HELP - Airmatic malfunction
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Cls63 AMG
HELP - Airmatic malfunction
Hey guys,
I own an 07 W219 CLS63, and recently I had my front passenger side air struct replaced due to a leak (according to the dealer). Picked up the car last Friday and everything looked fine until the next day when I was driving the car and all of sudden the air suspension lifting malfunction sign showed on the dash. I thought it might be a random error which could be solved by a reset, i.e. out of the car -> lock -> unclock -> start the car again, however no luck. The sign shows up shortly after the car was started, and would stay for the rest of the drive.
So I took the car back to the dealer to have a look at the problem, the mechanic came back to me saying it was the air pump that had let go and I need to now replace a new pump for it. I wasn't quite convinced by that since the car had no issue with that problem previously and it just started to happen right after the repair. The mechanic went on basically saying it was just a pure coincidence and he suspected the pump had been "overworked before the repair". The car has done 79000kms and is same as ~49000miles in US measure, even knowing the airmatics on the Mercs have always been slightly unreliable, but really at 49000miles? Not to mention that the struct and now the air pump all decided to give up at the same time. Would love to hear what you guys think of this.
Tony
I own an 07 W219 CLS63, and recently I had my front passenger side air struct replaced due to a leak (according to the dealer). Picked up the car last Friday and everything looked fine until the next day when I was driving the car and all of sudden the air suspension lifting malfunction sign showed on the dash. I thought it might be a random error which could be solved by a reset, i.e. out of the car -> lock -> unclock -> start the car again, however no luck. The sign shows up shortly after the car was started, and would stay for the rest of the drive.
So I took the car back to the dealer to have a look at the problem, the mechanic came back to me saying it was the air pump that had let go and I need to now replace a new pump for it. I wasn't quite convinced by that since the car had no issue with that problem previously and it just started to happen right after the repair. The mechanic went on basically saying it was just a pure coincidence and he suspected the pump had been "overworked before the repair". The car has done 79000kms and is same as ~49000miles in US measure, even knowing the airmatics on the Mercs have always been slightly unreliable, but really at 49000miles? Not to mention that the struct and now the air pump all decided to give up at the same time. Would love to hear what you guys think of this.
Tony
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Joined: Jun 2015
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From: New Jersey
2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
I had a similiar issue with me E. Front passenger air strut had to be replaced and a few months later my compressor went. I had sagging overnight during very cold conditions (20 and below). So I chalked it up to my compressor being overworked. Also if you search around there are some people saying a wiring issue may also be causing the compressor to malfunction. The dealer charged $900 for the part but Arnott has them for about $600 and Suncore and a few others sell them without the relay for about $300. Just a heads up to aid you in any searching you might end up doing. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Cls63 AMG
Hi PieRat, I don’t really recall any sagging issues before the repair. Even the front struct didn’t show any signs before failure to be honest. I trust the dealers since they are authorised, that’s why I took it to them instead of those indie Merc specialists here at the first place, especially for major components like the structs. But as I described in the main post, I just find it a little hard to believe the pump all of sudden just died straight after the struct replacement even though it’s hard to prove the issue was related to the repair.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Cls63 AMG
I had a similiar issue with me E. Front passenger air strut had to be replaced and a few months later my compressor went. I had sagging overnight during very cold conditions (20 and below). So I chalked it up to my compressor being overworked. Also if you search around there are some people saying a wiring issue may also be causing the compressor to malfunction. The dealer charged $900 for the part but Arnott has them for about $600 and Suncore and a few others sell them without the relay for about $300. Just a heads up to aid you in any searching you might end up doing. Good luck.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 860
Likes: 80
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
CLS55
Ah your in New Zealand as well I see.
Yes I would be quite upset having paid dealer prices for a strut to have them try charge me dealer prices for a compressor. I recommend you look at buying one of the aforementioned aftermarket compressors and having an indie install it.
The dealer is OK for some items. For example I can import brake pads (genuine) for 270NZD to my door. Dealer asks for 890 or some sh*t. Rotors on the other hand are about the same price to import as to get from the dealer. Its worthwhile to check in with them but always compare prices to places like pelicanparts, FCP euro and google.
Usually the dealer is quite good at assessing what is broken and performing work (at least down here at Armstrong Prestige) especially when its something common like Airmatic faults.
Yes I would be quite upset having paid dealer prices for a strut to have them try charge me dealer prices for a compressor. I recommend you look at buying one of the aforementioned aftermarket compressors and having an indie install it.
The dealer is OK for some items. For example I can import brake pads (genuine) for 270NZD to my door. Dealer asks for 890 or some sh*t. Rotors on the other hand are about the same price to import as to get from the dealer. Its worthwhile to check in with them but always compare prices to places like pelicanparts, FCP euro and google.
Usually the dealer is quite good at assessing what is broken and performing work (at least down here at Armstrong Prestige) especially when its something common like Airmatic faults.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Cls63 AMG
Ah your in New Zealand as well I see.
Yes I would be quite upset having paid dealer prices for a strut to have them try charge me dealer prices for a compressor. I recommend you look at buying one of the aforementioned aftermarket compressors and having an indie install it.
The dealer is OK for some items. For example I can import brake pads (genuine) for 270NZD to my door. Dealer asks for 890 or some sh*t. Rotors on the other hand are about the same price to import as to get from the dealer. Its worthwhile to check in with them but always compare prices to places like pelicanparts, FCP euro and google.
Usually the dealer is quite good at assessing what is broken and performing work (at least down here at Armstrong Prestige) especially when its something common like Airmatic faults.
Yes I would be quite upset having paid dealer prices for a strut to have them try charge me dealer prices for a compressor. I recommend you look at buying one of the aforementioned aftermarket compressors and having an indie install it.
The dealer is OK for some items. For example I can import brake pads (genuine) for 270NZD to my door. Dealer asks for 890 or some sh*t. Rotors on the other hand are about the same price to import as to get from the dealer. Its worthwhile to check in with them but always compare prices to places like pelicanparts, FCP euro and google.
Usually the dealer is quite good at assessing what is broken and performing work (at least down here at Armstrong Prestige) especially when its something common like Airmatic faults.
Talked to MB NZ regarding the issue because I think it is not the correct thing to allow the dealers to rip off customers like that. The national service manager came back to me basically rephrased exactly what the dealer service manager was arguing (they must have chatted prior my call since I was asking the dealer manager for a goodwill repair) even though he thought my reasoning was legit.... I guess I shouldn't be surprised
He then decided what he could do was to call MB AKL to offer a good price on repair, and then that came a $1200 quote (with 20% discount) for a refurbished pump replacement which I'm sure I won't take. Not just about the money though... just not making sense to let them profit from a problem that didn't exist before they laid their hands on... Anyway, a big letdown from MB after all 8 years of owning and caring my baby even though economically it might be making no sense anymore. I guess I will talk to ECMercedes about the fix.
