Is my airmatic on it's way out?
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2011 E550
Is my airmatic on it's way out?
Hey everyone,
I recently left the car sitting for 3-4 days for the first time since I bought it.
When I went to drive again... the rear of the car was much lower than i've ever seen it. As soon as I started it up I got the message "vehicle rising" as if I had pressed the "extra height" button but it was not enabled... and the car rose to it's regular height.
Is this normal? Or is this a sign I may start seeing more issues with the airmatic? It's under warranty so i'm not hugely concerned I just wanted to know.
I'll add a few pictures of it shortly.
I recently left the car sitting for 3-4 days for the first time since I bought it.
When I went to drive again... the rear of the car was much lower than i've ever seen it. As soon as I started it up I got the message "vehicle rising" as if I had pressed the "extra height" button but it was not enabled... and the car rose to it's regular height.
Is this normal? Or is this a sign I may start seeing more issues with the airmatic? It's under warranty so i'm not hugely concerned I just wanted to know.
I'll add a few pictures of it shortly.
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2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Hey everyone,
I recently left the car sitting for 3-4 days for the first time since I bought it.
When I went to drive again... the rear of the car was much lower than i've ever seen it. As soon as I started it up I got the message "vehicle rising" as if I had pressed the "extra height" button but it was not enabled... and the car rose to it's regular height.
Is this normal? Or is this a sign I may start seeing more issues with the airmatic? It's under warranty so i'm not hugely concerned I just wanted to know.
I'll add a few pictures of it shortly.
I recently left the car sitting for 3-4 days for the first time since I bought it.
When I went to drive again... the rear of the car was much lower than i've ever seen it. As soon as I started it up I got the message "vehicle rising" as if I had pressed the "extra height" button but it was not enabled... and the car rose to it's regular height.
Is this normal? Or is this a sign I may start seeing more issues with the airmatic? It's under warranty so i'm not hugely concerned I just wanted to know.
I'll add a few pictures of it shortly.
You have a leak issue and it probably is a leak at the air spring(s). I had this problem and it was fixed under warranty.
There should be a TSB for this as it seems the seal design or something is bad and MB re-designed it and this is what the replacement part has.
My car is a 2010 model but I think 2011 still has the same parts from the factory. Have it fixed before the warranty runs out. It will only get worse.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2015
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2011 E550
You have a leak issue and it probably is a leak at the air spring(s). I had this problem and it was fixed under warranty.
There should be a TSB for this as it seems the seal design or something is bad and MB re-designed it and this is what the replacement part has.
My car is a 2010 model but I think 2011 still has the same parts from the factory. Have it fixed before the warranty runs out. It will only get worse.
There should be a TSB for this as it seems the seal design or something is bad and MB re-designed it and this is what the replacement part has.
My car is a 2010 model but I think 2011 still has the same parts from the factory. Have it fixed before the warranty runs out. It will only get worse.
Thanks!
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I wouldn't freak out about it and sounds like that is your attitude as well. If it took several days to lower it could be caused by several things. Maybe just put your dealer on notice and they can schedule a time to run some tests and check for a leak if necessary.
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2011 E550 P2 4M Sedan
IIRC the TSB says the car must drop by a certain distance overnight, perhaps 20mm (almost 1 inch) but I am not sure. I've read on here that dealers have kept the cars to check in the morning. Mine has dropped like that after 3-4 days a couple of times. But other times it did not drop by a noticeable amount. I keep a tape measure near the car in the garage in case I notice a drop. It normally drops .5 inch over 48 hours with is within the threshold of the TSB I think. I figured I would have to wait until it gets worse or my warranty gets close to expiring.
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2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
I hope it's nothing for your case. I've yet to let my car sit any longer than 24 hours. So I will keep an eye out especially with cold coming which I read can make it drop as well.
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2011 E550
I have a feeling there's something wrong because I usually let the car sit for at least 2 days at a time every week and i've never seen any drop at all. This time I left it from Sunday-Thursday and it dropped this much.
I have over two years left on my warranty so i'm not that upset about it other than having to drive a loaner for however long it takes them to fix it.
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From: New Jersey
2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
You're definitely going to be alright due to your warranty. Me on the other hand not so much, no warranty and no CPO means trying to make it outta this car by next summer and I'll upgrade and make sure I have a warranty.
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2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Well I live in Miami so don't know how cold it's going to get ... lol
I have a feeling there's something wrong because I usually let the car sit for at least 2 days at a time every week and i've never seen any drop at all. This time I left it from Sunday-Thursday and it dropped this much.
I have over two years left on my warranty so i'm not that upset about it other than having to drive a loaner for however long it takes them to fix it.
