davepl

I have a brand new 2003 CL 600 Sport in Brilliant Silver with every option that I'm actually trying to unload because the ride is terrible.

I love pretty much everything else about the car, so I wish there were some way to address it. I drove a 2001 CL600 Sport and didn't think it was much better/different, so I don't -think- its a problem with my car. However, I drove an SL500 Sport today and thought it had a better ride than my CL, which really shouldn't be the case.

My car is ok over large road items like expansion joints and manhole cover, but its over relatively smooth road that its annoying: it transmits -every- minor road imperfect right to your seat. The Sport mode makes no difference at all, but I don't think it should (it only effects the ABC damping).

If this is really the way its supposed to be, do I have any aftermarket options for improving the ride in terms of replacing the shocks/struts a with less aggressive profile?

Any suggestions are very welcome... I'd really love to love this car!

smc22

I had a 2003 sl500 and now have a 2003 cl500 sport what i noticed about the ride is on the cl500 silky smooth on most roads.
But on real sharpe bumps the abc does not have time to respond so it sound like i experienced the opposite. But the ride on the sl was very tight, quick responding,and not as harsh over sharpe bumps. and acually really comfortable, but so I have a cl55 coming in two months I think the ride will be like the sl. Also the first thing i would check is tire pressure I run all my cars at 29 psi
if the tires are at 36 psi or higher I would better that's your problem. I know other readers will tell you different on the tire pressure , But give this a try and let me know how it works.

davepl

Yes, I tried dropping the pressure as low as 28, didn't seem to make much difference. It did smooth it out a bit over harsh bumps, but that's not the part I'm having trouble with, its on the otherwise decent stretches of road that it seems to be amplifying things...

achez

How many miles do you have on the car? I have a 2002 CL500 sport and the ride at first was rough. After about 3-4000 miles, the ride smoothed out allot. I think it really had to do with the tires. Also, the car sometimes rides rough until the tires heat up.
Now, the ride is no longer harsh on smooth roads and the car feels great.

JFawwaz

you can turn off ABC and the ride will be smoother. Its probably mostly due to the larger 18" sport wheels

awiner

You can't turn off ABC. The only option is you can turn off ABC 'Sport' mode. What this does it re calibrate ABC so that the car will have a little more lean while cornering, it will not however change the settings of the ride as far as harsness, etc.

Wolfman

I had a CL500 with standard 17" wheels. I didn't like he look and added the 18" AMG wheels with Y rated Dunlop's.

The ride was always smooth with the CL, but definitely softer on the 17" tires. I guess this was mostly due to the fact that the 18" were Y rated and the rubber needed some warm-up time and of course the smaller rim size.

Now I haven't heard anyone referring to a CL as a rough ride. What were your reference cars?

Wolfman

davepl

I came out of a BMW 750, which had quite a nice ride. I also own a '94 Corvette and an '01 Mustang GT, and none of them is quite as harsh as the CL.

///MB

I think ABC in the "normal" setting provides a smoother ride, but obviously with more body roll/lean. I notice on the freeway, if you put it in sport mode while driving straight, the ride gets a little bumpier.

If you really think it's too stiff, maybe you should ask the dealer to check it out. There should be a difference between the sport and normal ABC modes.

orangemarlin

Dave your comments amuse me. I'm finally getting the road feel I get in a BMW, and I love it. If you want that wimpy indistinct ride quality, get an Audi or a non-sport Merc.

Mercedes is impressing this Bimmerhead. Merc build quality far exceeds BMW IMHO, but the BMW drive quality was always what attracted me. BMW failed in fit and finish AND in the techno-gadgetry. OK, some of you think the Techno stuff is passe, I don't.

The CL600 is a great car. Something that is truly a step ahead for Mercedes.