Smooth ride
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Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 103
Likes: 6
2007 CL550, 2005 SL500, 1984 380SL 1985 Mustang GT
Smooth ride
Hey everyone, I recently purchased an 07 CL550 with 23K miles, I love the car, I am coming from an 05 SL500 And noticed the ride is no where near as smooth as the SL. The reason i bought the CL was because it had ABC so I assumed it would be the same. The one of impressive thing about the SL ride was it did not throw you around when you pull in the driveway or other similar bumps. The CL will throw you around like a normal suspension. It floats down the highway but it does seem to have an extra bounce when going over bumps. Not excessive bounce. SL would go up then down and the bump was over. CL will go up down then up again. Is this due to the longer wheelbase? With the SL you know it has a special suspension. CL not so much. Is there a way to check the accumulators other than taking them off?
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 386
Likes: 3
From: Wisconsin
CL550 1976 450 SL
Please, please, someone help. I migrated from "S" to "CL" for style and room getting in/out. Simple ol' 550 4-matic.
I am simply forlorn due to the rough ride over manhole covers, street bumps etc. It simply doesn't seem right. The rear end seems to sound as if it's "bottoming out" when going over simple bumps, not giant potholes etc. Noiese, discomfort and anoyance is really irritating. No fault codes, no strut leaks, Continental stock tires, inflated to 36 psi. Dealer admits it's rougher than it should be but offers no hellp.
Anyone else experience this? Thanks.
I am simply forlorn due to the rough ride over manhole covers, street bumps etc. It simply doesn't seem right. The rear end seems to sound as if it's "bottoming out" when going over simple bumps, not giant potholes etc. Noiese, discomfort and anoyance is really irritating. No fault codes, no strut leaks, Continental stock tires, inflated to 36 psi. Dealer admits it's rougher than it should be but offers no hellp.
Anyone else experience this? Thanks.
Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 86
Likes: 3
2009 cl550 4matic
Please, please, someone help. I migrated from "S" to "CL" for style and room getting in/out. Simple ol' 550 4-matic.
I am simply forlorn due to the rough ride over manhole covers, street bumps etc. It simply doesn't seem right. The rear end seems to sound as if it's "bottoming out" when going over simple bumps, not giant potholes etc. Noiese, discomfort and anoyance is really irritating. No fault codes, no strut leaks, Continental stock tires, inflated to 36 psi. Dealer admits it's rougher than it should be but offers no hellp.
Anyone else experience this? Thanks.
I am simply forlorn due to the rough ride over manhole covers, street bumps etc. It simply doesn't seem right. The rear end seems to sound as if it's "bottoming out" when going over simple bumps, not giant potholes etc. Noiese, discomfort and anoyance is really irritating. No fault codes, no strut leaks, Continental stock tires, inflated to 36 psi. Dealer admits it's rougher than it should be but offers no hellp.
Anyone else experience this? Thanks.
Now I'm curious to drive an SL and an S.
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 214
Likes: 38
From: East Idaho
2014 GL450, 2006 S500, 2003 ML350, 1996 C280 (Prev 1995 C220, 2002 CLK320, 1980 300SD Turbo)
Please, please, someone help. I migrated from "S" to "CL" for style and room getting in/out. Simple ol' 550 4-matic.
I am simply forlorn due to the rough ride over manhole covers, street bumps etc. It simply doesn't seem right. The rear end seems to sound as if it's "bottoming out" when going over simple bumps, not giant potholes etc. Noiese, discomfort and anoyance is really irritating. No fault codes, no strut leaks, Continental stock tires, inflated to 36 psi. Dealer admits it's rougher than it should be but offers no hellp.
Anyone else experience this? Thanks.
I am simply forlorn due to the rough ride over manhole covers, street bumps etc. It simply doesn't seem right. The rear end seems to sound as if it's "bottoming out" when going over simple bumps, not giant potholes etc. Noiese, discomfort and anoyance is really irritating. No fault codes, no strut leaks, Continental stock tires, inflated to 36 psi. Dealer admits it's rougher than it should be but offers no hellp.
