Air Suspension Question
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From: Cape Cod
E450 wagon, C43 AMG Cpe, GLE AMG 63S
Air Suspension Question
I vaguely remember this question being covered before but can't find it. I recently took delivery of a MY '23 E 450 wagon. The car has exceeded my expectations and I am very happy with my choice. The question I have is that the air suspension seems to have a mind of its own. While sitting in traffic the car occasionally raises. Also when pulling into a diagonal parking space the car will raise itself. At first I thought it was because it was sensing and approaching curb. I don't have an issue with that. But sitting in traffic and having the front end raise is a little disconcerting. Is this normal? The car has less than 800 miles to date. Any help would be appreciated.
Last edited by pdeacon; Feb 8, 2023 at 02:57 PM.
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S213 200e 4Matic
I vaguely remember this question being covered before but can't find it. I recently took delivery of a MY '23 E 450 wagon. The car has exceeded my expectations and I am very happy with my choice. The question I have is that the air suspension seems to have a mind of its own. While sitting in traffic the car occasionally raises. Also when pulling into a diagonal parking space the car will raise itself. At first I thought it was because it was sensing and approaching curb. I don't have an issue with that. But sitting in traffic and having the front end raise is a little disconcerting. Is this normal? The car has less than 800 miles to date. Any help would be appreciated.
My car is at the dealer at the moment and one of the things they are doing is to exchange air suspension control unit. I have exactly same issue. Air suspension has a life on its own. Going up and down at traffic almost at all times, not to mention that it is pretty loud doing it.
Last November, one dealer told me that they have changed it however this didn’t give much. I know why now! They didn’t changed it just did reinstalled the software plus software upgrade. I know that as current dealer where my car is told me so this week. They have ordered and received a new unit two days ago. Perhaps will do some test drives today and tomorrow.
Another issue, my car has is when you drive slowly over even a small hop then you could hear, quite often, rear shock absorbers hitting the rubber top. Last dealer replaced in January, most of the bushings in the rear multi-arm suspension due to squeaking noise, it did help but not with rubber sound.
By the way, expect to get suspension warning sign soon. Had it twice already!
I am just about to file a complaint to Mercedes just waiting to see if all issues would be repaired although I will file anyway. You can read my thread https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...s-already.html
Anyway I will update you once I have some news.
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Off topic but could you fix your signature and name the car model properly. It is no 200e, probably an E200. The small e refers to a plug-in hybrid which is why I thought you might have the same issue that someone else complained about. This was on an "e", meaning quite heavy load on the rear axle.
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S213 200e 4Matic
Off topic but could you fix your signature and name the car model properly. It is no 200e, probably an E200. The small e refers to a plug-in hybrid which is why I thought you might have the same issue that someone else complained about. This was on an "e", meaning quite heavy load on the rear axle.
Heavy load on the rear axle? While driving alone with empty trunk?
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Thank you @tyo I guess a call to the dealer is in order. I'm not experiencing any strange noises just the intermittent raising. I'll report back with my results.
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1973 280SEL 4.5; 2021 E450S4 Wagon
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S213 200e 4Matic
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S213 200e 4Matic
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If not on level ground when it comes to a stop, it levels itself. Same for all All Terrain owners active in the other thread. Not something I experienced in previous Range Rovers with air suspension, and I'll mention it when it's in for its first service, but it doesn't bother me.
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The car adjusts suspension height above certain speed (lowers the car) and then raises it at lower speed. I did not check the figures for a W213 but this is just an example of suspension levelling at speed. Euro cars traditionally lower the car on Sports mode too (at speed or when stationary, when ever mode is changed). Obviously the raised mode for bad roads (low speed) can be activated and deactivated while driving.
I've had 5 different Mercedes models, a few more Airmatic cars in total and none have had any disturbing suspension levelling, at speed or when stopping at traffic lights. Have to admit that our W213 does not have Airmatic, don't think it would be significantly different from the older or the more recent models.
