Front dropped while driving
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 496
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From: Sweden
W211 e500 (Sold), w204 c180, w203 c180, w201 190e, W219 CLS 55
Front dropped while driving
I'm having a great time with my 3 days old low mileage cls55. First i couldn't fill up with gas then today i was driving as normal in low speed and suddenly got the "car too low, stop driving" message. No noise or any other warning.
When i parked the car the front was more or less dropped on to the wheels. Rear was fine. Trying to lift it, nothing. No sound or anything, rear lifted fine. I tried twice then gave up and called for a towtruk. While waiting i could here the pump making noises followed by a burned smell. So i guess the pump went. The car is at the dealership now but i would like some opinions of what might have happened.
Did a sturt blow? The pump, or could it be a leveling sensor? I could not here anything sounding like a leak, just no lift. I could not find any codes either other than code for car to low.
When i parked the car the front was more or less dropped on to the wheels. Rear was fine. Trying to lift it, nothing. No sound or anything, rear lifted fine. I tried twice then gave up and called for a towtruk. While waiting i could here the pump making noises followed by a burned smell. So i guess the pump went. The car is at the dealership now but i would like some opinions of what might have happened.
Did a sturt blow? The pump, or could it be a leveling sensor? I could not here anything sounding like a leak, just no lift. I could not find any codes either other than code for car to low.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 860
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From: Christchurch, New Zealand
CLS55
Front struts sound like they will need replacing. Pump might have burnt itself out keeping them inflated...Both my front struts have been replaced, rear bags and pump still going strong. This is an easy DIY I can get a side done in about 45 minutes! Google e55 strut replacement DIY. They take the same parts as us so the process is the same.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ion,strut,7584
You want to go re-manufactured so you retain factory active dampening. The new ARNOTTs don't have active dampening and new other brands are expensive! These are the ones you want ARNOTTAS2301 & ARNOTTAS2300
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ion,strut,7584
You want to go re-manufactured so you retain factory active dampening. The new ARNOTTs don't have active dampening and new other brands are expensive! These are the ones you want ARNOTTAS2301 & ARNOTTAS2300
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 860
Likes: 80
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
CLS55
Found this video on DIY. I think the one dated thing about it is the arnotts come with the airline bolt already threaded in, you just insert the airline and it automatically locks into the strut.
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Joined: May 2007
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From: California
CLS55
replace the front airstruts, these are wear items and need to be swapped out at about 75K miles, another option would be to swap to coil over suspension, i have swapped out both fronts at 100K miles as each of them failed. its an easy job.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 496
Likes: 42
From: Sweden
W211 e500 (Sold), w204 c180, w203 c180, w201 190e, W219 CLS 55
Thank you. I'm so suprised it happend during driving and at such low milage without any signs prior.
Right now it's at a mb dealer 250 km from my home and i bought the car 4 days ago so i'm trying to work this one out with the seller. Not ideal situation.
Right now it's at a mb dealer 250 km from my home and i bought the car 4 days ago so i'm trying to work this one out with the seller. Not ideal situation.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 496
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From: Sweden
W211 e500 (Sold), w204 c180, w203 c180, w201 190e, W219 CLS 55
The mb dealer diagnosed that the compressor went bad during driving, they don't know why and they also stated that the entire airmatic system got destroyed at the same time which i find odd. They gave me a invoice of 7k usd which i find pleasant.
To my surprise they did not charge much more for the oem main components than Arnott does.
To my surprise they did not charge much more for the oem main components than Arnott does.
Last edited by Dokus; Aug 28, 2019 at 04:39 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2017
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From: Christchurch, New Zealand
CLS55
EH?
Struts are 500 a piece so $1,000 for front struts, compressor is $260 so $1260, $330 per rear bag (which I don't think you need to replace).
I think reasonable labor is 1hr per side and 1 hr for the compressor so 3hrs total. Maybe they want 4?
Did they say the rear bags and the valve-block need to also be replaced?
Struts are 500 a piece so $1,000 for front struts, compressor is $260 so $1260, $330 per rear bag (which I don't think you need to replace).
