https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post6171668

I posted a ways back for someone else

 

Thank you abstractls. do you feel thats low enough, or would you go further?

 

I'm familiar to air suspension, my current 2014 Grand Cherokee Overland has it. It's got some nice features like being able to lower or raise the vehicle manually, even dropping 0.6" at highway speeds to help increase gas mileage, and makes getting out of the vehicle easier too when lowered. But for me, air suspension has some negatives as well...mostly the handling is not as good as the regular coil spring set up (I've owned both versions of the 2014 Grand Cherokee with & without air suspension). It's wallows a bit in the turns, and bounces more over bumps. Also you do hear the compressor at times when the vehicle is raising or leveling.

Another thing to take into consideration is the complexity & longevity of the air suspension system, and since I might be lowing my vehicle in the future, I would think it's easier to deal with just replacing coil springs as opposed to dealing with an air suspension drop.

So between what I've listed above, together with the many mixed articles I've read about the W205 Airmatic suspension saying it wasn't worth the money, or it didn't handle any better in the curves, and that they preferred the steel suspension instead...I passed on the Airmatic suspension, and put the money towards different options instead.

 

I love the Air suspension. I wouldn't have bought the car without it as I have another car for fun and I wanted the s205 for refinement.

 

It's plenty low enough for me, any lower and I think I would have speed bump issues

 

Actually lowering the C400 is very easy, you just need to buy the adjustable lowering links for about $250. It's very simple

 

I didn't get airmatic. After having mine, and riding in one with it finally, I'd definitely reccomend it. Worth the wait. Worth the in comparison pocket change expense, short and long term.

Airmatic in this car a must have IMO. Gotta help with run flats too.

 

yes, airmatic is must have

 

Airmatic was a requirement for me. I'm leaving behind a sporty car, and moving to comfort.

Given the state of roads, the seemingly never-ending new speed bumps cropping up everywhere, and the fact I can increase the height of the car .. Well those were reasons enough for me.

 

I've just had a non-airmatic loan car (C220) whilst mine was in for some work and I've got to say it made me even happier that I ticked that particular option on mine! The ride wasn't bad however whereas mine is supremely smooth on the motorways the loan one wasn't and when on the small twisty roads I then missed the hard ride mine has in sports+.

 

I have changed my c300 for the c400 with airmatic which is still on order.
I chose the 18s over the 19s for comfort but still debating.
id like to know your opinion the ride of your 400 with the 18s and airmatic!
Thx!

 

The air suspensinion (airmatic) is a very nice system. When you put the agility select in comfort the car is very smooth and in sport or sport plus the car lowers itself and gets a sportier feel due to firmer suspension. Have a look at my video (mercedes c class amg package, price 77k euro's )---->

 

I had a chance yesterday to drive an AirMatic C300 as well as a steel suspension C300 on 19" wheels and the C450 with electronic variable dampening. The AirMatic C rides a lot like my current S Class. Although the C's suspension is busier overall due to the shorter wheel base, it has the same effortless smoothness. AirMatic cars glide, that's the only way I can describe it. Once you've had one it's hard to give it up. I just did a C300 Sport build because nobody had any Airmatic cars in inventory. Highly recommend it.

 

The AIRMATIC ride in my C400 is the main reason I decided not to trade for a C450. I drove a C450 last week. It's very similar to my C400. It's a little louder (which many like) with a rougher, more firm ride, even in comfort mode. The C400 is a smoother, quieter ride. For me, what the C400 gives up in performance (4.7 to 60mph vs 4.5 for the C450- Car and Driver test), it gains in a quieter smoother ride.

 

As many others have noted, I think the answer is obvious. Airmatic suspension provides a visibly refined ride quality, its adjustable (lowers itself), its priceless in my view for both sport-ride as well comfort-ride. Without Airmatic in a C300, I would never had ventured on buying a C.

 

I never in a million years would have been a C Class buyer. My last 3 cars were an S500, S430 and S550, the other end of the sedan spectrum. I had a base C300 as a loaner and it rode and drove great. Honestly, a C on the ugly, horribly proportioned 17" wheels is a close second to an AirMatic on 18" set to Comfort. No self leveling but still very smooth. I ordered the AirMatic so I could go to the 19" Multispoke wheels and not firm the car up too much.

 

I think answers my earlier question above ie my takeaway is with the 17 inch wheels the steel suspension rides nearly as well as the airmatic without the complication and associated failure risk.

I would advise you to pay particular attention to the wind noise. If you peruse the forum you will find many complaints which basically say it sounds like the window is cracked open without satisfactory resolution. On my test drive I didn't notice it but that is what others have reported.

 

Good points. I have the 17 inchers with airmatic and I think the ride would be perfect if not for the run-flat tires.

 

Nice review. The engine sounds good when you push it. Huge improvement over the earlier C250

 

I'll be leasing so the AirMatic failure isn't a concern, although the reason the S550 was in the shop for two weeks was a blown air strut that was on national back order.

I did an ambient cabin noise recording on the C loaner and on the S on the same stretch of interstate. The C definitely lets more wind noise in than the $107,000 S Class does, but it wasn't a dealbreaker, at least as far as that particular C300 went. That's why I got the Burmester

But I agree if the aesthetics of the 17" don't bother you, the ride is very comfortable on them.

 

Airmatic is a must have, worth every penny, don't let naysayers with limited experience sway you. Try it yourself.

 

Quite the opposite, with airmatic speed bumps are nothing to cringe about, as you can raise the height more, something you cannot do with regular suspension.

 

I'm currently building a C300 Coupe, the problem is my dealer or hardly anyone in the nearby area has a C class with Airmatic that I can test...
The Coupe AMG setup works pretty well, but it would have been nice to test the Airmatic, it's not that expensive after all.

Has anyone had a chance to compare the Coupe or saloon AMG chassi vs Airmatic?

 

SPOT ON. I have a base model loaner with 17s right now (pano roof rattle, and windshield/dash rattle) and its ride is very similar to my 19", sport, Airmatic equipped vehicle in comfort mode. Couldn't have described it any better myself.

 

While the ride is bouncier on 17" and springs they are better at sharp shock absorption than 19" air matic cars.