Does your E class bottom out too much?
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2019 E300
Does your E class bottom out too much?
I have a 2019 E300 sport and I would say the car bottoms out more than I expected. I live in Boston and the roads are horrible here, my car bottoms out once a month on average. I expect this from a sports car but not a mid size luxury sedan, 95% of time, the car rides beautifully, so I put up with the other 5%. I am not sure if this is due to the E class’ soft suspension coupled with a short suspension travel. Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same.
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From: Long Island, NY
2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
I have a 2019 E300 sport and I would say the car bottoms out more than I expected. I live in Boston and the roads are horrible here, my car bottoms out once a month on average. I expect this from a sports car but not a mid size luxury sedan, 95% of time, the car rides beautifully, so I put up with the other 5%. I am not sure if this is due to the E class’ soft suspension coupled with a short suspension travel. Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same.
Nope never has happened - but then again I do not have the lowered sport suspension. I have the Luxury Styling with standard 18" wheels.
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 576
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From: New Jersey
MB W213 E300 4MATIC Luxury Model
I have a 2019 E300 sport and I would say the car bottoms out more than I expected. I live in Boston and the roads are horrible here, my car bottoms out once a month on average. I expect this from a sports car but not a mid size luxury sedan, 95% of time, the car rides beautifully, so I put up with the other 5%. I am not sure if this is due to the E class’ soft suspension coupled with a short suspension travel. Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same.
regular non-run flat tires. Great ride no bottom out issues
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 660
Likes: 300
From: Franklin, TN
2019 E450 wagon: 2019 BMW 430i: 2013 Chevy Traverse: (departed)2013 SL550 & 2019 E450 cab
Had the same issue with our A238 2019 model: this is what I found in MB literature: In the MB E class intro information, they post the following on the Agility Control with selective damping system:
The comfortably tuned, conventional suspension / damping of the E-Class is designed as a road surface-dependent damping system. The front axle suspension strut is attached to the body with a triple-path head bearing. With this system, the static carrying forces are transmitted directly to the body via a plastic shim. Large forces (e.g. when shock absorbers bottom out) are absorbed by a jounce buffer.
The function module consists of a small elastomer piston, which reduces the damping effect in the event of minor road surface excitations. This considerably improves the driving comfort and the response of the suspension in particular. For heavier road surface excitation, the full damping effect is available.
It goes on to show the diagram of the strut assembly, showing the components, valves, etc.
All that being stated, our 213 wagon on 18" rims is much more forgiving than the 19" rims on the A238. Bottom line, the lowered suspension in certain circumstances will feel more harsh on the larger diameter rims.
The comfortably tuned, conventional suspension / damping of the E-Class is designed as a road surface-dependent damping system. The front axle suspension strut is attached to the body with a triple-path head bearing. With this system, the static carrying forces are transmitted directly to the body via a plastic shim. Large forces (e.g. when shock absorbers bottom out) are absorbed by a jounce buffer.
The function module consists of a small elastomer piston, which reduces the damping effect in the event of minor road surface excitations. This considerably improves the driving comfort and the response of the suspension in particular. For heavier road surface excitation, the full damping effect is available.
It goes on to show the diagram of the strut assembly, showing the components, valves, etc.
All that being stated, our 213 wagon on 18" rims is much more forgiving than the 19" rims on the A238. Bottom line, the lowered suspension in certain circumstances will feel more harsh on the larger diameter rims.
Last edited by TennesseeZ4; Jun 14, 2022 at 09:26 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 292
2019 E300
Had the same issue with our A238 2019 model: this is what I found in MB literature: In the MB E class intro information, they post the following on the Agility Control with selective damping system:
The comfortably tuned, conventional suspension / damping of the E-Class is designed as a road surface-dependent damping system. The front axle suspension strut is attached to the body with a triple-path head bearing. With this system, the static carrying forces are transmitted directly to the body via a plastic shim. Large forces (e.g. when shock absorbers bottom out) are absorbed by a jounce buffer.
The function module consists of a small elastomer piston, which reduces the damping effect in the event of minor road surface excitations. This considerably improves the driving comfort and the response of the suspension in particular. For heavier road surface excitation, the full damping effect is available.
It goes on to show the diagram of the strut assembly, showing the components, valves, etc.
All that being stated, our 213 wagon on 18" rims is much more forgiving than the 19" rims on the A238. Bottom line, the lowered suspension in certain circumstances will feel more harsh on the larger diameter rims.
