airmatic shocks- a dark side?
Out Of Control!!
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From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
I find it weird that you guys are saying this. I always assumed the Airmatic has the most travel, and would absorb pot holes *without* intrusion into the cabin. A "bottoming out" effect should be non existent. It sounds like your describing a hooptie lowering setup, where someone replaces their springs with overly short ones, and don't change the shocks (resulting in that same "bang" when you bottom them out).
I've hit some rough surfaces, and the sports suspension I guess is just that, as it can eat them up a bit better, but I've never experienced that dreaded "lowered car" bottom out on this car (on my old lowered Mustang, it was second nature).
I've hit some rough surfaces, and the sports suspension I guess is just that, as it can eat them up a bit better, but I've never experienced that dreaded "lowered car" bottom out on this car (on my old lowered Mustang, it was second nature).
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From: New Jersey
2016 Audi S8 Plus/ 2011 Mercedes e550 4Matic//Gone:1985 500SEL/2000 e320 4Matic/ 2001 e55 Kleeman
I find it weird that you guys are saying this. I always assumed the Airmatic has the most travel, and would absorb pot holes *without* intrusion into the cabin. A "bottoming out" effect should be non existent. It sounds like your describing a hooptie lowering setup, where someone replaces their springs with overly short ones, and don't change the shocks (resulting in that same "bang" when you bottom them out).
I've hit some rough surfaces, and the sports suspension I guess is just that, as it can eat them up a bit better, but I've never experienced that dreaded "lowered car" bottom out on this car (on my old lowered Mustang, it was second nature).
I've hit some rough surfaces, and the sports suspension I guess is just that, as it can eat them up a bit better, but I've never experienced that dreaded "lowered car" bottom out on this car (on my old lowered Mustang, it was second nature).
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2011 E350 4Matic T-Modell
I find it weird that you guys are saying this. I always assumed the Airmatic has the most travel, and would absorb pot holes *without* intrusion into the cabin. A "bottoming out" effect should be non existent. It sounds like your describing a hooptie lowering setup, where someone replaces their springs with overly short ones, and don't change the shocks (resulting in that same "bang" when you bottom them out).
I've hit some rough surfaces, and the sports suspension I guess is just that, as it can eat them up a bit better, but I've never experienced that dreaded "lowered car" bottom out on this car (on my old lowered Mustang, it was second nature).
I've hit some rough surfaces, and the sports suspension I guess is just that, as it can eat them up a bit better, but I've never experienced that dreaded "lowered car" bottom out on this car (on my old lowered Mustang, it was second nature).
I now own a S212.
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From: New Jersey
2016 Audi S8 Plus/ 2011 Mercedes e550 4Matic//Gone:1985 500SEL/2000 e320 4Matic/ 2001 e55 Kleeman
Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to Mercedes on Tuesday to get the system checked out. Regards. Ned.
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
As I already have said, I don't experience this either.
Not sure why you keep second guessing it based on what other people might say, instead of just dropping it off at the dealer. Also ask to take a test drive in another airmatic W212 and do a comparison yourself. Airmatic is a great system when operating correctly. Bottoming out is not part of that experience.
Not sure why you keep second guessing it based on what other people might say, instead of just dropping it off at the dealer. Also ask to take a test drive in another airmatic W212 and do a comparison yourself. Airmatic is a great system when operating correctly. Bottoming out is not part of that experience.
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Joined: Dec 2010
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From: New Jersey
2016 Audi S8 Plus/ 2011 Mercedes e550 4Matic//Gone:1985 500SEL/2000 e320 4Matic/ 2001 e55 Kleeman
As I already have said, I don't experience this either.
Not sure why you keep second guessing it based on what other people might say, instead of just dropping it off at the dealer. Also ask to take a test drive in another airmatic W212 and do a comparison yourself. Airmatic is a great system when operating correctly. Bottoming out is not part of that experience.
