greasykid

Need to have real world feedback from C owners with AIRMATIC. What's it like and is it worth $1300?

notabenex

Tried C220 without airmatic on 18 and with airmatic on 19.

Then ordered C250 on 18 with airmatic, even if i had to pay 2000usd for it.

I think its worth it.

KenMDTO

I have airmatic and I think it's great, although I like to drive mostly in sport. I like the fact I can raise the car for clearance in snow, etc.

jbbeauso

Yup! Airmatic saved me today over a massive speed bump. I heard the car in front scrape... Raised it up and I was golden. Wife loves it in Comfort... I like it in Sport/sport +. Everyone is happy. I only wish it would remember the previous setting next time you start the car

mihaelb

I thought in Canada, all Cs have the adjustable suspension with the extra height button?

utsenmo

Airmatic was the first option I needed.

jbbeauso

Nope. I think it comes with the sport package

mihaelb

Airmatic comes with sports on 400...I meant that I thought that the extra height thing existed without airmatic, and even on the 300...

PeterUbers

Airmatic is only worth it while u have a warranty, lol

c4004matic

In the US its a standalone option. Its available on both models. Its not part of any package.

notabenex

You think? I am still considering with or without, planning to keep car for 5 yrs.. on 18 maybe its ok without?

DBOC205

I faced the same dilemma but when you think about it.. Airmatic is standard on an S Class - would I own/like an S Class - heck yeah decision made. There's so much tech on the new C that almost any kind of issue that falls out of the warranty period will no doubt sting the wallet a bit, but equally so the W205 will probably be a volume seller for Benz - so aftermarket parts for repairs will no doubt start to appear in the market to make repairs a bit cheaper.

vic viper

Well worth it, imagine the lowering possibilities, easy to do and you still have the ability to raise the vehicle when needed.

Yogibara

Glad to hear that it's a good option. I'm looking forward to it. Sometimes I enjoy sport but when I'm driving in downtown Houston I absolutely must have comfort.

greasykid

Can Airmatic be of help getting in/out of C Class? Another words can it be used to raise or lower the car when not moving? Getting older makes in/out of the car a bit more of a chore. It would be nice if the car could be raised for easier entry.

vic viper

Yes, you can only use the "raised" setting while standing still or driving under 30 mph

greasykid

Appreciate all the feedback. Guess I will add it to my wishlist. Had an air system on my large RV. No problems in 120,000 mi.

My son has one of the last E350 Class made with air suspension. (2007) He now has over 125,000 mi on it. Has had no problems. Just routine maintenance. Still has great ride. I get the feeling that the car is smaller when I drive it w/air ride.

greasykid

Is AIRMATIC on both front and rear? Understand that some of MB systems in the past were not always both axles.

vic viper

Yes both axles.

kots

Airmatic was one of the main reasons I went for the C class.

The prospect of lowering the car and still be able to drive the car in comfort at reasonable height sets me off.

Yogibara

All it's missing is a driver/passenger seat that rotates and lifts you out of the car. haha

gfmohn

Don't laugh-it's been done (at least the rotate part)! Just last month, I went to a local auto show and saw an enormous late 1950s-early 1960s American car with a front passenger seat that rotated. As far as I know, it didn't lift you out of the car!

I believe the car was the 1960 DeSoto Adventurer of which I took a photo:

(Wikipedia states that 1960 was the only year that Desoto made a four-door hardtop.)

They don't make 'em like this anymore! (Thank God.) The rotating seat could have been on another huge car of the same era at that show. So if you tell me I'm wrong, I'll believe you.

PeteInGilroy

I ordered my c300 in Oct, Airmatic is one of the options I wanted.

gfmohn

Last week I test-drove two Luxury C300 models, one with Airmatic and one without. I am elderly, and my wife is a very nervous passenger. I have no interest in sportiness, so the Airmatic suspension was set to the comfort setting. The Luxury model advertises a "Comfort" steel suspension, presumably softer than even the basic suspension, let alone "Sport" suspensions. I asked each sales associate to direct me to the roughest of roads near of their two dealerships. The two roads were about equally rough, but had different kinds of roughness. One had broken up surfaces with tar strips. The other was smooth, but with buckled expansion joints. They really were not comparable. Still, I couldn't tell any difference between the the Airmatic suspension and the Comfort steel suspension, so I ordered my Luxury model without Airmatic.

Diesel Benz

Those MBs were wagon models with standard suspension. That is steel springs at the front and air springs for self-levelling at the rear.

The S205 (205 wagon) now also has air springs at the rear, unless it is equipped with full Airmatic suspension (air springs on all corners).