SteveS212

Hi,

I have a 2012 E350 4MATIC with self leveling rear suspension. I wanted to buy some H&R springs and apparently they ONLY sell the fronts. So, can you confirm that the rears will "self level" to compensate for the lowered fronts? Is there pictures available to see the end results?

Thanks!

Racin_fool

the system will only level itself to what it was calibrated to for the vehicle ride height. Modifying the front of the car should have no effect on the rear of the car because there are sensors at the rear axle for the self-leveling suspension. You would have to get something to affect the rear level sensors like a different link/arm or have the vehicle height recalibrated and hope they can adjust it far enough without the car throwing faults.

belarus27

i think your rear may have airmatic? If so no springs are needed to lower it

SteveS212

I have SLS (Self Leveling System)....as per my original comment. I know that I don't actually need rear springs, but my concern was whether or not the rears will lower once they realize the front has been dropped.

KEY08

Airmatic systems can be lowered with STAR. Can't you do the same with your half Airmatic system? I doubt the self-leveling system would compensate for a lowered front suspension as it's primary purpose is to handle heavier loads over the rear axles.

SteveS212

Excuse the super NOOB questions, but what's the STAR?

I actually called H&R directly (as they are the ones selling the springs), and they told me that they believe the rears will compensate for the lowered front heights.

I was super skeptical, so that's why I turned to this forum for help.

Does anyone have my exact car with the H&R sport springs installed?

KEY08

Star is the Mercedes Star Diagnosis System (SDS). If you search here under some of the Airmatic threads you will see owners who have lowered their Airmatic equipped cars using the SDS to program different parameters. You can only modify the Airmatic so much before you need to add hardware as well (link arms) to further lower it.
Maybe PM the OP in this thread and see what he did.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...tic-wagon.html

Jabberwock

curious to see what you find out. i was going down this same path with mine and figured it would need links for the rear. I think the self leveling term is really set point leveling. i'd be surprised if it adjusted to a front ride height change. You could sit on the fenders with the car running and see if the rear lowers to match.

belarus27

it might adjust itself , but i really doubt it , as the computer was set to a certain number(voltage) or height , which you could only change via STAR system nor links (by applying a different voltage)..so i will say no it will not change , but hey let us know

Jabberwock

how'd this turnout, did it self level?

kajtek1

Steve did not give us much details about his car, but my understanding is that he has "wagon air" , what using similar components to airmatic is leveling wagons.
On W211 the system has leveling sensor on top of differential and that is where it can be adjusted.
Not sure W212 will have the same, but worth checking. Would we have VIN, we could check the catalog.