The comfortably tuned, conventional suspension / damping of the E-Class is designed as a road surface-dependent damping system. The front axle suspension strut is attached to the body with a triple-path head bearing. With this system, the static carrying forces are transmitted directly to the body via a plastic shim. Large forces (e.g. when shock absorbers bottom out) are absorbed by a jounce buffer.
The function module consists of a small elastomer piston, which reduces the damping effect in the event of minor road surface excitations. This considerably improves the driving comfort and the response of the suspension in particular. For heavier road surface excitation, the full damping effect is available.
It goes on to show the diagram of the strut assembly, showing the components, valves, etc.
All that being stated, our 213 wagon on 18" rims is much more forgiving than the 19" rims on the A238. Bottom line, the lowered suspension in certain circumstances will feel more harsh on the larger diameter rims.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 660
Likes: 300
From: Franklin, TN
2019 E450 wagon: 2019 BMW 430i: 2013 Chevy Traverse: (departed)2013 SL550 & 2019 E450 cab
So the short answer is sometimes, like when I encounter the pot hole from you know where. But in normal, and spirited, driving there is simply not the same sensation that the A238 suffered from, which was a pronounced shuddering when the suspension would bottom out onto the shims. While my wagon also has the lowered adaptive suspension, it also has 18" wheels, and I believe that somewhat mitigates the impact jounce. What I also found is that the suspension does not bottom out as much with the suspension setting on sport. I program my individual setting to be comfort for engine, sport for suspension and steering; that gives me the best ride feel. Worked on both vehicles. Following links to additional discussions / information from MB.
I have a pdf of the press release that has detailed photos of the front strut assembly, showing the components, including the head bearing buffer; should you want to see it, send me a PM with an e mail address.
In the MB E class intro information, they post the following on the Agility Control with selective damping system:
The comfortably tuned, conventional suspension / damping of the E-Class is designed as a road surface-dependent damping system. The front axle suspension strut is attached to the body with a triple-path head bearing. With this system, the static carrying forces are transmitted directly to the body via a plastic shim. Large forces (e.g. when shock absorbers bottom out) are absorbed by a jounce buffer.
The function module consists of a small elastomer piston, which reduces the damping effect in the event of minor road surface excitations. This considerably improves the driving comfort and the response of the suspension in particular. For heavier road surface excitation, the full damping effect is available.
MB Press Release: https://group-media.mercedes-benz.co...ml?oid=9271757
Previous discussion on this forum: https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ng-system.html
I have a pdf of the press release that has detailed photos of the front strut assembly, showing the components, including the head bearing buffer; should you want to see it, send me a PM with an e mail address.
In the MB E class intro information, they post the following on the Agility Control with selective damping system:
The comfortably tuned, conventional suspension / damping of the E-Class is designed as a road surface-dependent damping system. The front axle suspension strut is attached to the body with a triple-path head bearing. With this system, the static carrying forces are transmitted directly to the body via a plastic shim. Large forces (e.g. when shock absorbers bottom out) are absorbed by a jounce buffer.
The function module consists of a small elastomer piston, which reduces the damping effect in the event of minor road surface excitations. This considerably improves the driving comfort and the response of the suspension in particular. For heavier road surface excitation, the full damping effect is available.
MB Press Release: https://group-media.mercedes-benz.co...ml?oid=9271757
Previous discussion on this forum: https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ng-system.html
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2015
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2019 E300
Thanks TennesseeZ4 for your response. Seems like the sport package in the wagon is a bit different than the sport suspension in the cabriolet. For roads in the Northeast, maybe all terrain is the way to go.
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Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 86
Likes: 2
From: Ontario, CANADA
2015 C450; 2008 RX400h
I had a 2018 e300 with terrible bottoming out of the suspension. Of course, the dealer said there was no issue. However, there is one spot on a road I travel that would always bottom out the suspension with a big bang. I travelled that same road with many other cars and had no issues, and those cars include a 2016 c450, a 2021 Toyota Hybrid Highlander, and a 2019 Mazda 3. As far as I am concerned, this is a design fault. Very disappointed with Mercedes and this terrible design.
These are what my rims looked like:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merced..._2.0_Front.jpg
These are what my rims looked like:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merced..._2.0_Front.jpg
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,583
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2019 E300
Seems to me the W213's suspension does not handle the dips on the potholes too well, it seems to handle the speed bumps better. In the Northeast, this time of year the potholes are mostly fixed and the Biden money started a lot of new road paving projects. In the Winter, the pothole bottoming out will repeat.
