kots

Hi guys,

Does anyone know if there is a difference in the ride height between airmatic and sports steel suspension for the new c class?

I know agility control does not alter the ride height, but rather changes dumping rate, but how does a car with airmatic sits compared with a car fitted with sports steel suspension??

This is my last thing to sort out before placing my order and ride height is very importanpt for me.

Thanks

djejglk

I would think that the stance between the two would be identical. MB seems pretty particular (thankfully) on how their cars appear, including ride height and wheel size. An airmatic vs non shouldn't look different. It's whats underneath that counts, not the visuals of it.

This is all speculation on my part of course. Even looking at photos you probably won't be able to tell until you have the same make and model, sitting side by side at the dealership, one with airmatic and one with standard/steel suspension.

MBNUT1

My only comment is that the airmatic W211 appeared to sit lower than the steel sprung cars.

djejglk

I'm not familiar with MB and airmatic, but sitting lower and having possibly better ride quality and handling could mean a +1 for the OP.

kots

Its just a shame that we cant find ane decent information regarding the oparation of airmatic on the w205 in detail,

On our w164 6.3 AMG, when in sport mode, it lowers about an inch.

Not even the salesmen at the dealer can answer my questions about the w205 airmatic..

I quess we need someone that actually got a car with airmatic to make it clear to us.

megaoctane

The online owners guide show that with airmatic the car can have two modes. Normal and raised. The vehicle is raised by 25mm compared to normal level. The "vehicle rising" message appears in the multifunction display.

In sport or sport+ mode, the vehicle is lowered 15 mm compared to the normal level.

kots

So that is 3 modes? Normal, raised and lowered 15mm ?

Or were you referring to steel suspension when you said lowered 15mm in sports and sports plus mode?

megaoctane

Those are the three modes for the airmatic.

kots

After a long search, I've found the exact info I needed,

http://5komma6.mercedes-benz-passion.com/airmatic-agilitats-paket-sa-483-c-klasse-w205/

airmatic suspension on w205 fully tested and reviewed, apparently there is the "normal" ride height, the +25mm option, and the 15mm lowered position which should be the same as sports steel suspension. So 3 different ride heights to choose and dumping rates as well.

Airmatic it is for me then.

Thanks for the info guys

Tjdehya

The video from that link is useful for those of you who dont know much about Airmatic. FYI I have an Electronic Lowering Module (ELM) on my E550 that allows me to lower the car as much as I want. I can go from a 4x4 truck look to slammed whenever I want. ELMs are expensive though.

djejglk

The airmatic option is available on a luxury, sport (standard model), AND a full blown sport package. So, how does this correlate to ride height within these categories? The sport package already says it has a lowered ride height to begin with, the standard sport model (base model) has a "lowered comfort suspension", and I guess the luxury has a somewhat elevated/comfort suspension.

In other words, if I were to have a sport package version, which also has an inherent lowered suspension, WITH airmatic as well, does that mean the standard setting for this would be lower than the standard setting for the luxury? And then the whole 25mm/15mm kicks in on top of that? Or does airmatic=exact same height and suspensions regardless of model?

Hope that makes sense

ddarko

The writeup and video posted above are interesting and informative and thanks to the member for posting them. Being USA based, I still wonder if that information is true for US-spec C-Class. Another forum member here who's in the UK posted a link in another thread to a Mercedes UK forum discussion where someone had posted technical manuals from Mercedes USA that said Airmatic didn't change the height for USA spec models. Now this doc was a couple years old and for another model line so it doesn't necessarily apply to the Airmatic on the W205 but it is a reminder we can't be sure these features hold true across all territories. I think a lot of these questions won't get answered until the car is in the hands of customers.

Tjdehya

Correct

At least that is the case for the E class. The airmatic is the same across the line regardless of model sport/lux/etc.

Ed99

I have an E class with airmatic. For whom wants to lower their car more, pick up lowering links and you can lower your car as much as 3inches. I have lowering links and loving the ride height options controlled from the comfort and sport mode button.

kots

Hi ed99

What exactly are the lowering links and were do you get them from?

Isnt there a way to lower the car through the ecu?

eddie122

so if I choose airmatic, the car will be raise up at normal height until I select to lower it to the same height as sports steel suspension? then what's the point of getting it? to raise my suspension? I'd prefer to lower my suspension more...

Ed99

Lowering links triggers the sensor close by your suspension. I can see there will be a lot of slammed C205 out there. Lowering links go for $200-300 and takes less than 45mins to install.