Adventures in Airmatic
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 57
Likes: 9
2012 CLS550, 1994 Chevy K1500
Adventures in Airmatic
My 2012 CLS550 started sinking in the rear when parked for a couple of days starting probably late November. When we got subzero weather in December, the car was fine in the heated garage but would droop in a few minutes after parking outside. It would lift promptly when started in that case, but wouldn’t lift completely if it was parked outside all day. I’d get the “vehicle rising” message, but fortunately, not the “get towed” message. I got it into the dealer (I have the MB extended warranty, my CPO warranty ran out in December).
Yep, leaking rear air springs...plus moisture in the system. They replaced both rear air springs, the compressor, the compressor air cleaner, and the valve unit. My cost: $0.00. All covered by the warranty. It should be good to go for quite a few years now.
Yep, leaking rear air springs...plus moisture in the system. They replaced both rear air springs, the compressor, the compressor air cleaner, and the valve unit. My cost: $0.00. All covered by the warranty. It should be good to go for quite a few years now.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 292
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver, Canada
2016 CLS550 4Matic
My 2012 CLS550 started sinking in the rear when parked for a couple of days starting probably late November. When we got subzero weather in December, the car was fine in the heated garage but would droop in a few minutes after parking outside. It would lift promptly when started in that case, but wouldn’t lift completely if it was parked outside all day. I’d get the “vehicle rising” message, but fortunately, not the “get towed” message. I got it into the dealer (I have the MB extended warranty, my CPO warranty ran out in December).
Yep, leaking rear air springs...plus moisture in the system. They replaced both rear air springs, the compressor, the compressor air cleaner, and the valve unit. My cost: $0.00. All covered by the warranty. It should be good to go for quite a few years now.
Yep, leaking rear air springs...plus moisture in the system. They replaced both rear air springs, the compressor, the compressor air cleaner, and the valve unit. My cost: $0.00. All covered by the warranty. It should be good to go for quite a few years now.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 57
Likes: 9
2012 CLS550, 1994 Chevy K1500
It would be pricey. No prices listed on my invoice, as it was covered. The service manager told me it exceeded my $2500 extended warranty cost by almost 3 times, which seems high. Others here might have a more accurate estimate of costs. The parts alone, being new, OEM MB parts at the dealer, probably came reasonably close to the warranty cost. I have, in the past, read through some of the Airmatic diagnostic stuff that konigstiger has posted. Just those procedures would add up to a pretty high labor cost, before taking it apart and fixing it. Man, there’s a lot of information on this forum!
In my particular case the warranty paid off. If nothing went wrong, I’d be out $2500. I never go to casinos, but this seems similar.
It’s nice to see it up where it should be this morning. The service department at my local dealership was great, by the way. I had a problem, they fixed it, I’m happy.
In my particular case the warranty paid off. If nothing went wrong, I’d be out $2500. I never go to casinos, but this seems similar.
It’s nice to see it up where it should be this morning. The service department at my local dealership was great, by the way. I had a problem, they fixed it, I’m happy.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 311
Likes: 37
CLS 550
My 2012 CLS550 started sinking in the rear when parked for a couple of days starting probably late November. When we got subzero weather in December, the car was fine in the heated garage but would droop in a few minutes after parking outside. It would lift promptly when started in that case, but wouldn’t lift completely if it was parked outside all day. I’d get the “vehicle rising” message, but fortunately, not the “get towed” message. I got it into the dealer (I have the MB extended warranty, my CPO warranty ran out in December).
Yep, leaking rear air springs...plus moisture in the system. They replaced both rear air springs, the compressor, the compressor air cleaner, and the valve unit. My cost: $0.00. All covered by the warranty. It should be good to go for quite a few years now.
Yep, leaking rear air springs...plus moisture in the system. They replaced both rear air springs, the compressor, the compressor air cleaner, and the valve unit. My cost: $0.00. All covered by the warranty. It should be good to go for quite a few years now.
Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 173
Likes: 22
2012 CLS 550 Launch Edition
There are no lights or warnings, you just see your car dropped to the ground and the 'Vehicle rising' message when you start the car. It'll likely only drop when the car is locked though.
I've had one leaking airbag that would drop every time the car was locked and the other only dropped once when it was left outside in the cold which sounds similar to the OP's issue. I wonder if I have moisture in the system...
I've had one leaking airbag that would drop every time the car was locked and the other only dropped once when it was left outside in the cold which sounds similar to the OP's issue. I wonder if I have moisture in the system...
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 311
Likes: 37
CLS 550
There are no lights or warnings, you just see your car dropped to the ground and the 'Vehicle rising' message when you start the car. It'll likely only drop when the car is locked though.
I've had one leaking airbag that would drop every time the car was locked and the other only dropped once when it was left outside in the cold which sounds similar to the OP's issue. I wonder if I have moisture in the system...
I've had one leaking airbag that would drop every time the car was locked and the other only dropped once when it was left outside in the cold which sounds similar to the OP's issue. I wonder if I have moisture in the system...
Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 173
Likes: 22
2012 CLS 550 Launch Edition
Mine makes that noise; I believe it's normal.
The drop on mine was very noticeable:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kin7mj3xif..._3739.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/c24ixfzal0..._3743.jpg?dl=0
This was the other, non-leaking side:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ybw72qp0e0..._3745.jpg?dl=0
The drop on mine was very noticeable:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kin7mj3xif..._3739.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/c24ixfzal0..._3743.jpg?dl=0
This was the other, non-leaking side:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ybw72qp0e0..._3745.jpg?dl=0
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 311
Likes: 37
CLS 550
Mine makes that noise; I believe it's normal.
The drop on mine was very noticeable:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kin7mj3xif..._3739.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/c24ixfzal0..._3743.jpg?dl=0
This was the other, non-leaking side:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ybw72qp0e0..._3745.jpg?dl=0
The drop on mine was very noticeable:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kin7mj3xif..._3739.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/c24ixfzal0..._3743.jpg?dl=0
This was the other, non-leaking side:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ybw72qp0e0..._3745.jpg?dl=0
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