Rear air suspension
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Sweden, Stockholm
S213
Rear air suspension
Hi. My rear suspension is trolling me. After parking the car the suspension can sag completely within 1hour. After I can start the car and let it fill up and then leave the car over night without the suspension sagging.
This does not feel like leaky airbags, it feels more like either the valve block is sometimes leaking or the ECU is for some reason deflating the airbags randomly while parked.
any suggestions what can be done to locate the problem and perhaps rule out the airbags as the source of the problem?
This does not feel like leaky airbags, it feels more like either the valve block is sometimes leaking or the ECU is for some reason deflating the airbags randomly while parked.
any suggestions what can be done to locate the problem and perhaps rule out the airbags as the source of the problem?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Sweden, Stockholm
S213
thank you very much. However I have already checked for leaks at the compressor, valve block and air bags but did not find any which makes me believe that either there is an intermittent leak in some valve, or that there is an intermittent fault in ride height sensor or something causing the car sometimes to sag while parked.
Wife said today that the car sagged while she was shopping, sometimes it does not sag at all for days parked over night.
Wife said today that the car sagged while she was shopping, sometimes it does not sag at all for days parked over night.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Last edited by konigstiger; Oct 8, 2021 at 05:52 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Sweden, Stockholm
S213
Based on this I posted info to familiarize you with system. Problem could be compressor y36/8, 8y3, and/or 8y4 or airline to rear. I suggest you focus your attention here. Rear air springs do have internal volume & level valves unlikely both springs would fail at the same time barring bellows damage to both.
one thing I have noticed that I think is odd is that even when the car is locked the air suspension system seem to be partly active. If I lift one rear side (or maybe also both?) the system releases air in order to lower again to the correct height.
I would have thought that the system would be off when parked and locked.
A functional description/diagram of the system would have been nice.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Sweden, Stockholm
S213
does the air springs on s213 really have internal level valves? I don’t see any cable connector on the air spring and when googeling there seem to be none. On the s212 however there seem to be a internal valve in the spring.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Sweden, Stockholm
S213
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Sweden, Stockholm
S213
After replacing the valve block without any difference I replaced both rear air springs. In one of the old I could confirm a very small leak that might have been sealed sometimes and sometimes not depending on the level the car was parked (uphill downhill etc).
with new air springs the problem with the suspension sometimes going flat is now gone.
for some reason I believe that even if only one airbag has a leak the system compensates the height of the other side to match also when parked, has this functionality changed between w213/s213 and older models? On older models it seem like if people had problem with air springs only one side was dropped when parked.
with new air springs the problem with the suspension sometimes going flat is now gone.
for some reason I believe that even if only one airbag has a leak the system compensates the height of the other side to match also when parked, has this functionality changed between w213/s213 and older models? On older models it seem like if people had problem with air springs only one side was dropped when parked.
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223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
After replacing the valve block without any difference I replaced both rear air springs. In one of the old I could confirm a very small leak that might have been sealed sometimes and sometimes not depending on the level the car was parked (uphill downhill etc).
with new air springs the problem with the suspension sometimes going flat is now gone.
for some reason I believe that even if only one airbag has a leak the system compensates the height of the other side to match also when parked, has this functionality changed between w213/s213 and older models? On older models it seem like if people had problem with air springs only one side was dropped when parked.
with new air springs the problem with the suspension sometimes going flat is now gone.
for some reason I believe that even if only one airbag has a leak the system compensates the height of the other side to match also when parked, has this functionality changed between w213/s213 and older models? On older models it seem like if people had problem with air springs only one side was dropped when parked.
Also when driving it would be a safety nightmare if the opposing side suspension was dropped just to reach balance with the leaking side. This is talked a lot on MB forums but the suspension really only works when the car is woken up (note that the car may temporarily wake up e.g. to dry up the HVAC core after being parked for an hour or so, not sure if suspension levelling gets activated or not).
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Sweden, Stockholm
S213
The S213 with rear axle levelling does not adjust suspension when the car is in sleep mode, neither does the W213 or S213 Airmatic. If the air spring at one side leaks, the load on the the spring on the other side increases a lot (weight transferred via the torsion bar). This on one hand makes the other side drop too but it may also result to air leaking either from the air spring or via the valves.
Also when driving it would be a safety nightmare if the opposing side suspension was dropped just to reach balance with the leaking side. This is talked a lot on MB forums but the suspension really only works when the car is woken up (note that the car may temporarily wake up e.g. to dry up the HVAC core after being parked for an hour or so, not sure if suspension levelling gets activated or not).
Also when driving it would be a safety nightmare if the opposing side suspension was dropped just to reach balance with the leaking side. This is talked a lot on MB forums but the suspension really only works when the car is woken up (note that the car may temporarily wake up e.g. to dry up the HVAC core after being parked for an hour or so, not sure if suspension levelling gets activated or not).
