Steinhart

So, if Magic Body Control comes with Active Body Control suspension, why are there so few cars available with MBC?

I am in the market to purchase an S550 and I have found only one car with the MBC option, but it's lacks the other packages I'm looking for.

I really like ABC on my SL and would like to get it on the S.

Is it because it really doesn't make much difference in the ride quality?

Rocketman

My guess - it is not available with 4Matic and many people want the option of all wheel drive.

Chucky300

I believe it's the combo of what Rocketman said re: not being available with 4matic - but also because the option is $5000. That's a heft price to pay for any option - especially since airmatic is a very comfortable ride in itself.

I have ABC/MBC because I love it - and loved it on my last 2 S Classes.

Steinhart

I live in Arizona, none of the 50 S's on the lots are 4 matic and only one has ABC/MBC. I drove both and can't tell the difference in ride quality, however it was a rather short drive and did not test it in high speed corners are breaking where the ABC is most noticeable, at least on the SL.

To me, ABC is worth 5k, MBC is frosting on the cake.

Unless I order the car with ABC/MBC, getting one with the options I want will be difficult.

Chucky300

ABC is amazing on the curves where the car remains TOTALLY flat (in sport mode). That's where teh huge difference is. In a straight normal relaxed drive - you likely won't notice anything.

With MBC - if u have ABC in comfort setting, and keep your foot on the gas, you will see the bumps minimized, as well as gradations in the road seem un-noticeable.

In New York, you see only 4matics, besides mine of course. haha

konigstiger

Comes down to cost in order to move volume off the lot. Interesting thread https://mbworld.org/forums/new-s-cla...y-control.html

Steinhart

so another related question,

on the SL, regular tires (not run flats) come with ABC

is that true for the S as well, or do they still come with run flats?

Steinhart

yes, agree

yeah, as you can tell from that other thread, I've been interested in MBC

emilner

I think it's a combination of not being able to get it with 4matic (which is far more important to most buyers, especially up north) and it's an incremental improvement. Most S classes are not driven to the limits of the tires where a vehicle would benefit from ABC. As it is the car handles pretty darn flat (amazingly so) and as such it's really all about MBC. Some people say they like MBC but most posts I've seen say they really don't notice much of a difference.

Steinhart

I appreciate all your responses, anyone know if run flats also come with the MBC/ABC, or regular tires as with ABC SL550?

emilner

Unless something recently changed MBC cars come with runflats.

Steinhart

ok thanks

Wolfman

THE SL550 with ABC comes with Runflats as well, not regular tires...

Steinhart

my '14 SL 550 with ABC came with regular tires, not run flats

Wolfman

Did you buy it new? What wheel option? In the US, there was no regular tire option besides the SL63/65

Steinhart

yes, bought new, I believe the sport wheel option

Wolfman

Interesting. Can you tell me what tires those are? Sounds like the put the wrong tires on by mistake.

Steinhart

bridgestone potenza 285/30 r19 tubeless radials

all the '14 SL 550's with ABC I saw had these tires and as it was explained to me by the Mercedes dealer, all SL's with ABC came with tubeless radials, whereas all SL's without ABC came with run flats