pathfinder_88

Reviving an old thread here but my '18 E400 wagon is doing the same thing. Runs out of suspension travel in the front very quickly over dips in the road and right into the bump stops. The front end feels underdamped/too soft. It would seem a stiff spring would help. My car has the AMG package so I'm assuming that's the lower suspension?

cetialpha5

Probably time for new springs and struts. Probably a combination of the spring being weaker so less travel and the strut being worn out so no as much damping.

The G Man

Do you have air suspension?

fleuger99

I have a 2020 E450 wagon and it only has 9800 and change miles on it and over certain road expansion joints my front suspension has also bottomed out. It has happened maybe four times in the 20 months I've owned the car. It has noting to do with worn springs and struts, my car is evidence of that.

The G Man

I had my E300 with 19” rims for about a year, probably bottom out 4 or 5 times too. This car does bottom out easily for a E class, I remember some of the older E class driving over potholes with a lot less drama. The 19” wheels makes the potholes seem even bigger.

fleuger99

I have the 18" AMG wheels and don't have many instances of hard impacts from a wheels perspective but have still bottomed out the suspension a few times driving reasonable speeds.

The G Man

18” are a bit softer than 19” but by about the same amount as the 19” handling better than 18”, in other words, its a very small amount. This generation of E class is probably one of the best handle E class sedans Mercedes ever made. With that added handling, short suspension travel and harsh suspension is the trade off. Personally, I would rather prefer Mercedes go back to their roots, built comfortable cruisers that is overbuild and over-engineered. An E class thar can ride comfortably over potholes and feels like a tank.

fleuger99

I think they sell what their customers buy more of. For example, I know in 2020 was the last year MB offered a 'Luxury' styled E450 wagon and the reason for that was they sold very few of them. When I test drove the 2020 E450 wagons, I did test drive both the 'Luxury' trim and the 'sporty AMG' trim. I personally liked the softer ride of the Luxury trim but I didn't like the cornering, it was very wishy washy with the softer luxury suspension so I opted for the AMG trim model.

JTK44

Me too: When I worked on my first Mercedes a 1982 300 Turbo diesel (E Class) I was truly amazed: Everything was overbuilt. On an American car shocks lasted 20 to 25,000 miles. When I sold my car with 65,000 miles on it the shocks were like new, there was not a rattle anywhere in the car and the interior was like new. I also liked the higher roof line, more headroom inside, plenty of leg room and a big trunk: you sat up "tall" and there was no need for a back up camera! Come to think of it the only thing I did for 65,000 miles was oil and filter change and inside cabin filter change. I had no maintenance expense. Nothing borke!
The price of the Mercedes was steep but it held its value: Expensive but worth every penny!

JTK44

Just my $.02:

You are aware that engine response, steering response and suspension are adjustable: If you put an E Class "luxury" type which I have and the 18" tires, put it in sport mode you get all the handling you need without the extra expense of the AMG package and their large wheels which are prone to wheel damage and bubbles. If "sport" is not enough performance then "Sport +" especially with the E450, unless you are on a track, is more than enough performance for anyone!

fleuger99

I see your point but disagree. How would you know what is acceptable performance for 'everyone?'. When I test drove the luxury wagon I did have it in sport and the sales person took me on some backroads to push it. I still felt it had too much body lean for me, not that I race around everywhere I drive. Also, I live in Austin Texas, the roads are excellent on 95% of road surfaces in the central Texas area, unlike the roads were in MA when I lived there so not worried about wheel damage here. I've never had any wheel damage and don't expect to on 18" wheels. 19" and 20" possibly. Before my wagon I had an X5 diesel with optional 20" wheels and never had any issues, just one flat tire. Each unto their own.

The G Man

If you opt for the air suspension in the luxury package, then the sport mode would make a difference in handling but air suspension has its own set of problems. The air suspension also provides body control, which improves handling. I too test drove the luxury package which I found to be soft and comfortable in a good way but lacks handling, I also did not like the styling as much as I did with the sport package. It really depends on what car you are used and what car you are coming from, the last bunch of my old cars have all been good handling cars, this E class is the softest of the bunch, even with the sport package and 19” rims.

fonzie1602

The front left strut seems to bottom out rather easily on my 16 e400 convertible. Wondering if new bilstein or koni struts will solve the issue.

fleuger99

I can't answer your question but my 2020 E-450 wagon had the same issue on the front shocks. This only occurred if I was driving 70mph or more and drove over bridge/highway joints, the speed would cause it to bottom out but it was not very often.