Does the Airmatic Sport 2 setting improve handling or does it just allow you to feel the road more? For example, would cornering improve?

Airmatic Sport 2 does improve handling since it really stiffens up the suspension. However, it is not as good as ABC on the S, SL, CL classes.

The Sport 2 setting does seem to couple the car more closely to the road, somehow. I get the sense that it's more responsive to steering input and it seems to reduce the general vagueness of the handling in the Comfort setting. The car still feels like a two-ton handful but it goes more exactly where it's pointed in Sport 2. It also rides like a skateboard in Sport 2, so you probably don't want to keep it in that setting when you're done carving the esses.

Yes, it does. Whenever I am coming into a fast hard corner I put it into Sport2 to improve handling and stiffen it up so there is no roll. As soon as I am out of the corner I put it back on comfort.

Since my last car was a 5 series with the sports package I am used to a tighter suspension and feeling more of the road. Thus, I always leave mine in Sport 2. It sure is nice to have the option to choose

Our last car was an E39 5-Series, too. It had better handling than our E500 in Sport 2 and a more comfortable ride than our E500 in so-called "Comfort" setting - and with just plain ol' steel springs. Sure wish M-B would figure out how to do that.

Mine had a more harsh ride because I had the really low profile tires that came with the sports package. I have to say though, I miss that car even though I LOVE my E. Unfortunately, I really don't like the new 5 so it's not like I can go back without buying a used car...

It does stiffen up the upward stroke thereby creating less body roll.

However, the rebound control is truly the *****s. It is not even close to a tuned set of shocks and springs. The air suspension can not effectively control oscillations and when you corner hard on a turn with slight road imerfections, be prepared for the tire to lose the contact patch.

I don't think it does a lot with body roll, if it does, very little. Yea, the dampening higher, but the "spring" rate is not. I find it rolls just as much in either setting. It probably handles better if there are bumps in the turn, say a freeway on ramp, or interchange. It definately feels better on 2 thru a turn, but I think body roll is the same unfortunately, especially since the rear axle travels together (suspension setting wise).

Luxury 1 -

Here is the way I understand the system, in sport 2 mode, the air spring uses only one of the two chambers, thus causing a stiffer spring rate since it’s harder to compress a smaller volume of air, this gives you a noticeably firmer ride quality. Also the ADSII system, which controls the shock valve-ing also reacts faster. ADSII can control the shock oil in either direction independently by changing the oils path internally through a different sized opening, for both shock compression and rebound. So, the sport settings changes air volume and shock valve-ing which can improve handling.

Also, the shock valve-ing is computer controlled, so that if you suddenly swerved, the ADSII system would react to it’s firmest setting for that moment, like as if you had put the vehicle in the Sport 2 mode, the biggest difference is that you would not have the reduced air volume in the air spring at that moment and the time it takes the system to react (thershold to respond). Then when things returned to normal, so would the ADSII system.

Finally, the rebound and compression rates for the shocks are different in the three different modes (Comfort, Sport 1, Sport 2) using the ADSII system. The formula is pretty wild, but they had a rhyme to their reason.

The Germans really put a lot of thought into these things - some folks like it, others don't and it tends to confuse most of us, but it is what it is...

I meant to ask this questions little while... anyway, how long does it take the shock to react if I switch it from regular to sport 1 or 2? How far before I need to press the button in order to take full affect? Last, will I end the shock life sooner if I keep switching it back and forth?

Thanks in advance,
hlkc

hlkc –

The struts react instantaneously. The air pressure is already in the strut and a simple electrical solenoid divides the air chambers for the firmer ride(sport 2) while the other solenoids for the ADSII system change oil flow through the shock. Basically, the speed of light.

Switching the system between comfort, sport 1 and sport 2 only activates electrical solenoids, which activate continuously as you drive anyway, so, switching the system should not affect shock life any more than normal driving would.

Hope that answered your question…

Enjoy, the CLS500 is a nice ride.

MB - Tech USA, Thanks for the info.

hlkc

It definetly stiffens the compression stroke. It is the rebound that is totally out of whack. I have had many cars with a tuned set of springs and matching struts (mainly Bilsteins) and the Airmatic is nothing close to an after market suspension.

The purpose of the spring/air chamber is to support the weight of the car. The shock/strut is to control oscillations and keep a controlled tire patch on the road. It really does not do a good job especially when there are small "stutter bumps" in the road.

Any way to stiffen it even further beyond "sport 2"?

This will affect the ride and not the suspension; you can go with lower profile tires and rims.

I have the 18" AMG wheels for my summer tires and the 17" Appearance package and the difference is huge.