014, 06:57 PM
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The run flats will make the ride harsher
Old 07-10-2014, 10:51 PM
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You will NEVER get any type of ride at all in Bulgaria with Run Flats - the nature of the run flat is there are aluminum discs that replace sidewalls of a conventional a conventional tire - so it's like riding on a chariot/wheel around a Roman arena - aweful !
Old 07-11-2014, 01:24 AM
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I think he said he does NOT have runflats.

Best advice is look for 15" rims and add bubble tires.
Old 07-11-2014, 01:34 AM
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Run flats are the worst. Had them on a Corvette. I felt like the Flintstones.
Old 07-11-2014, 06:05 AM
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Originally Posted by 2012MLBlue
Get rid of the run flat tires.
Originally Posted by Need4Speed
The run flats will make the ride harsher
The OP said: "michelin non run flat tires"
Old 07-11-2014, 06:06 AM
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Originally Posted by fabbrisd1
You will NEVER get any type of ride at all in Bulgaria with Run Flats - the nature of the run flat is there are aluminum discs that replace sidewalls of a conventional a conventional tire - so it's like riding on a chariot/wheel around a Roman arena - aweful !
Originally Posted by screw991le
Run flats are the worst. Had them on a Corvette. I felt like the Flintstones.
See my post above
Old 07-11-2014, 08:50 AM
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He says he has "michelin non run flat tires," so it seems unclear whether he has them or not.
Old 08-12-2014, 12:18 AM
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Huh? My ML350 with base suspension and 20"s is the most comfortable ride car Id ever driven.
Old 08-12-2014, 02:01 AM
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Old 08-12-2014, 04:56 AM
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2014 ML350 BlueTec
Worst is I HAVE the Perelli run flats and am VERY happy with the ride on my 2014 350BT. I am not unhappy with this sacrifice for the B&O audio. I have a plug kit and air pump to make me feel better but have to face the fact that I have not had a flat in my last three vehicles.

Everyone's perception of what is a good "ride" is different.

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