S_LWB

Hi Guys,

I've recently fitted the airmatic lowering links to my S350L, it is sitting on 20" Vossens and i've dropped it using the links approx 35mm all round.

I was wondering how much these vehicles self lower at highway speeds???

I'm asking because i'm worried if i have lowered it too much, i dont want the car to self lower too much at highway speeds and cause thousands worth of damage. The place i purchased them from did advice that the amount it self lowers at highway speeds should be taken into consideration when lowering it

triniexr

I wouldn't go past a 30mm drop. Thats what I am doing and from what i've seen its a good drop without issues.

S_LWB

Thanks for the info. I'm sure some members on here have gone much more than 30mm??? and what is this thing about the vehicle lowering itself at speed...

Mike5215

If Airmatic is set at "Comfort" and you exceed 80mph it drops it to "Sport" height. I don't think it drops at all from Sport height. I believe it will remain at Sport height until the car is restarted. Remember to get an alignment whenever you alter the ride height. It's best to try a setting and live with it for awhile and then get the alignment once you're done playing with it.

1bad540

cant the dealer also lower it a bit? With the star computer? I drive it in sport and after I swap the wheels id like to do a light drop maybe 1/2 inch to an inch.

S_LWB

Hi, yes thats what i was thinking and you see alot of people who have slammed their rides without any issues (not that i'm a fan of that) just trying to get to the bottom of how the airmatic works really.

Mike5215

STAR can get you an inch if you can find a shop willing to do it. You're basically feeding the controller false ride height sensor data to "trick" the controller. Most dealers won't do it unless you already have a relationship with them.

1bad540

well im sure they'll do it, there 3 large benz dealers within 20 miles of me plus I have access to a master tech w star computer if need be. hmm If I can get a inch from that what would be the benefit of the links?

Jason B

Yep, and a good friend of mine owns and runs an indie. He can do anything.

Mike5215

Yeah, it's really not a matter of how many benz dealers there are. None of them generally want the liability. If they deliberately push the sensors out of spec to drop it and three weeks later it needs new upper control arm bushings or it's developed a new vibration who's on the hook?

If you do the STAR drop and aren't satisfied then you're out what you spent on a STAR drop plus the cost of the links. It usually takes more than an inch to make any real visual impact.

triniexr

I don't think they'd go much lower than 30mm. These aren't Honda's, you wouldn't want to bottom this car out. There is a lot of plastic and dampening material under the car to prevent road noise and keep the cabin quiet. I personally think if its too low it looks riced out. A drop just above the tire looks nice and aggressive.

1bad540

I agree just enough to close the tire well gap.

triniexr

If you want you can get a lowering module that plugs into the ECU and tricks the car into lowering itself. I got the carlsson lowering module, im getting it installed after I come back from vacation.

Mike5215

^There's also a module that gets connected to the CAN and allows control from the steering wheel buttons with a display on the speedo. I think it's called "LoPro"?

1bad540

what do these modules cost?? Are the links cost wise the better way to go?

triniexr

I saw that one. Pretty cool and costs a pretty penny as well.

I got my Carlsson off eBay. I seen stores selling it for $1700. I got mine for $300. Costs about the same for installation

Mike5215

Yeah, around $1500 new. There's an install video on YouTube that shows the whole install...plug and play...


The links are inexpensive and fairly easy to install. Jack up a front wheel for some space to work. Disconnect the OEM link from the upper control arm and the sensor (it just pops off and on. No tools required.) Set the length of the new links (the longer they are vs OEM the more the car drops). Pop it back on. Repeat for the other front. On the rears there's a single link situated over the rear diff so you have to crawl under there with a light. On the rear link, it goes opposite...shorter link equals more drop.

Drive the car around the block to give the controller time to figure out what the F you've done and then the car will self level at the new height.

Adjustible Air Ride (AAR) links have to come off the car to make height adjustments, which are inevitable. Ghost Links can be adjusted while still connected.

Once you've found the sweet spot on height vs ride degradation and bottom-outs on bumps and highway expansion gaps, get a 4 wheel alignment to prevent premature tire wear.

Finally, when you're done admiring how cool the car looks while simultaneously hating how it rides, put the links on EBay.

Garticus

1bad540

If I do a small drop you think the car will ride like crap?

Mike5215

A drop extensive enough to make a difference will degrade the ride quality. It'll stiffen quite a bit and you'll feel a lot more of everything in the seats and in the wheel. Basically it loses the isolation of the air ride and feels like a conventional car. I'm not talking about slamming...just closing the fender gap.

Setting the AirMatic to "Sport" drops the car and retains the ride quality. Not as visually dramatic though.

1bad540

you dropped yours and raised it back up?

marthyh

So did I ..
found out its not worth it,especcially if there is lot of speed bumps where you live .
Or take an electronic one so you can adjust at will.

Mike5215

Yeah, my last 220. It was heartbreaking too because it looked so damn good, but it rode hard and developed all sorts of weird vibrations and shudders that shouldn't have anything to do with the drop but immediately went away when the ride height was restored.

You see pics of the dropped S Class on 22's and they all look great but you can't drive a picture. Personally, on your car I'd do 20's and then maybe the S65 body kit and I'd be very happy.

AstonLiyanarchi

I lowered mine using links about 2in and I was worried about rubbing since I am on 22s. I have some slight rubbing through large dips but other than that ride quality wasn't really affected even with 25 series tires. The only major issue was that I needed to get my front fenders rolled because the tires would catch on the lip on certain turns. It seems like the car accommodates for passenger weight and it does lower at highway speeds. I am looking into an adjustable module because it does seem like the best option if it can get me the drop that I want.

triniexr

Here check these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carlsson-C-Tronic-Module-Lowering-Kit-Mercedes-S-Class-W221-07-/300928150515?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4610b72bf3&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RENNtech-Merceces-Benz-ABC-Airmatic-Suspension-Lowering-Module-/321635003580?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ae2f0acbc&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RENNtech-v3-Lowering-Module-S550-S63-S65-AMG-Cl63-Cl65-Cl550-221-216-Mercedes-S-/161608050476?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item25a097272c&vxp=mtr