2008 E550 Right Rear Suspension Collapsed - Help?!?!
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2008 E550
2008 E550 Right Rear Suspension Collapsed - Help?!?!
Hello!
I've had my 2008 W211 E550 for 2 years and loved it until about 6 months ago. Since then - it's costs in repairs has been over $1,000 per month. Yuck. Starter - battery - engine / trans mounts - AC compressor - alternator and now the left rear (driver side) air suspension is collapsed.
I had this happen on the right side over a year ago and a local indy Benz shop fixed - cost about $1,500. Hoping to avoid as big a bill this go-around.
I've got a local mobile mechanic who has worked on the car before (eng.+trans mounts and AC) but I need to figure out what parts to get.
Issue is intermittent. The car holds air sometimes, it can go overnight and be fine and then randomly you come out from going somewhere and its collapsed. Always pumps back up ok so far. I've been sitting in it when just shut down and you can hear the air running out immediately and then sometimes it holds air overnight fine.
Does this require the entire air strut to be replaced? Can it be repaired by replacing just the air bellows part at the top of the strut? Are there rebuilt options that may save some $$$?
Any suggestions and advice is greatly appreciated!!!
Terry
I've had my 2008 W211 E550 for 2 years and loved it until about 6 months ago. Since then - it's costs in repairs has been over $1,000 per month. Yuck. Starter - battery - engine / trans mounts - AC compressor - alternator and now the left rear (driver side) air suspension is collapsed.
I had this happen on the right side over a year ago and a local indy Benz shop fixed - cost about $1,500. Hoping to avoid as big a bill this go-around.
I've got a local mobile mechanic who has worked on the car before (eng.+trans mounts and AC) but I need to figure out what parts to get.
Issue is intermittent. The car holds air sometimes, it can go overnight and be fine and then randomly you come out from going somewhere and its collapsed. Always pumps back up ok so far. I've been sitting in it when just shut down and you can hear the air running out immediately and then sometimes it holds air overnight fine.
Does this require the entire air strut to be replaced? Can it be repaired by replacing just the air bellows part at the top of the strut? Are there rebuilt options that may save some $$$?
Any suggestions and advice is greatly appreciated!!!
Terry
Last edited by Tspringer1; Aug 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM.
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2006 E280
Well apparently the bag is leaking, symptoms point towards to that. Struts are at the front, rear has just the bags. While you're in there, replace both of them.
Last edited by Heguli; Aug 27, 2025 at 12:07 PM.
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2008 E550
First - Thank You for the reply!
So the clearly audible air leaking out hissing sounds would indicate the Air Spring is the culprit and that only replacing that should suffice? I do see Air Shocks for the rear but I would tend to agree that the audible hissing would seem far less likely from the shock than the spring bag. Replacing just the bag would also be much cheaper.
Any idea on how difficult this is to do or how long it may take? I've always been a DIY'er but due to my home sinking I am without tools and such so have to hire the job out. Working on newish modern cars is not my strong point. I can tune the MFI in a 50+ year old 911 but Benz air suspension seems a bit scary.
Terry
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2006 E280
Took me about 2,5 hours to do both rear bags. But my car is wagon, and it has different air suspension than Airmatic. Really simple, if the rear drops, it's the bag.
But I just remembered that Airmatic is different, there's an additional air chamber by the bag, and hose between them. I didn't hear any air hissing or air escaping, rear just slowly sank, so that hissing would indicate some other issue than a bag.
You should get your car on a 4-post lift, so you can go safely underneath and see is the leak actual bag or some related component.
Check the post #3 https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ight-left.html that shows the components.
But I just remembered that Airmatic is different, there's an additional air chamber by the bag, and hose between them. I didn't hear any air hissing or air escaping, rear just slowly sank, so that hissing would indicate some other issue than a bag.
You should get your car on a 4-post lift, so you can go safely underneath and see is the leak actual bag or some related component.
Check the post #3 https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ight-left.html that shows the components.
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From: Republic of Texas
'99 and '05 E55 AMG
I replaced mine with Arnott air springs. About an hour per side. Most difficult part is reattaching the air lines. I strongly recommend you recalibrate ride height after. And follow the procedure during initial inflation. Multiple posts on how to do this.
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2008 E550
Another somewhat strange thing...
I went out this morning after the car sat for over 36 hours and it had not deflated. This is not the first time that it failed to deflate after sitting so whatever the problem is it is intermittent.
Then when I sat down in the drivers seat the car immediately began to leak air from the right rear and deflate. The car was not running, no key in the ignition yet. But clear hissing sound and in 30-45 seconds it was fully deflated on the right rear. The left rear does not deflate in the same way - when the left drivers side is fully collapsed the right passenger side is only partially down - just a little.
Not sure what if anything this indicates...
I went out this morning after the car sat for over 36 hours and it had not deflated. This is not the first time that it failed to deflate after sitting so whatever the problem is it is intermittent.
Then when I sat down in the drivers seat the car immediately began to leak air from the right rear and deflate. The car was not running, no key in the ignition yet. But clear hissing sound and in 30-45 seconds it was fully deflated on the right rear. The left rear does not deflate in the same way - when the left drivers side is fully collapsed the right passenger side is only partially down - just a little.
Not sure what if anything this indicates...
