McGuireV10

I have ordered a set of rims & tires for my 2003 E500.

A friend with an older SL600 told me that when he jacked his car up to install rims, something in the air suspension broke, and the repair was fairly expensive. The dealership told him he should have pressed the "raise" button, then press another button (he said "the red button") to lock it in the raised position.

Is there any such procedure for the E500? Obviously I have the two-step "raise" button, but there isn't any other "red button" to lock it.

ctemkin

I have swapped winter and summer tires a number of times now (each on its own rim), jacking up each wheel one by one. I have never touched anything relating to the Airmatic suspension, and I haven't had any problems. I don't recall anything in the manual about changing tires which referred to the suspension, either.

LAZARU5

I rotated tires at 6,000 miles and again at 12,000 miles this week. I had both front tires off the ground at once and I also had both side tires off at once (on each side). When I finished the car was raised, but as soon as I turned on the engine, the suspension adjusted itself. No warnings, messages, or problems.

McGuireV10

Thanks both of you for the replies.

khaug

May I ask how you managed to get both fronts off the ground at once? Two jacks?

Thanks.

McGuireV10

Jack-stands, I would assume...

Petmerctech

That procedure only applies to the old air suspension system. You don't need to do anything before lifting your 211.

LAZARU5

I purchase two scissors jacks at Autozone and added an "extension" that fits into the jack receptacle on the E500 (and SLK350, they are the same). The extension adapter is needed to prevent the jack from scratching the side skirts. When I got these they were $20 but have since increased in price to $25. I blocked both wheels that were still on the ground in both directions. I supported the front of the car with a floor jack under the engine cross member. There is a jacking point on the cross member on both the E500 and SLK350.

I also adapted some jack stands from aluminum trailer leveling jacks (rated at 6,000 pounds to also fit into the jack receptacles.

Forgot to mention. It's not really possible to get the floor jack under the engine cross member unless you jack the car up on both sides first. Alternatively, you could drive the car up some ramps and then lift it off the ramps with a floor jack. If I recall correctly, you can lower the car to the ground with the floor jack and pull the jack out from under the car since it will not be at the normal height until after you start the engine. YMMV on this last point depending on the design of your floor jack.