Anyone else experience this? Thanks.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 386
Likes: 3
From: Wisconsin
CL550 1976 450 SL
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 643
Likes: 51
From: Southern California
2007 CL550
All 2007 CL550 came with ABC suspension and 18 or 19 inch wheels and have excellent ride characteristics. It you vehicle has larger wheels, or has been lowered, or had other modifications the ride quality will suffer. Easy way to verify if the ABC system has not been replaced is with the vehicle parked and engine running press the button to the left of the Comand display to raise your vehicle. Your vehicle should rise a couple of inches. If nothing happens, ABC is not working and there is the possibility that a previous owner may have replaced it with a conventional suspension due to the extremely high cost of ABC parts. There are 4 ABC struts and the list price for them is over $1000 for each one.
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Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 214
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From: East Idaho
2014 GL450, 2006 S500, 2003 ML350, 1996 C280 (Prev 1995 C220, 2002 CLK320, 1980 300SD Turbo)
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 386
Likes: 3
From: Wisconsin
CL550 1976 450 SL
All 2007 CL550 came with ABC suspension and 18 or 19 inch wheels and have excellent ride characteristics. It you vehicle has larger wheels, or has been lowered, or had other modifications the ride quality will suffer. Easy way to verify if the ABC system has not been replaced is with the vehicle parked and engine running press the button to the left of the Comand display to raise your vehicle. Your vehicle should rise a couple of inches. If nothing happens, ABC is not working and there is the possibility that a previous owner may have replaced it with a conventional suspension due to the extremely high cost of ABC parts. There are 4 ABC struts and the list price for them is over $1000 for each one.
An aside. There's a six inch tube in the rear, which is attached to the sway bar. This sends messages to the computer, ergo bumps etc. Sometimes the ball joint ends to this tube can seize and no data is sent; always at one air setting. Both ends of mine were seized. Replaced that tube, thinking solution found. Still bottoms out like an old time pick-up truck w/ leaf springs. My same platform S550 4-Matic did not present the same "bottoming out" noise and ride. This is aggravating and just doesn't seem right.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 314
Likes: 35
From: New York
2010 CL550
My 2010 cl550 with airmatic is experiecing the same thing!! On smooth roads feels just fine but even small bumps and manhole covers feel like it’s bottoming out...anyone ever get to the bottom of this?
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 643
Likes: 51
From: Southern California
2007 CL550
Thanks for the caring and thorough reply. I ckd., as you said. It does rise, when button is pushed and then lowers, when the button is pushed to off. It's hard to visually see. I cycled it again, got out and put my leg against the door sill. You can feel the car body rise on your lower leg. The car body again rose. The good news is the ABC works. The bad news is the ABC works, so suspension swap out isn't the culprit. Also, it's not in "sport" airmatic mode, which is stiffer ride.
An aside. There's a six inch tube in the rear, which is attached to the sway bar. This sends messages to the computer, ergo bumps etc. Sometimes the ball joint ends to this tube can seize and no data is sent; always at one air setting. Both ends of mine were seized. Replaced that tube, thinking solution found. Still bottoms out like an old time pick-up truck w/ leaf springs. My same platform S550 4-Matic did not present the same "bottoming out" noise and ride. This is aggravating and just doesn't seem right.
An aside. There's a six inch tube in the rear, which is attached to the sway bar. This sends messages to the computer, ergo bumps etc. Sometimes the ball joint ends to this tube can seize and no data is sent; always at one air setting. Both ends of mine were seized. Replaced that tube, thinking solution found. Still bottoms out like an old time pick-up truck w/ leaf springs. My same platform S550 4-Matic did not present the same "bottoming out" noise and ride. This is aggravating and just doesn't seem right.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
2011 Mercedes Benz cl550 4MATIC amg package
So has anyone figured anything out regarding this issue? I have the same thing happening to my 2011 CL550 4matic... seems only the rear passenger side feels like it’s bottoming out, I’ve changed the air strut and all other control arms down there and still it’s doing the same. Now is it better then when it first presented itself? Yes, but it’s still there and annoying. Please, someone, anyone out there, please assist if you can. Thank you !
Minor correction to your post-- You have ABC which is a hydraulic system (does not use air). 4matic CL vehicles do NOT have ABC, the have airmatic. One check to determine if your vehicle was modified to ride lower is start your engine and set the mode to "C" with your vehicle on level ground. With doors closed, measure the distance from the bottom of the vehicle (start of the painted body) to the ground at the exterior door handle. I also have a 2007 CL550 and we can compare the measurement.