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2008 E550
Here is an interesting observation on the issue with my left rear suspension collapsing after sitting.
I put the suspension into Sport Mode 1 and now it does not happen. Very strange. It has been 3 days and it has no collapsed again even after sitting for over 24 hours.
Any ideas on why this may be???
I put the suspension into Sport Mode 1 and now it does not happen. Very strange. It has been 3 days and it has no collapsed again even after sitting for over 24 hours.
Any ideas on why this may be???
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Southern California
I believe Sport Mode uses a different air chamber of the air spring. The original Airmatic air springs were prone to leaking. Many people, including myself, have replaced with the Arnott rear air spring and have had very good results. The OE came with an air reservoir that is located separately somewhere in the rear subframe. New Arnott's do not need that. I just left that air reservoir in the car, removing it is a big job. Just either cut the hose and tape it up out of the way.
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2006 E500 Wagon
We just had the entire Airmatic system replaced on our '06 E500 Wagon with OEM parts all around. We are in our 70's and decided to "invest" in this vehicle that we bought new, rather than replace it. It was a significant repair cost, but to replace it with an equivalent vehicle was a cost that doesn't make sense for us. The refreshed ride comfort is incredible.
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2008 E550
The leaking air spring DID eventually leak in Sport I and Sport II settings. I replaced it with cheap parts from Amazon -- $190 for a pair of rear air springs. I view this as a temporary measure really as I plan to lay the car up and do a complete front and rear suspension rebuild using the best quality parts but I do not have time, space nor funds at the moment so this will have to do.
It is giving me a temporary "Malfunction" notice on the dash when I tell it to go to sport mode or lift now but it does look ok and rides fine. I am going to research how to calibrate it as I think that will solve the malfunction notice.
It is giving me a temporary "Malfunction" notice on the dash when I tell it to go to sport mode or lift now but it does look ok and rides fine. I am going to research how to calibrate it as I think that will solve the malfunction notice.
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2006 E280
When I was shopping rear bags, I noticed that one manufacturer noted that bags should be replaced in pairs, as the magnetic valve might have enough difference in resistance that it could set a code. Really wasn't issue for me as the both bags were done.
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2008 E550
Ok - the cheap Chinese air spring did not work - shows Malfunction on dash and also leaks out a bit overnight. Not full collapse but some for sure.
So I ordered a pair of Arnott air springs. Install is mostly done - BUT... with the air spring new, fully deflated and everything bolted back together the suspension is low enough due to gravity and such that the top of the deflated air spring does not make contact with the car chassis where the spring is supposed to center on the small plastic fitting. It's off by an inch or more. If I lower the car onto the wheels and then connect the battery and let the air suspension begin to inflate there is ZERO chance that the fitting will line up with hole in the top of the air spring for the fitting???
None of the instructions I have read anywhere say anything at all about inflating the air spring while the car is still off its wheel on jack stands. But that is the only way I can see that this could be done???
My plan is to place a jack under the suspension and raise it up until the air spring can be positioned with the top fitting aligned into the hole in the air spring and then reconnect the battery and put in the ignition key so it will begin to inflate... and hope for the best while prepared to remove a battery terminal quick if something goes wrong.
It's scary that none of the instructions or videos mention this issue at all???
Terry
So I ordered a pair of Arnott air springs. Install is mostly done - BUT... with the air spring new, fully deflated and everything bolted back together the suspension is low enough due to gravity and such that the top of the deflated air spring does not make contact with the car chassis where the spring is supposed to center on the small plastic fitting. It's off by an inch or more. If I lower the car onto the wheels and then connect the battery and let the air suspension begin to inflate there is ZERO chance that the fitting will line up with hole in the top of the air spring for the fitting???
None of the instructions I have read anywhere say anything at all about inflating the air spring while the car is still off its wheel on jack stands. But that is the only way I can see that this could be done???
My plan is to place a jack under the suspension and raise it up until the air spring can be positioned with the top fitting aligned into the hole in the air spring and then reconnect the battery and put in the ignition key so it will begin to inflate... and hope for the best while prepared to remove a battery terminal quick if something goes wrong.
It's scary that none of the instructions or videos mention this issue at all???
Terry
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2006 E280
To my understanding, correct way to mount the bags is with a Star, so you can inflate them as you position the upper stud to the bag.
Well, I didn't have the Star nor didn't know the correct method. When it was time to position the bag to the stud on the sub-frame, I placed 4x4 under the suspension control arms, and gradually lowered my car (as it was jacked up from the rear diff), making sure that stud goes to the hole. When it was said and done, I started the engine and watched as the bags inflated.
Well, I didn't have the Star nor didn't know the correct method. When it was time to position the bag to the stud on the sub-frame, I placed 4x4 under the suspension control arms, and gradually lowered my car (as it was jacked up from the rear diff), making sure that stud goes to the hole. When it was said and done, I started the engine and watched as the bags inflated.
Last edited by Heguli; Sep 15, 2025 at 12:47 PM.
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From: Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
2004 W211 E320 Sport
I recently had faulty position sensor in the rear suspension, which I'm told keeps the rear end level. Suspension collapsed, but was fine after replacing the sensor.
A horrid pain as it's very close to the fuel tank.
A horrid pain as it's very close to the fuel tank.