Not sure why you keep second guessing it based on what other people might say, instead of just dropping it off at the dealer. Also ask to take a test drive in another airmatic W212 and do a comparison yourself. Airmatic is a great system when operating correctly. Bottoming out is not part of that experience.
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
Going on Tuesday. Like I said, it seems to drive fine under normal conditions but seems to bottom out with a thud when I hit even a moderate pothole. The beauty of this forum is that I can get some feedback from members with the same or similar vehicle. It seems to me that the general consensus is that most don't have my experience, although some also contend that the airshock has more limited travel which could result in what I describe. Hopefully the dealership has a qualified tech that will know if there are any issues with my airmatic. I will let you know next week. Thanks for the support. Regards. Ned.
Yeah, the forum is great to bounce stuff off each other and get collective experiences, but I guess in this case I just meant that trying to determine things like noises and thuds, etc., gets too subjective and imprecise. Also I don't quite get what people mean when they say "limited travel" in either a pneumatic or hydraulic system. The dampening is based on volume of compressed air.
I have a schematic and a detailed description of the entire Airmatic system. It's an older bulletin but the system and principle is the same as the current Airmatic. It's enlightening to read, imho. The .pdf file is too big to attach here, but if you want it, pm me.
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From: NY
2010 E550 4matic, 2008 MDX, 2011 335i Vert
Wonder if some of the differences here are regional and a matter of interpretation. Roads here in the northeast are really bad right now - far worse than I can remember in recent years. Massive, deep potholes everywhere. Some could be almost the equivalent of hitting a curb at highway speeds. (I made a separate thread on my 3 bent rims). I get to the west coast probably once a month and as far as I can tell you guys dont have any such issues.
Second - while I have heard this "gunshot" type sound when hitting a pothole too - I really don't think it is the car bottoming out - at least on mine. Its very loud, sounds like the car is going to fly apart, and I can feel my teeth vibrate from it....but it really doesnt feel like bottoming out at all. I've had enough Toyotas in my life to know that feeling pretty well. Again - I think it just feels like the equivalent of hitting a curb straight on at 70mph.
Second - while I have heard this "gunshot" type sound when hitting a pothole too - I really don't think it is the car bottoming out - at least on mine. Its very loud, sounds like the car is going to fly apart, and I can feel my teeth vibrate from it....but it really doesnt feel like bottoming out at all. I've had enough Toyotas in my life to know that feeling pretty well. Again - I think it just feels like the equivalent of hitting a curb straight on at 70mph.
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E350
Second - while I have heard this "gunshot" type sound when hitting a pothole too - I really don't think it is the car bottoming out - at least on mine. Its very loud, sounds like the car is going to fly apart, and I can feel my teeth vibrate from it....but it really doesnt feel like bottoming out at all. .
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From: NYC
'12 CLS 550 4matic
Out Of Control!!
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From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
I agree about the "flying apart" comment. These cars are damn sturdy, and when hitting these road hazards sometimes, it sounds like the car is going to snap in half. I feel like I can hear the tightness of the build, from the chassis, to the interior materials, being put to such a compromising test, then I think I hear baby Jesus cry.
What it really comes down to, is the bigger wheels, and sport suspension, as I doubt the Luxury models will have as many problems (again, our trade off for vanity and/or some sportiness to balance out the ride dynamics). My Chevy Malibu has plenty of little interior rattles when hitting stuff, but the actual CAR doesn't feel as upset when it goes over rough surfaces, as it glides over them pretty unscathed-ly.
What it really comes down to, is the bigger wheels, and sport suspension, as I doubt the Luxury models will have as many problems (again, our trade off for vanity and/or some sportiness to balance out the ride dynamics). My Chevy Malibu has plenty of little interior rattles when hitting stuff, but the actual CAR doesn't feel as upset when it goes over rough surfaces, as it glides over them pretty unscathed-ly.
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2011 E350 4Matic T-Modell
