GL450 airmatic to coil spring conversion kit
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3
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2008 gl450
GL450 airmatic to coil spring conversion kit
Hello All-
I just replaced air springs on my 2008 gl450 for the SECOND TIME..
I am wondering if anyone of you used or heard of "Suncore conversion kits for airmatic"?
http://www.suncoreindustries.com/Mer...ersion-kit.php
I love my GL but the airmatic issue is putting me off..So, I still want to keep my GL but see if I can switch to coil springs if found it to be a reliable alternative..
Please advise
Thanks
Gary
I just replaced air springs on my 2008 gl450 for the SECOND TIME..
I am wondering if anyone of you used or heard of "Suncore conversion kits for airmatic"?
http://www.suncoreindustries.com/Mer...ersion-kit.php
I love my GL but the airmatic issue is putting me off..So, I still want to keep my GL but see if I can switch to coil springs if found it to be a reliable alternative..
Please advise
Thanks
Gary
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 52
Likes: 2
2008 GL320 CDI
Hello All-
I just replaced air springs on my 2008 gl450 for the SECOND TIME..
I am wondering if anyone of you used or heard of "Suncore conversion kits for airmatic"?
http://www.suncoreindustries.com/Mer...ersion-kit.php
I love my GL but the airmatic issue is putting me off..So, I still want to keep my GL but see if I can switch to coil springs if found it to be a reliable alternative..
Please advise
Thanks
Gary
I just replaced air springs on my 2008 gl450 for the SECOND TIME..
I am wondering if anyone of you used or heard of "Suncore conversion kits for airmatic"?
http://www.suncoreindustries.com/Mer...ersion-kit.php
I love my GL but the airmatic issue is putting me off..So, I still want to keep my GL but see if I can switch to coil springs if found it to be a reliable alternative..
Please advise
Thanks
Gary
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
450 gl mercedes
check www.strutmarters.com for air to coil spring conversion kits.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 242
From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
It would be hard to say, as the website is defunct.
I suspect he--like everyone else--had a button on his dash to raise/lower ground clearance. Guess that goes away without airmatic, wouldn't you think?
I suspect he--like everyone else--had a button on his dash to raise/lower ground clearance. Guess that goes away without airmatic, wouldn't you think?
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
2003 CLK320, 2009 GL450
Greetings lkchris:
I am not sure about the "defunct" part, because Suncore's website is still up. The page's link has maybe changed. I actually talked to Suncore, Strutmasters, and Arnott today about spring conversion kits for my '09 GL450.
Suncore's kit is much cheaper, while Strutmasters is $1000 higher but shipped with Eibach springs and a module that takes care of the raised LED on the dash. Arnott sells limited lifetime airsprings (which I have on the front now) but no spring conversion for the GL450 as of yet.
I am hoping to find somebody here that has installed a conventional spring conversion from either Suncore or Strutmaster. I would like to know their experience with it.
Martin
I am not sure about the "defunct" part, because Suncore's website is still up. The page's link has maybe changed. I actually talked to Suncore, Strutmasters, and Arnott today about spring conversion kits for my '09 GL450.
Suncore's kit is much cheaper, while Strutmasters is $1000 higher but shipped with Eibach springs and a module that takes care of the raised LED on the dash. Arnott sells limited lifetime airsprings (which I have on the front now) but no spring conversion for the GL450 as of yet.
I am hoping to find somebody here that has installed a conventional spring conversion from either Suncore or Strutmaster. I would like to know their experience with it.
Martin
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,214
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
Lots of MB's running on standard shocks and struts not to mention hydraulic suspensions. Though I would not want to do this on my GL, I get the want for something more reliable. My Airmatic has not been, to date, all that expensive to maintain. The ABC on my SL is very expensive to maintain. I'd rip it out if there was a good solution for the V12 and had another issue with ABC. As I understand, a solution is close and all that needs to be done is to build a proper front away bar that will work.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 2
2000 s430 mercedes / 2008 gl450 mercedes
Suspension conversion to coil.
