Right so I know there are a million post on here about the airmatic system in these cars and I wouldn't ask unless I couldn't find some sort of info here or anywhere else on the internet. My strange issue is that my car lowered over night which it hasn't done since I replaced the rear air bags abut a month ago. The odd part is that it isn't all the way lowered its just on the cusp of tripping the red car is too low warning, while I was driving it would come on then quickly go away. When I start the car I can here the compressor run for a few seconds then turn off and no change in the ride height. now it sat for most of the day and it didn't get any lower either. The compressor won't run after the initial start up even when I press the raise button. I've checked the fuse and swapped the relay its almost as if the car thinks that this ride height is normal. I don't have access to star so I can't pull any codes relating to the airmatic system. The funny thing is that the ride height actually looks good but I'm worried that if the car gets any lower the tires will start rubbing. Tomorrow I'm gonna put it up on my lift and inspect for leaks but I feel like if it was leaking so bad that it won't raise then the car would be on the ground not at this weird halfway point. Any help would be nice maybe I've missed something obvious.

 

wagon or no? I just spent 6 months and a LOT of money sorting my airmatic issues, so maybe i can help save some time (but not money).
- i replaced both my rear bags because they were old and leaking. leaks fixed.
- since i have a wagon, i have the extra load reservoirs attached to the rear bags. One side leaked at the hose connection on the reservoir end, because they're aluminum and corrode. dremeled off the crappy clamp and put on a new one. leak fixed.
- clamps at rear bags on large hoses leaked both sides. new clamps and super tight.....had to go back 3 times on these tightening more and more each time to get them to stop.
- i replaced my valve block because i read somewhere the seats on the aluminum block where the brass airmatic hose fittings seat tend to corrode, so the fittings won't seal properly. found leaks. replaced block. Leaks fixed this location. Multiple brass aimatic line fitting seats were corroded.
- front shocks were shot. both leaked and were old. both replaced. leaks fixed.
- Compressor developed a leak where the pump line comes out of the compressor (someone working in the fender well had knocked the brass fitting pretty good and broke/stripped the plastic threads in the compressor. replaced compressor, leak fixed. helicoil in plastic won't fix it, i tried.

airmatic works fine now...maybe because i replaced all of it? only thing i haven't replaced is the level sensor on the rear axle, those tend to corrode, rust, and break or bend. try that first....
also i ended up buying a used autel maxidas off ebay for $400. best $400 i've spent on this car so far! perfect for diagnosing and clearing codes on w211's.
buy a bottle of leak finder fluid on amazon, soapy water just won't cut it.
over the course of 6 months, every time i fixed a leak another reared its head somewhere else. Just the nature of the beast until you've touched it all. literally.


matthew
2004 e500 4 matic wagon
119k+/-

 

Bought a used compressor which came with a valve block, replaced both and everything is working now the only original parts are the air lines, height sensors, and the control module. Still it was odd that the car never fully sank to the ground but I suppose I should count myself lucky other wise it would have been a pain getting it on my lift. My icarsoft reader comes in tomorrow so I’ll double check when it gets here but so far no error messages.

 

icarsoft is okay, but autel is waaaaay better.
so you went through the trouble of installing a used pump and block?
FCP euro has compressors with lifetime warranties.
seems like a futile effort. I've learned on this car do it once, do it right, do it with new. i learned from experience.