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Confusing discussion here. The Airmatic suspension does level the car when necessary, even while driving (but not when parked after the car has entered deep sleep, just after stopping yes if necessary). The problem here perhaps is that there is a leak somewhere which causes the need for suspension levelling and this need should not exist. Or some sensor lever is lose or perhaps really an issue with the control unit. Levelling at speed or when stopping is not an issue but if it is somehow disturbing and too frequent, then it sounds like a fault somewhere.
The car adjusts suspension height above certain speed (lowers the car) and then raises it at lower speed. I did not check the figures for a W213 but this is just an example of suspension levelling at speed. Euro cars traditionally lower the car on Sports mode too (at speed or when stationary, when ever mode is changed). Obviously the raised mode for bad roads (low speed) can be activated and deactivated while driving.
I've had 5 different Mercedes models, a few more Airmatic cars in total and none have had any disturbing suspension levelling, at speed or when stopping at traffic lights. Have to admit that our W213 does not have Airmatic, don't think it would be significantly different from the older or the more recent models.
The car adjusts suspension height above certain speed (lowers the car) and then raises it at lower speed. I did not check the figures for a W213 but this is just an example of suspension levelling at speed. Euro cars traditionally lower the car on Sports mode too (at speed or when stationary, when ever mode is changed). Obviously the raised mode for bad roads (low speed) can be activated and deactivated while driving.
I've had 5 different Mercedes models, a few more Airmatic cars in total and none have had any disturbing suspension levelling, at speed or when stopping at traffic lights. Have to admit that our W213 does not have Airmatic, don't think it would be significantly different from the older or the more recent models.
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X214
I vaguely remember this question being covered before but can't find it. I recently took delivery of a MY '23 E 450 wagon. The car has exceeded my expectations and I am very happy with my choice. The question I have is that the air suspension seems to have a mind of its own. While sitting in traffic the car occasionally raises. Also when pulling into a diagonal parking space the car will raise itself. At first I thought it was because it was sensing and approaching curb. I don't have an issue with that. But sitting in traffic and having the front end raise is a little disconcerting. Is this normal? The car has less than 800 miles to date. Any help would be appreciated.
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My car has air suspension and it has NEVER raised or lowered by itself in my short 2-3 weeks of owning/driving the car. If this happens on mine, I'll have the dealer check it out and fix. Suspension should not self-level "when necessary"... what does "when necessary" even mean?
"When necessary" was supposed to refer to the case when the load on the car changes (people in the car or stuff at the trunk etc.) and levelling is needed to keep the set body height. Within a selected suspension mode, the nominal body height should be adjusted also if there is a leak that makes the body drop.
At high speed the target level changes within the selected mode, the mode itself does not change. If you have observed the suspension mode change on its own (the mode indicator changing too), that is not normal at all.
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2022 C300 AMG-Line; 2020 E450; 2013 SLK350; 2023 EQS580
What does "lowering by itself" mean? Perhaps you are referring to the change of suspension modes while I'm talking about levelling at the selected suspension mode? Of course suspension should not change from sports to normal to raised on its own (except from raised to normal if a specified speed is exceeded).
"When necessary" was supposed to refer to the case when the load on the car changes (people in the car or stuff at the trunk etc.) and levelling is needed to keep the set body height. Within a selected suspension mode, the nominal body height should be adjusted also if there is a leak that makes the body drop.
At high speed the target level changes within the selected mode, the mode itself does not change. If you have observed the suspension mode change on its own (the mode indicator changing too), that is not normal at all.
"When necessary" was supposed to refer to the case when the load on the car changes (people in the car or stuff at the trunk etc.) and levelling is needed to keep the set body height. Within a selected suspension mode, the nominal body height should be adjusted also if there is a leak that makes the body drop.
At high speed the target level changes within the selected mode, the mode itself does not change. If you have observed the suspension mode change on its own (the mode indicator changing too), that is not normal at all.