I did the conversion to both my 00 s430 and 08 gl450 through strutmasters.com and you would be surprised that the ride quality is still great. I drove down to north carolina to the stut masters facility for my first conversion with them for the s430 and the guys there know their stuff. They will ship to you amd no need to take the trip. I took the trip because i have 20" rims on the s430 and wanted the ride hight to certain specifics and not factory like they would have sent in the mail. They did the specific measurements at no extra cost. I dont work for them, just a very happy customer.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 632
From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
I did the conversion to both my 00 s430 and 08 gl450 through strutmasters.com and you would be surprised that the ride quality is still great. I drove down to north carolina to the stut masters facility for my first conversion with them for the s430 and the guys there know their stuff. They will ship to you amd no need to take the trip. I took the trip because i have 20" rims on the s430 and wanted the ride hight to certain specifics and not factory like they would have sent in the mail. They did the specific measurements at no extra cost. I dont work for them, just a very happy customer.
The rear springs in the GL are good for load leveling, especially with towing. Front springs are not so useful, and are mainly there for ride quality. If you don't have variations in rear axle load, then not much point for the leveling.
Boosting ride height for off road is useful, if you go off road.
For ordinary driving, without varying loads? I'd put coil springs in.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 784
NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: NY, USA
2007 E63 AMG
Hey Max, Please Help me out, you seem to be so knowledgeable... I own a 2012 GL 450…I’m experiencing problems with my Suspension…
Two weeks ago, the car was laying so Low in the Front, I thought it was a Lamborghini…then other days it would NOT drop at all…
I took it to my regular mechanic, ( NOT a Benz Dealer ), he checked front, and said there’s NO Leak, and that his computer is only indicating some communication problem, faulty wiring…
I was thinking to change the front AirBags suspension, but Mechanic said that they are still good, NO LEAKS
Has anyone else Experienced anything like this???
Let me know how to fix this Problem, ASAP !!!
Please help, thanks so very much in Advance !!!
Two weeks ago, the car was laying so Low in the Front, I thought it was a Lamborghini…then other days it would NOT drop at all…
I took it to my regular mechanic, ( NOT a Benz Dealer ), he checked front, and said there’s NO Leak, and that his computer is only indicating some communication problem, faulty wiring…
I was thinking to change the front AirBags suspension, but Mechanic said that they are still good, NO LEAKS
Has anyone else Experienced anything like this???
Let me know how to fix this Problem, ASAP !!!
Please help, thanks so very much in Advance !!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 632
From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 784
NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 380
Likes: 59
From: Illinois
2019 Audi Q8, 2015 GL63, & 2005 E500W4
Hey Max, Please Help me out, you seem to be so knowledgeable... I own a 2012 GL 450…I’m experiencing problems with my Suspension…
Two weeks ago, the car was laying so Low in the Front, I thought it was a Lamborghini…then other days it would NOT drop at all…
I took it to my regular mechanic, ( NOT a Benz Dealer ), he checked front, and said there’s NO Leak, and that his computer is only indicating some communication problem, faulty wiring…
I was thinking to change the front AirBags suspension, but Mechanic said that they are still good, NO LEAKS
Has anyone else Experienced anything like this???
Let me know how to fix this Problem, ASAP !!!
Please help, thanks so very much in Advance !!!
Two weeks ago, the car was laying so Low in the Front, I thought it was a Lamborghini…then other days it would NOT drop at all…
I took it to my regular mechanic, ( NOT a Benz Dealer ), he checked front, and said there’s NO Leak, and that his computer is only indicating some communication problem, faulty wiring…
I was thinking to change the front AirBags suspension, but Mechanic said that they are still good, NO LEAKS
Has anyone else Experienced anything like this???
Let me know how to fix this Problem, ASAP !!!
Please help, thanks so very much in Advance !!!
