You new bags look sus.

In what way? Note that’s before it’s been inflated on the car and came from Aerosus in Germany. They also do Landrover and Porsche suspension according to their site. I was sent there by two people I know who used them for Land Rover stuff.

I put them on yesterday, they fitted, inflated and test drove fine. I checked them through all off-road heights an seemed fine. Will report back if any issues.

I know. It was a joke.

you have access to differently branded repair parts than we do in the US and I’m sure these will be just fine. The name is kinda sus though.

gotcha

Hi - this was most interesting - sort of ties in the thread I have on the removal of ADS - I now get the Arnott new or rebuilt thing - great thread

I have never heard of aerosus either - but in Oz we don't get much choice

I have a X166 that sometime drops in the rear overnight especially on the right side when I park on a flat level. Sometimes it does this within an hour and other times it doesn't do it at all. So, I suspected the right rear airbag. However, when I push the button on the level control to raise the suv setting to the highest level, turn it off, and leave it parked - it stays at that higher height for days. (I have done this with the battery connected and disconnected and the suv doesn't drop at all.) My scanner shows no codes and all of the components check out okay. Is it possible for small holes in the airbag to disappear when it is fully extended?

In short, yes. Although that answer was already given above

if you search, even just a little bit, about this issue, you'll find tons of info. Again, in short, put the scanner away and use some 'ol fashioned know-how with soapy water

I don't see how it is possible that it leaks when partially inflated (comfort mode) and does not leak when fully inflated. It doesn't make sense and I guess I was hoping someone could explain it to me how that is possible. You think the hole wouldn't go away when fully extended. Thx

You should start a new thread in X166 for this.

different angles and dangles… and also depends on the surface you park it on. Whether that particular alignment uncovers a crack in the rubber and allows it to leak.. since sport rides lower it has a different wear surface on the bag then comfort does. My guess is that most people ride around in comfort which is why that mode leaks the most..

It’s kinda like trying to predict which part of your sock blows out first… The toe or the heel.

Eventually, it will poke a hole somewhere.

Yes. I will start a new thread. Surface is flat. I wasn't talking about going from sports mode to comfort mode. I was talking about going from comfort mode (-30mm) and getting a sag on the right rear to going to off road mode (+30mm) and never getting any sag. More of the bag would be exposed at +30mm and yet I get no drop in the vehicle. Thx

Source

short and incomplete answer is that more of the leaky part of the bag is a straightened out and pressurized when you’re in off-road mode, instead of curled over when you’re riding on comfort. The former seals of many cracks that have occurred in the comfort mode wear band..

Thanks Max Blast. I thought that you might be able to explain this to me.

good idea to try 166 forum but I always find that a sag which is inconsistent and not logical is a airbag. The folds and creases cover or expand holes depending on pressure etc. could be the hole is stretched on a fold at half height but not fully up

Now the right rear side is dropping within 15 to 20 minutes in comfort mode and staying up in offroad mode. I cannot hear any air releasing from the airbag or see any bubbles on the airbag (or fitting) when sprayed with soapy water. I took the compressor line off the air block and do not see bubbling from the block. I have ordered two mercedes rear airbags and an air block. Thx

if your air block is the original Mercedes one do not throw it away before verifying that it is in fact, broken.

You need to run the valve block through the Mercedes test procedure and it will tell you whether or not it is. if you didn’t see any leaks, why are you changing these out?

Air must be leaking out somewhere and I cannot hear it or see where it is leaking. So, I am getting new airbags for the rear to replace in a set.

The block that I am getting in is a used block from a friend. It is the exact same part number. I am going to have it on hand in case the new airbags don't do the trick.

A couple thoughts ...

ADS makes no difference to the air springs. It is simply a method using a solenoid to change (restrict or relax) the flow of oil inside the hydraulic shock absorbers so as to provide harder or softer ride, more correctly different rebound rates. Changes diameter of holes (orifices) through which the oil flows, I imagine. It would stretch my theoretical thinking quite a bit to think the oil would flow so much less in sport mode so as to prevent a leaking air spring from collapsing and the vehicle sinking.

With the springs and shocks being separate items in the rear, it was easier for me to observe on my GL that the lives of the shocks and the lives of the air springs were pretty similar. Shocks were leaking oil which is a sure sign they are at end of life. Of course at front, shock and spring are combined into a single unit that gets called a strut ... so they are simultaneously replaced. Extra thinking and effort and expense to do that at rear, but probably the better idea.

Regarding struts, I have difficulty believing Arnott has capability of repairing the internals of hydraulic shock absorbers. Replacing the rubberized fabric air spring portion of the unit would be simple in comparison. But then, I note that Mercedes is now selling rebuilt struts (core return required) so I'm inclined to think the hydraulics are repairable. I've been on this forum since 2007 when I bought my GL and have read enough regarding Arnott to never consider them.

So arnott this posted right at the very top, first thing you see, as you go to their site

Arnott Introduces New eRide Adaptive Struts & ShocksArnott introduces all new adaptive electronic ride control. As the industry leader in suspension products, Arnott proudly manufactures these eRide adaptive electronic shocks and struts in the USA. They are designed by engineers with decades of shock experience and are rigorously tested for proper function and service life. The eRide products are direct OE replacement for electronic struts and shocks. Put your vehicle in control of your ride comfort.

So it seems they have now made it a huge focus to remanufacture their struts to work with the ADS systems and function with it. I told the shop I brought it too about my concerns after reading this thread about the resistors in the struts "tricking" the ads system to not throw the codes but he seemed to have no concern or even what the hell I was talking about. Said he will see what codes if any come. I repeated myself and he then repeated himself. But I couldn't afford new oem and didn't think I was capable of the replacement myself. After researching and seeing the work necessary to do front strut replacement I may just cancel this appointment tomorrow before they touch the suspension, get my money back and then buy new oem struts and do the work myself. I don't have the tools to replace just the leaking airbag like a strut holder or the tool that assists with bag removal and installation. I can do the nuts and bolts and have a jack and stands to compress for removal. Also after the response from the shop employee I'm now weary of their work. But also want to check if they got the ads compatible

You just need an impact gun to get the bag off the front struts, and to tighten it again.

Sounds like you got everything else needed.

Not sure if I skimmed over this final step if it was listes here with all the other info but i was just informed about the recalibration of the air ride system is needed after intalling struts. I don't have the device to do so. Had to let the shop put the Arnott struts on. They stood by the product and even put their own 3yr/66000mi warranty on them. Got them to put a 10% discount on the bill including an alignment and radiator flush since we just got new tires and I replaced the radiator due to cracks all over the plastic casing. I drove by the shop tonight and noticed the back driver side has a sag to it now. May have to have that replaced with them unless I can find a cheap scanner device that allows me to recalibrate the air ride. Damnit. I hate that it's just that 1 thing holding me back at the moment from doing this work myself. Well, again, thanks yall. ✌🏻

You don’t need to recalibrate the ride, it will do so automatically by driving over time.

it’s a feature in Mbstar xentry but rarely have really I needed it.

and even if you did it’d be a heckuva lot cheaper than having them do the labor to r/r all four struts. (<1 shop hour of work to plug in the system and. Run the auto calibration).

WELL SONUVA______! That's great to hear. I was got again. These shop guys are really making me regret thinking it would be a more trusting spot but now this is the like 4th or 5th time this kind of thing is brought to attention after it's too late. They got me again. Next round will be mine.