Air suspension "sinking" in cold weather
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 5
Likes: 5
2013 Wagon W212
Air suspension "sinking" in cold weather
Hello everyone,
I'd appreciate your input on an issue with my air suspension.
This past winter, on the coldest mornings, I would walk outside to find the rear of my 2013 wagon had sunk about 1-2 inches overnight. The front of the car was at its normal height. After starting the car, the screen on the instrument cluster displayed "vehicle rising". After the vehicle rose, it handled just fine. No problems while driving.
I took my car to the repair shop, but they had trouble finding the root cause. Over the course of three visits, they replaced the air pump, checked for leaks, and disassembled the air suspension to no avail.
Now that the weather is warm, the issue hasn't occurred once.
Has anyone else encountered this issue? If so, what was the cause or solution in your case?
I apologize for not having a photo of the car sagging. Maybe I can snap a photo this coming winter.
I'd appreciate your input on an issue with my air suspension.
This past winter, on the coldest mornings, I would walk outside to find the rear of my 2013 wagon had sunk about 1-2 inches overnight. The front of the car was at its normal height. After starting the car, the screen on the instrument cluster displayed "vehicle rising". After the vehicle rose, it handled just fine. No problems while driving.
I took my car to the repair shop, but they had trouble finding the root cause. Over the course of three visits, they replaced the air pump, checked for leaks, and disassembled the air suspension to no avail.
Now that the weather is warm, the issue hasn't occurred once.
Has anyone else encountered this issue? If so, what was the cause or solution in your case?
I apologize for not having a photo of the car sagging. Maybe I can snap a photo this coming winter.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,359
Likes: 1,555
From: Pepper Pike Ohio
24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
sounds like one or both of your rear air struts are leaking, they are original? Mine started the same way, the cold shrinks the rubber baffles and they leak, it will likely get progressively worse and start leaking when warm as well, it's very hard to find the leak when it's small and slow.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 1,293
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Hello everyone,
I'd appreciate your input on an issue with my air suspension.
This past winter, on the coldest mornings, I would walk outside to find the rear of my 2013 wagon had sunk about 1-2 inches overnight. The front of the car was at its normal height. After starting the car, the screen on the instrument cluster displayed "vehicle rising". After the vehicle rose, it handled just fine. No problems while driving.
I took my car to the repair shop, but they had trouble finding the root cause. Over the course of three visits, they replaced the air pump, checked for leaks, and disassembled the air suspension to no avail.
Now that the weather is warm, the issue hasn't occurred once.
Has anyone else encountered this issue? If so, what was the cause or solution in your case?
I apologize for not having a photo of the car sagging. Maybe I can snap a photo this coming winter.
I'd appreciate your input on an issue with my air suspension.
This past winter, on the coldest mornings, I would walk outside to find the rear of my 2013 wagon had sunk about 1-2 inches overnight. The front of the car was at its normal height. After starting the car, the screen on the instrument cluster displayed "vehicle rising". After the vehicle rose, it handled just fine. No problems while driving.
I took my car to the repair shop, but they had trouble finding the root cause. Over the course of three visits, they replaced the air pump, checked for leaks, and disassembled the air suspension to no avail.
Now that the weather is warm, the issue hasn't occurred once.
Has anyone else encountered this issue? If so, what was the cause or solution in your case?
I apologize for not having a photo of the car sagging. Maybe I can snap a photo this coming winter.
Or does it mean that over night the temperature dropped making it the "coldest morning" from the milder evening before?
If it is about the temperature drop it is normal that the air springs let the car down, but I don't think 1-2 inches is normal for just temperature. Front does not lower as it is on conventional springs.
A little calculation with the universal gas law PV=nRT:
This formula can be written as V/T=nR/P. As n, R and P are constant in this case we can make formula for two different temperature conditions as V1/T1=V2/T2 and further V2=(T2/T1)xV1
If we take the air spring diameter as 120mm
Air spring length as 200mm
And temperature under condition 1 at 0C (273K) and under condition 2 at -10C (263K)
From above air spring dimensions, we can calculate the spring volume V1=2262cc
With the formula we get V2= (263/273) x 2262cc = 2179cc. From this we calculate air spring length at 192.6mm, i.e., from 10C temp drop from 0C the car would lower by 7.4mm. If temperature would drop to -20 over night the spring would lower by 15mm, so temperature alone does not explain 1-2" drop on the springs.
If the repair shop did all the work like you explain, then there should be some control on the Airmatic that lowers the car but that would not make sense either. There must be a leak somewhere but then, why does it not do it in warm weather?
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 266
Likes: 305
2011 Mercedes E350 4Matic Wagon
Had the same issue on my '11 S212 at around the 100k mile mark on the odometer. I would hear the air compressor kick on for the airmatic which was quite noticeable when waiting at a drive thru line or at the drive up atm. Would get the "vehicle rising, please wait" message on the dash on first start in the morning. I eventually replaced both air springs with the Arnotts myself and that solved my problem...no more rear end sagging and no message on the dashboard. The air springs deteriorate over time and get micro cracks in the bladder which lead to air loss and sagging issue. The lifespan of these air springs are around 10 years or so and that is when mine started acting up. If you are handy and have the tools, it's a straightforward repair. There are quite a few videos on YT that will walk you thru the procedure. If you're going to get a shop to do the repair don't be surprised at the cost. If I remember correctly the Arnotts were @500 for the pair at Rockauto.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 5
Likes: 5
2013 Wagon W212
sounds like one or both of your rear air struts are leaking, they are original? Mine started the same way, the cold shrinks the rubber baffles and they leak, it will likely get progressively worse and start leaking when warm as well, it's very hard to find the leak when it's small and slow.
Had the same issue on my '11 S212 at around the 100k mile mark on the odometer. I would hear the air compressor kick on for the airmatic which was quite noticeable when waiting at a drive thru line or at the drive up atm. Would get the "vehicle rising, please wait" message on the dash on first start in the morning. I eventually replaced both air springs with the Arnotts myself and that solved my problem...no more rear end sagging and no message on the dashboard. The air springs deteriorate over time and get micro cracks in the bladder which lead to air loss and sagging issue. The lifespan of these air springs are around 10 years or so and that is when mine started acting up. If you are handy and have the tools, it's a straightforward repair. There are quite a few videos on YT that will walk you thru the procedure. If you're going to get a shop to do the repair don't be surprised at the cost. If I remember correctly the Arnotts were @500 for the pair at Rockauto.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 1,482
From: 122W, 37N
2016 E350 4Matic wagon, 2019 Ford Expedition, 2019 Chevy Bolt EV
I so much preferred the Hydropneumatic suspension on the older E wagons. it used a hydraulic pump (stacked on the steering pump but with separate fluid), a reservoir tank, a control valve connected to the rear suspension, hydraulic cylinders in place of shocks, and nitrogen spheres tucked in by the rear axles acting as the dampers aka shock absorbers. that system lasted for many many miles and years without wearing out shocks, although you should flush and replenish the fluid every 5 years or so.
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