Airmatic
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Member
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 133
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E450
Airmatic
Hello. Dealers close to where I live have not had an Airmatic equipped model for me to test drive. I previously owned a W213 without air suspension (and I liked the planted feel) but was curious on how the new W214 would feel with that option equipped.
Has anybody got a chance to drive one back to back? If so, how was it?
Does the air suspension also provide that planted to the ground feel?
Thank you!
Has anybody got a chance to drive one back to back? If so, how was it?
Does the air suspension also provide that planted to the ground feel?
Thank you!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
I would say no. I just got a All Terrain wagon with the air suspension and it does not feel as planted with handling as the 213 with only rear air suspension I just traded in. But the air suspension does ride much better. I do kinda miss already though the sports car feeling and the real road feel of my former 2019 213 wagon. Some of what I'm feeling too could be the higher profile tires that the All Terrain uses and the difference in the grand touring this car has vs the performance tires my 213 had. It all adds up.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,945
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From: Tennessee
W214 E450
Feels planted to me. I've driven two different W214 cars that have the air suspension and both felt great. Can't speak for the non air suspension ride though. With the air you also get the 4 wheel steering which helps with the handling making it drive like a smaller car.
Member
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 116
Likes: 18
W214 E350
My current W214 does not have Airmatic and feels extremely solid and well planted on the ground, I was surprised when picking up from the dealer on the two-hour ride back home coming from my EQS with Airmatic which after a Software Update felt more like a Taycan in the rear and floaty in the front.
I have to say I miss having Airmatic, especially as a daily for city driving.
I have to say I miss having Airmatic, especially as a daily for city driving.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 133
Likes: 22
E450
My current W214 does not have Airmatic and feels extremely solid and well planted on the ground, I was surprised when picking up from the dealer on the two-hour ride back home coming from my EQS with Airmatic which after a Software Update felt more like a Taycan in the rear and floaty in the front.
I have to say I miss having Airmatic, especially as a daily for city driving.
I have to say I miss having Airmatic, especially as a daily for city driving.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 35
Likes: 10
From: Pittsburgh PA
2024 E450 2024 GLE350
I have the Airmatic on mine. I test drove both variants. I was looking for more of a luxury car ride.
I feel the Airmatic is slightly softer on smooth pavement. Never floaty but more isolated than the coil spring variant.
I will say I am surprised of the ride over sharp bumps. It does feel harsh and skittish at times on bad pavement. I would attribute most of that to the 20 inch wheels and terrible Continental tires mine came with.
My final decision came down to the Airmatic having active monitoring shocks vs the semi active 2 stage shocks that the coil spring car has.
Either way you can’t go wrong. Both were more comfortable than the BMW I traded in.
I feel the Airmatic is slightly softer on smooth pavement. Never floaty but more isolated than the coil spring variant.
I will say I am surprised of the ride over sharp bumps. It does feel harsh and skittish at times on bad pavement. I would attribute most of that to the 20 inch wheels and terrible Continental tires mine came with.
My final decision came down to the Airmatic having active monitoring shocks vs the semi active 2 stage shocks that the coil spring car has.
Either way you can’t go wrong. Both were more comfortable than the BMW I traded in.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,015
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From: Cape Cod
E450 wagon, C43 AMG Cpe, GLE AMG 63S
Airmatic: My two cents. In have owned a number of MB's with and without Airmatic. The best combination is Airmatic with non runflats. I'm running that combo with 20" staggered on my W214. Don't leave the dealership without it. The best of all worlds.
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Cape Cod
E450 wagon, C43 AMG Cpe, GLE AMG 63S
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From: Nappanee Indiana
2026 E450
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,834
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
Strange how my car came with the Bridgestones. They really are not all that bad it’s just that the wear rating is so low and you’re not supposed to to use them in cold climates being a summer only tire. I thought about taking the car up north from Florida but if it snows I’d have a problem. Surprised mb puts a summer only tire on this car especially it being the “All Terrain”. The base 19 inch wheels come with all season tires although Run Flats. When I replace the Bridgestones I’ll probably go with the Continental extreme contact W06 plus tires which are all season tires.
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GLE 580
Last edited by wildta; Dec 5, 2024 at 02:09 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,834
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
Wow if that’s the case I’m glad I got the non staggered 20 inch wheels. I originally had put down for the staggered wheels but the more though I gave to it I decided the non staggered so I could have the tires rotated and increase tire life some hopefully the dealer will rotate my tires with prepaid maintenance at the 10k mile services. The staggered wheels look a little better but it becomes more involved sometimes at tire replacement time that the tire store or online supplier might be out of stock of the wider rear tires. Had this happen with cars I’ve owned in the past.
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,945
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From: Tennessee
W214 E450
My 24' E350 and 25' E450 both came with Perilli P Zero summer tires. I live in TN where it does snow at times and will regularly drop below 45° which summer tires should not be used in either of those conditions. I just changed them out to Perilli Cinturato Weatheractive tires. I'll put the summer tires back on in the spring and go back to the weatheractive again next winter.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 3,140
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GLE 580
Wow if that’s the case I’m glad I got the non staggered 20 inch wheels. I originally had put down for the staggered wheels but the more though I gave to it I decided the non staggered so I could have the tires rotated and increase tire life some hopefully the dealer will rotate my tires with prepaid maintenance at the 10k mile services. The staggered wheels look a little better but it becomes more involved sometimes at tire replacement time that the tire store or online supplier might be out of stock of the wider rear tires. Had this happen with cars I’ve owned in the past.
Member
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 116
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W214 E350
I am extremely satisfied with the ride quality, and I do not necessarily miss having Airmatic currently. It is a step above your typical ride quality and an improvement over the last generation. My W214 came with the AMG multi-spoke wheels 20" with the Pirelli Summer "mixed tires. " Living in the NE I had recently swapped them to the Michelin Pilot Sport AS/4 and the ride and firemess is much softer and so much more enjoyable than the harder Pirelli's that came stock. Pirelli's are great I had the PZero's on my EQS as well and they gripped well but ate rubber like no other coming in from the factory at I believe 8/32 and with the vehicle being rather heavy I must say that the combo wasn't necessarily the best.
