Mr. J

So this car is my wife's daily driver and I usually just drive it on the weekends. Today, I took an extended drive and played around with sport mode for some freeway driving. I noticed that I could not feel any difference between the suspension dampening of sport mode vs. comfort mode. To be honest, I'm not sure if I can feel any noticeable change for the sport+ setting either.

So I'm wondering, how does one verify if the adaptive dampeners are working? Is there an easy way to check and verify? Ride harshness is about as subjective as you can get so I would prefer to verify if a problem exists before I go squawking to the service department about it. Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
J

Dthquazi

Find a decent speed bump where you can test without people bugging you. Also that you can hit at a slight angle. Pick a speed and hit it one setting after another. Try to get it where all four wheels can be felt rather quickly. I know it isn't scientific but it should be consistent enough to tell if it is changing the ride or not.

alexasa

iTrader: (1)

Comfort is very lofty and bouncy IMO. So, even though it is more comfortable than either of the other two modes - it actually makes me feel a bit of nausea.

Sport and Sport+ are similar enough. I would say Sport+ makes you realize how unforgiving the run flat tires are, whereas the Sport mode is a nice compromise between the lofty comfort and more harsh Sport+.

Either way, you would have to be fairly numb not to feel the difference, IMO. Especially when going from comfort to sport+

not sure if there is a way to check if it is working correctly.

jd1331

I just got a C43 and didn't notice the diff between S and S+ ~ until my husband drove it in Manuel using the paddles. I can feel more push from the back end

gabe.m

Get an accelerometer with fast sampling rate, mount it on the car and get your answer. Personally, I find it a bit difficult to perceive a significant difference between driving modes, regarding the suspension. Now between a C300 and a C43, there's the difference! but any C43 mode does not seem to come anywhere close to the C300.

...what can I say, maybe I am one of those fairly numb people . The ride seems close to the Q50, bmw328 with sport package, or the 2013 C300, also with sport package on it.

nl88

I too am facing the same issue. I'm suspecting my adaptive suspension is not working as well. Initially I thought that my mind was playing tricks on me.. as I drive the car more often, I'm also starting to feel that the comfort mode is no longer as comfortable as before and infact i cant feel the difference between sports+ and comfort anymore.

blue00r6

I can definitely tell a difference between the modes.. I'm in a c43 coupe for what its worth

Standingoten

C450 here and in any mode it is harsh as hell.

Comfort just makes it harsh when you hit an imperfection then bouncy.

Sport makes it harsher and no bounce.
Sport+ for me feels like every inch of road is imperfect.

removedCFGaccount

Was that Manuel pushing?

jd1331

Lol, probably right there ....and yes Im a blonde.

removedCFGaccount

The whole paddle thing threw me, but hey, whatever blows up your skirt. (Or, Manuel's)