moizshad

I've recently sold my W211 2004 E55AMG and have gotten myself into a W212 2010 E550 (49K miles). As many of you know both are fantastic cars, however both with a lousy air suspension! Not even after a month of my purchase I'm seeing how my rear suspension drops down, after only two to three days, to almost like a low rider. So I've taken the step of reporting this to the NHTSA because I'm not accepting this from MB any longer. They put out a product that is meant to fail and cost us owners thousands of dollars. The previous owner had the front air suspension replaced in 11/2013 (43k miles) at MB North Houston.

I urge every W212 owner with an air suspension to observe the air suspension behavior and report it to NHTSA. (Link below) If enough reports go in it will get repaired at MB's cost!

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/Vehicl...nt/index.xhtml


PS. I will post some pictures of the air suspension here in a few days.

p30amg08

Sorry to hear that. I have been looking into the e550 my self. Found this link as well.

Interested in seeing how other w212 owners respond.


http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w212-e-class/1540768-e550-air-ride.html

steinjr

This is exactly why I chose the 350 over the 550. My sales rep told me the air suspension models have issues all the time.

Sean1234

I had my 2010 E550 in with about 50,000KM on it when the left side was riding on the tires and the right side was al the way up. Long story short MB Toronto had the car for 5 days doing every test they could to try and get out of replacing the system. In the end they had to basaclly replace everything and when I picked up the car I had 30 pages! of everything they did.

Once this isn't covered under CPO I will be unloading the car and getting into a E-Class that has a standard suspension

Arrie

Not covered under CPO in Canada? It is in U.S. And under the ELW too.

Arrie

A couple of months after getting my car three years ago I noticed the rear of the car was not holding the level. It would drop down after just sitting over night.


Took it to the service and the rear air springs were replaced. I have not had any issues since this was done about 2 1/2 years ago.


I understand the problem is with a seal of the rear springs and they replaced this with a new design.


I don't think reporting this to the NHTSA will help as this is not a safety issue.


I also understand there is a TSB for this.

Sean1234

It was fully covered, just a pain and something I didn't see coming on a car like this. However after reading through this and other forums I quickly learned otherwise.

Live Oak

2011 E550.

24 Jan 2012, at 15,788 miles, rear end collapsing overnight. Dealer replaced both springs.

20 Jan 2014, at 43,306 miles, rear end collapsing overnight. Dealer replaced both springs, PN'S 212-320-37-25 and -38-25: "REAR AIR SPRINGS ARE NOT LATEST STYLE WITH BLACK RING AROUND SPRING. PER DTB REPLACE BOTH REAR AIR SPRINGS."

Let's hope this holds up after warranty. $$$$$$$$

p30amg08

Great info here thanks

Arrie

So what did you mean by saying "Once this isn't covered under CPO..." then?

generogge

I haven't understood your confusion with his statement. It was appropriately stated, in that "Once & "When" could be considered synonyms in this usage. Maybe read "When", rather than "Once"?

Arrie

Or perhaps that "Once my warranty is over...". In your post I got the understanding that once the CPO doesn't cover it but would cover other parts.


All clear now.

Yosheego

Same thing from time to time here. Dealer keeps telling me it's normal. Is it normal, not to me it isn't. It happens mostly in the winter/cold days. Within 2 days, I'm sitting low rider.
I have almost 50k it. Been having this issue since 15k. Very frustrated with my local dealer.
Finally I was able to get them to change my headlights because of the pitted marks and of course, as many you already know, the front rotors/brakes. Don't get me started on that issue.

Arrie

This is very simple. If the car drops down somehow the air gets out from the air springs, i.e. there is a leak.


It is a fact that cold temperature shrinks air and the springs will let the car go down some but nothing like to be a low rider.

Ed99

Has anyone replaced the entire suspension with Coilovers or is it even possible?

p30amg08

I'm sure its possible but I'd be ****ing pissed if I had to do that in a 4 yr old car

moizshad

What do you mean with Headlights replaced? Can you elaborate on that please? What's up with the rotors? I'm sorry I've just recently purchased a W212 E550.

moizshad

as my title states, i had to get both rear air bellows / air springs replaced. First the passenger side and two weeks later the driver side one. (car sat for about five days and dropped again) Cost to warranty about $2K, i had to pay about $90 in taxes, no deductible *thankgod* I can't believe it 51K miles and front suspension air struts replaced at 43K miles under factory warranty and now at only 50K both rear air bellows replaced. Warranties on these cars are totally worth it.

moizshad

What do you mean with Headlights replaced? Can you elaborate on that please? What's up with the rotors? I'm sorry I've just recently purchased a W212 E550.

ddeliber

I'll let the guy that had the headlights replaced comment on that, but regarding rotors: There is a very common problem with pulsing brakes on e550s. This is due to issues with the rotors. Some people say they warp, others claim it is due to brake pad deposit build-up on the rotors, regardless the failure rate is very high, and many have had their rotors replaced more than once. From what I understand, MB has changed parts a few times, not sure if the underlying issue is fixed yet, but I haven't seen nearly as many "pulsing brakes" or "warped rotor" threads lately. Do a search for "E550 rotors" and you will see what I mean.... This one explains it pretty well:
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...cond-time.html

From what I have read here (I don't have an e550 but a friend of mine does) this and Airmatic issues (like you have experienced) are the two most common e550 problems out there.

johnfrancisco

I just bought an '11 CPO E350 Wagon and mine does the same thing even after just a few hours of sitting sometimes, sometimes its fine. I have to say that I think the bagged wagon looks pretty bad@ss, but once I just got in and drove away and it handled like a 30 year old "land-yacht" with a shot suspension. Then I got a malfunction error on the center display. I just bought this car like a month or so ago, and already I have the following issues...

1. Front Windows malfunction (goes up then all the way down).
2. Leaking Rear Air Suspension.
3. Cupholder sliding cover gets stuck in open position and doesn't slide automatically.
4. COMAND knob no longer scrolls (4 years seems to be the magic number)
5. Wiper blades turn on for a swipe after hitting small potholes sometimes

And the list continues...

I have an appointment at Ray Catena Mercedes this Thursday, so we'll have to see how it goes. Wish me luck!

El Cid

When I first started looking at MB's, an old MB hand told me to avoid air suspension like the plague. It has never been that good, especially if you plan to keep the car past the warranty.
Incidentally, I doubt NHTSA will do anything about this. It has to be proven to be a major safety hazard for them to act and involving lots and lots of vehicles.

moizshad

Thank you for your quick response. I haven't noticed any vibration or any kind of weird brake pedal feedback due to warped rotors. However I will look into this matter. Keep it up guys!

Tjdehya

1. Try the instructions for "resetting the side windows" in the manual.
2. That sux. sorry to hear.
3. It needs to be cleaned. (if a drink was spilled it will do that)
4. This happened to me too. I had it replaced a few months ago, right before my warranty ran out... I was lucky.
5. Your wiper should not be on unless it is raining. (it says so in the manual).
Good Luck

moizshad

So....after a year of 2010 E550 ownership I'm kind of disappointed with MB....both headlight assemblies had to be replaced due to failing actuator, both rear air bellows/springs had to be replaced and currently the vehicle is in the shop for a left front strut leak.....which is not covered by my Route66 Extended Warranty Anyone has any clue where to get the best front left air strut or possibly know how to repair or knows where to buy a repair kit.