Airmatic problem
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: UK
W205 C200 Sport Premium Plus. October 2018. 1497cc with 48 volt battery eq
Airmatic problem
My C200 has developed a fault with the airmatic suspension, no matter which mode is set the suspension is rock hard (maybe rear only difficult to tell) going over any uneven surface sends a jolt through the seat making it very uncomfortable. Suspect it's a damping problem, any ideas. No error messages and raising and lowering work ok.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 560
2016 C300
I've owned AirMatic cars exclusively since 2007. Definitely want it under warranty the entire time you own it. Doesn't sound like a failure in your case. Typically you'll come out one morning and the thing will be a low rider. Either an air strut develops a leak, or the compressor burns out, or both. It'll always give you a warning on the dash.
I'd get it on for a diagnosis on STAR. The ride height can be adjusted an inch or so by the software.
I'd get it on for a diagnosis on STAR. The ride height can be adjusted an inch or so by the software.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: UK
W205 C200 Sport Premium Plus. October 2018. 1497cc with 48 volt battery eq
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: UK
W205 C200 Sport Premium Plus. October 2018. 1497cc with 48 volt battery eq
I've owned AirMatic cars exclusively since 2007. Definitely want it under warranty the entire time you own it. Doesn't sound like a failure in your case. Typically you'll come out one morning and the thing will be a low rider. Either an air strut develops a leak, or the compressor burns out, or both. It'll always give you a warning on the dash.
I'd get it on for a diagnosis on STAR. The ride height can be adjusted an inch or so by the software.
I'd get it on for a diagnosis on STAR. The ride height can be adjusted an inch or so by the software.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 560
2016 C300
AirMatic is an air spring in place of a steel coil on an otherwise standard passively dampened hydraulic strut. Any active dampening is happening when impacts momentarily force air from the bag and the system reacts by quickly replacing the air from a pressurized reservoir. The effect is a momentary "give" in the stiffness of the strut/bag assembly as the air is vented.
A sensor failure will both throw an error and make itself obvious by dropping the affected corner up front, or the entire rear. A controller failure will also throw an error and won't respond correctly, or respond at all, to the lift command.
If the ride height is level at all corners, the car responds to a lift command and to agility commands and there are no warning messages between the speedo and tach, the system is functioning normally.
A sensor failure will both throw an error and make itself obvious by dropping the affected corner up front, or the entire rear. A controller failure will also throw an error and won't respond correctly, or respond at all, to the lift command.
If the ride height is level at all corners, the car responds to a lift command and to agility commands and there are no warning messages between the speedo and tach, the system is functioning normally.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: UK
W205 C200 Sport Premium Plus. October 2018. 1497cc with 48 volt battery eq
Except in my case whichever agility mode I'm in the suspension feels rock hard, harder then sport mode. Driving at night as well as being shaken about on poor roads you can see the effect on the headlight beam bouncing.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: UK
W205 C200 Sport Premium Plus. October 2018. 1497cc with 48 volt battery eq
Forgot to add, when I first had this problem it was intermittent and could be corrected by switching off ignition and re starting.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 560
2016 C300
If nothing comes up on the scan, put the SA and tech in the back seat and take them around the block.
If you're outside the car and start from the raised (lift) position, then toggle Agility thru Comfort/Sport/Sport + can you see the car lowering itself? I have an AirMatic car too. Take a pic of the gap between the top of the rear wheels and the fender lip at each setting and I'll see if it's the same on mine. If it's able to raise and lower I wonder if you don't have a blown strut cartridge in the rear.
If you're outside the car and start from the raised (lift) position, then toggle Agility thru Comfort/Sport/Sport + can you see the car lowering itself? I have an AirMatic car too. Take a pic of the gap between the top of the rear wheels and the fender lip at each setting and I'll see if it's the same on mine. If it's able to raise and lower I wonder if you don't have a blown strut cartridge in the rear.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 59
From: Manchester, UK
BMW e89 Z4 sDrive 35i & MB S205 C200 AMG Premium Plus
I've owned AirMatic cars exclusively since 2007. Definitely want it under warranty the entire time you own it. Doesn't sound like a failure in your case. Typically you'll come out one morning and the thing will be a low rider. Either an air strut develops a leak, or the compressor burns out, or both. It'll always give you a warning on the dash.
I'd get it on for a diagnosis on STAR. The ride height can be adjusted an inch or so by the software.
I'd get it on for a diagnosis on STAR. The ride height can be adjusted an inch or so by the software.
Hmm thought so.. Mb's own literature conflicts with your facts a bit..
https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mer...ension-system/
Last edited by ManiacGT; Aug 2, 2016 at 05:00 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
From: UK
W205 C200 Sport Premium Plus. October 2018. 1497cc with 48 volt battery eq
for info only..
https://w220.ee/Airmatic
https://w220.ee/Airmatic
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 560
2016 C300
Originally Posted by ManiacGT
Hmm thought so.. Mb's own literature conflicts with your facts a bit..
https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mer...ension-system/
https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/mer...ension-system/
Last edited by Mike5215; Aug 2, 2016 at 08:25 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 560
2016 C300
for info only..
https://w220.ee/Airmatic
https://w220.ee/Airmatic
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 560
2016 C300
In the 220/221 the compressor failure usually came as the result of an air leak in a strut. The leak caused the compressor to have to run continuously and burn itself out. Was yours just a straight compressor failure or did you need a strut too?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,653
Likes: 560
2016 C300
Yeah there's a reservoir that it uses to accumulate pressurized air so it can be shot on command into the air springs as needed.
Normally the compressor runs for short bursts to top off the reservoir. I've never had one just go bad like that but any things possible.
Normally the compressor runs for short bursts to top off the reservoir. I've never had one just go bad like that but any things possible.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 59
From: Manchester, UK
BMW e89 Z4 sDrive 35i & MB S205 C200 AMG Premium Plus