I have a feeling there's something wrong because I usually let the car sit for at least 2 days at a time every week and i've never seen any drop at all. This time I left it from Sunday-Thursday and it dropped this much.
I have over two years left on my warranty so i'm not that upset about it other than having to drive a loaner for however long it takes them to fix it.
Did you buy your car used with the CPO warranty or new? If CPO I would have it fixed while the CPO is still in effect.
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2011 E550
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2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I may be wrong but the CPO warranty is only one year extra when buying a CPO car. If they gave you three years the other two years are ELW. This is how it used to be but I don't know if the changed it.
Anyway, If I was you I would have it fixed under that first year CPO warranty. They treat CPO and ELW little bit differently.
Last edited by Arrie; Oct 26, 2015 at 02:56 PM.
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Like I said earlier, just put your dealer on notice and maybe schedule a time to have it looked at and run some diagnostics. They will check for leaks if need be as well. Air is obviously pumped into the system, but air is also expelled from the system as you hear every day when you exit the car and it gives you the razzberries.
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2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Like I said earlier, just put your dealer on notice and maybe schedule a time to have it looked at and run some diagnostics. They will check for leaks if need be as well. Air is obviously pumped into the system, but air is also expelled from the system as you hear every day when you exit the car and it gives you the razzberries.
And if the system works correctly neither end of the car falls down no matter how long it sits.
This is a known problem and in my opinion the OP should have it fixed under the one year CPO warranty. It will have to be fixed in any case so why not do it under the "better" warranty?
Under ELW they bring in all sorts of "normal wear and tear". Under CPO they don't even ask pretty much.
It should be covered under ELW too but again, if I had the car I would have it fixed before the CPO runs out.
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2011 E550
And if the system works correctly neither end of the car falls down no matter how long it sits.
This is a known problem and in my opinion the OP should have it fixed under the one year CPO warranty. It will have to be fixed in any case so why not do it under the "better" warranty?
Under ELW they bring in all sorts of "normal wear and tear". Under CPO they don't even ask pretty much.
It should be covered under ELW too but again, if I had the car I would have it fixed before the CPO runs out.
This is a known problem and in my opinion the OP should have it fixed under the one year CPO warranty. It will have to be fixed in any case so why not do it under the "better" warranty?
Under ELW they bring in all sorts of "normal wear and tear". Under CPO they don't even ask pretty much.
It should be covered under ELW too but again, if I had the car I would have it fixed before the CPO runs out.
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2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
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2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Only noticed it when the car was sitting over night. First it was apparent when car was sitting 3 - 4 days at the airport during my trips. Then it got worse and only took one night at home to drop.
The problem was, like I said earlier, with the rear air springs and after they were changed the car does not drop at all, at least not after sitting 3 weeks at the airport that some of my trips has been.
Did not notice anything while driving.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: New Jersey
2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
Hey everyone,
I recently left the car sitting for 3-4 days for the first time since I bought it.
When I went to drive again... the rear of the car was much lower than i've ever seen it. As soon as I started it up I got the message "vehicle rising" as if I had pressed the "extra height" button but it was not enabled... and the car rose to it's regular height.
Is this normal? Or is this a sign I may start seeing more issues with the airmatic? It's under warranty so i'm not hugely concerned I just wanted to know.
I'll add a few pictures of it shortly.
I recently left the car sitting for 3-4 days for the first time since I bought it.
When I went to drive again... the rear of the car was much lower than i've ever seen it. As soon as I started it up I got the message "vehicle rising" as if I had pressed the "extra height" button but it was not enabled... and the car rose to it's regular height.
Is this normal? Or is this a sign I may start seeing more issues with the airmatic? It's under warranty so i'm not hugely concerned I just wanted to know.
I'll add a few pictures of it shortly.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 326
Likes: 3
2011 E550
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 85
From: New Jersey
2010 E550 P2 w/AMG Sport Package + Pano, 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 326
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2011 E550
I got the car back yesterday. I won't know for sure if it's fixed right away because it took some time to drop the last two times it happened (once 4 days once over night).
The papers I received from them state the following:
VALVE UNIT TEST
ON-BOARD POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE MAINTAIN
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR LEAKS CHECK
VALVE UNIT OF AIR SUSPENSION REMOVE/INSTALL
I'll update the thread in a week or two to confirm if it's fixed!
The papers I received from them state the following:
VALVE UNIT TEST
ON-BOARD POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE MAINTAIN
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR LEAKS CHECK
VALVE UNIT OF AIR SUSPENSION REMOVE/INSTALL
I'll update the thread in a week or two to confirm if it's fixed!