I think reasonable labor is 1hr per side and 1 hr for the compressor so 3hrs total. Maybe they want 4?
Did they say the rear bags and the valve-block need to also be replaced?
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 496
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From: Sweden
W211 e500 (Sold), w204 c180, w203 c180, w201 190e, W219 CLS 55
That's what i said, most likely a front strut blew and the compressor got burned and mercedes goes full replacment on everything when i'm coming on a towtruck.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 496
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From: Sweden
W211 e500 (Sold), w204 c180, w203 c180, w201 190e, W219 CLS 55
I'll keep you posted. It's extra annoying since i bought the cleanest 55 on the market just i wouldn't have to deal with stuff like this and just drive but no.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2017
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From: Christchurch, New Zealand
CLS55
Yeah sounds like you got a nice one. Once these airmatic all dealt with you should be good. Only other risk items are the alternator and fuel pump IMO. Rest of the car is pretty reliable!!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 496
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From: Sweden
W211 e500 (Sold), w204 c180, w203 c180, w201 190e, W219 CLS 55
We are getting closer to a agreement that all key components will be replaced under warranty expect one front sturt. Do you guys think i should pay extra to have a oem shock fitted at the same time for about 850-1k usd or just buy a Arnott for about 600 usd and fit it myself?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 496
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From: Sweden
W211 e500 (Sold), w204 c180, w203 c180, w201 190e, W219 CLS 55
Compressor, right front strut, 2x rear struts, 2x rear air bags + mics, nuts and bolts. So basically everything that can brake except left front strut.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2017
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From: Christchurch, New Zealand
CLS55
Yeah put in a new OEM. You could source the blistein yourself and put in yourself or just bite the bullet and get them to put in one if theirs.
New arnott has no adjustable dampening like stock has so you dont want one side without... remanufactured arnott are good and have dampening adjustment but I did have one fail which was replaced under warranty. You dont know how many kms done pre reman so its always a risk..
When they install it all they calibrate the ride heights of each corner so itd be nice to have that done for all sides at once and you know your airmatic is good for no problems for 10-12yrs!!
New arnott has no adjustable dampening like stock has so you dont want one side without... remanufactured arnott are good and have dampening adjustment but I did have one fail which was replaced under warranty. You dont know how many kms done pre reman so its always a risk..
When they install it all they calibrate the ride heights of each corner so itd be nice to have that done for all sides at once and you know your airmatic is good for no problems for 10-12yrs!!
Last edited by PieRat; Sep 2, 2019 at 03:52 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 496
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From: Sweden
W211 e500 (Sold), w204 c180, w203 c180, w201 190e, W219 CLS 55
The shop will go trough the car tomorrow and see what needs replacing. If the right shock is ok i think i will wait a month or two and comeback for the right shock. I gor a good price on oem, similar to a reman Arnott.
I though the shocks were just plug n play and that they would auto calibrate but that does not seem to be the case?
I though the shocks were just plug n play and that they would auto calibrate but that does not seem to be the case?
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 860
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From: Christchurch, New Zealand
CLS55
Yeah they are plug and play but you have level sensors that are independent of the strut. I'm not sure whether it is the new strut or the sensor getting bumped when you change the strut but sometimes the system needs recalibrating.
You will most likely be fine and not need recalibrating if you replace the strut yourself later.
You will most likely be fine and not need recalibrating if you replace the strut yourself later.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 496
Likes: 42
From: Sweden
W211 e500 (Sold), w204 c180, w203 c180, w201 190e, W219 CLS 55
Even tough i might need calibration i think its unlikely that it would undriveable so i can just go and get i calibrated
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 496
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From: Sweden
W211 e500 (Sold), w204 c180, w203 c180, w201 190e, W219 CLS 55
Your suggestion is a good way to do it. In the end i just paid to have the other shock fitted. Unfortunately something went wrong, i barley had the car for two days then one if the new rear airsprings broke. Looks like a c and won't fill with air. Don't know what happend. Now I'm waiting for warranty work once again.