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 43
Likes: 7
From: Dallas, tx
2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450
I did the suncore kit on my '07 GL450. I'd bought and DIY'ed a new compressor, which didn't fix my problem with varying heights at the corners. In hindsight it was the distribution block (I forget the technical term for it.) I decided to never deal with the problem again and convert to coils. I paid a total of $375 labor to do swap out all 4 corners to coils. Turns out 3 of 4 airbags had been replaced over the life of my truck, which I'd bought in 2015 with 66k miles. Now we are back to smooth riding with coils and no more airbag worries. In hindsight, I should've made sure to get the extended warranty when I bought this SUV.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 632
From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
I did the suncore kit on my '07 GL450. I'd bought and DIY'ed a new compressor, which didn't fix my problem with varying heights at the corners. In hindsight it was the distribution block (I forget the technical term for it.) I decided to never deal with the problem again and convert to coils. I paid a total of $375 labor to do swap out all 4 corners to coils. Turns out 3 of 4 airbags had been replaced over the life of my truck, which I'd bought in 2015 with 66k miles. Now we are back to smooth riding with coils and no more airbag worries. In hindsight, I should've made sure to get the extended warranty when I bought this SUV.
If you aren't doing those three, you might question why you own a big SUV in the first place. That's water under the bridge for anyone here, though.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
GL450
I did the suncore kit on my '07 GL450. I'd bought and DIY'ed a new compressor, which didn't fix my problem with varying heights at the corners. In hindsight it was the distribution block (I forget the technical term for it.) I decided to never deal with the problem again and convert to coils. I paid a total of $375 labor to do swap out all 4 corners to coils. Turns out 3 of 4 airbags had been replaced over the life of my truck, which I'd bought in 2015 with 66k miles. Now we are back to smooth riding with coils and no more airbag worries. In hindsight, I should've made sure to get the extended warranty when I bought this SUV.
Hi .... thinking of doing the same thing. I'm sick of the issues and want to avoid long term maintenance. How's the ride so far? Do you notice any difference. Is the ride the same?
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 43
Likes: 7
From: Dallas, tx
2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450
As for the fronts, I paid a different mechanic, a few months earlier, about $170 to swap out the fronts. I'm less happy with the front coil struts from Suncore, because they are harsher on bumps, and I think the front sits lower than ideal. I'm still happy overall. I just wish I could easily switch off the Airmatic malfunction message that reappears at every startup.
Occasionally I miss the functionality, but I have no real regrets at swapping over. I'm still under 100k miles on my 2007, so it could have a long, long life. I -may- look into whether there's a way to adjust the front ride height, but it doesn't keep me up nights, worrying about it. In a little while, I'll post some photos. Wow, my id was quick sending me the pics. I guess it's not as low in the front as I realized. Anyway, every Sunday morning it's filled with 7 people headed to church, and zero complaints on ride quality. I plan to remove and sell the newish airmatic compressor. That'll be a weight savings.
Last edited by Lee Reed; Jul 19, 2019 at 11:49 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
GL450
It's frustrating when the original poster doesn't reply, so here I am! The rear springs I bought off Ebay and they were from the ML. I worried that the heavier GL would sag or be harsh, but there's been ZERO issues with ride quality on the rear. I paid a mobile mechanic just under $200 as I recall, to swap out the rear airbags for the coil springs...it wasn't a DIY in my eyes.
As for the fronts, I paid a different mechanic, a few months earlier, about $170 to swap out the fronts. I'm less happy with the front coil struts from Suncore, because they are harsher on bumps, and I think the front sits lower than ideal. I'm still happy overall. I just wish I could easily switch off the Airmatic malfunction message that reappears at every startup.
Occasionally I miss the functionality, but I have no real regrets at swapping over. I'm still under 100k miles on my 2007, so it could have a long, long life. I -may- look into whether there's a way to adjust the front ride height, but it doesn't keep me up nights, worrying about it. In a little while, I'll post some photos. Wow, my id was quick sending me the pics. I guess it's not as low in the front as I realized. Anyway, every Sunday morning it's filled with 7 people headed to church, and zero complaints on ride quality. I plan to remove and sell the newish airmatic compressor. That'll be a weight savings.