Ok then it could be that when the pressure on the other side increase the valve block leaks or opens (mechanically) to prevent the pressure becoming to high and causing components to fail.
This should explain why I initially thought the valve block to be faulty, I disconnected the pressure pipe from the compressor and strapped a ballon on the pipe and left the car over night. In the morning the ballon had inflated and I thought there was a leak in the valve block or that the car compensated for something and opened the valve block on purpose.
thanks!
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 3
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S213 E220d AMG line
Hello guys, I am new to this forum, but not new to MB. I had recently experienced the vehicle rising message on the dash, early in the morning, for the first time I remember for 5 years. After about 30 seconds message disappeared, the car ran fine (it was dark outside, I didn't notice obvious fall on the rear side.
After work I put the Xentry tool on the car and found no error and no clue to the issue.
After a more comprehensive inspection i found slight difference on the rear right side, which is a bit lower than the left side. The height dropped a little bit in approx 2 hours and now seems stable but I would say is too low.
The car has only rear air spring suspension with electronic levelling (2019 E220D S213 T modell).
I did some research and some procedures in xentry and everything seems to be fine.
I found this topic and it seemed to fit like a glove on what I was suspecting, and I see that the main possible cause is one or both of the rear air springs.
My question is if there is a way to check for physical leaks on them, as they are covered in a rubber cover... Just to change them both in the first place is a bit pricy, as one airspring is about 700 US Dollars in my country.
Thank you.
After work I put the Xentry tool on the car and found no error and no clue to the issue.
After a more comprehensive inspection i found slight difference on the rear right side, which is a bit lower than the left side. The height dropped a little bit in approx 2 hours and now seems stable but I would say is too low.
The car has only rear air spring suspension with electronic levelling (2019 E220D S213 T modell).
I did some research and some procedures in xentry and everything seems to be fine.
I found this topic and it seemed to fit like a glove on what I was suspecting, and I see that the main possible cause is one or both of the rear air springs.
My question is if there is a way to check for physical leaks on them, as they are covered in a rubber cover... Just to change them both in the first place is a bit pricy, as one airspring is about 700 US Dollars in my country.
Thank you.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Sweden, Stockholm
S213
Hello guys, I am new to this forum, but not new to MB. I had recently experienced the vehicle rising message on the dash, early in the morning, for the first time I remember for 5 years. After about 30 seconds message disappeared, the car ran fine (it was dark outside, I didn't notice obvious fall on the rear side.
After work I put the Xentry tool on the car and found no error and no clue to the issue.
After a more comprehensive inspection i found slight difference on the rear right side, which is a bit lower than the left side. The height dropped a little bit in approx 2 hours and now seems stable but I would say is too low.
The car has only rear air spring suspension with electronic levelling (2019 E220D S213 T modell).
I did some research and some procedures in xentry and everything seems to be fine.
I found this topic and it seemed to fit like a glove on what I was suspecting, and I see that the main possible cause is one or both of the rear air springs.
My question is if there is a way to check for physical leaks on them, as they are covered in a rubber cover... Just to change them both in the first place is a bit pricy, as one airspring is about 700 US Dollars in my country.
Thank you.
After work I put the Xentry tool on the car and found no error and no clue to the issue.
After a more comprehensive inspection i found slight difference on the rear right side, which is a bit lower than the left side. The height dropped a little bit in approx 2 hours and now seems stable but I would say is too low.
The car has only rear air spring suspension with electronic levelling (2019 E220D S213 T modell).
I did some research and some procedures in xentry and everything seems to be fine.
I found this topic and it seemed to fit like a glove on what I was suspecting, and I see that the main possible cause is one or both of the rear air springs.
My question is if there is a way to check for physical leaks on them, as they are covered in a rubber cover... Just to change them both in the first place is a bit pricy, as one airspring is about 700 US Dollars in my country.
Thank you.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Texas
17 S213 E400 87 E30 325is 08 Acura TL
Is anyone aware of a S213/W213 rear spring replacement DIY? Or is there a similar DIY guide for the W218 that lines up? I'm aware of this great W212 DIY guide, but I'm betting there are differences. Thanks for any guidance😊
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 27
Likes: 6
2019 E450 Wagon
Hi. My rear suspension is trolling me. After parking the car the suspension can sag completely within 1hour. After I can start the car and let it fill up and then leave the car over night without the suspension sagging.
This does not feel like leaky airbags, it feels more like either the valve block is sometimes leaking or the ECU is for some reason deflating the airbags randomly while parked.
any suggestions what can be done to locate the problem and perhaps rule out the airbags as the source of the problem?
This does not feel like leaky airbags, it feels more like either the valve block is sometimes leaking or the ECU is for some reason deflating the airbags randomly while parked.
any suggestions what can be done to locate the problem and perhaps rule out the airbags as the source of the problem?
