Here's what it looks like?


I decided to change my airbag because I was switching out my Winter tires to my all seasons. The process is pretty easy; easier than a rear brake job. There are no bolts involved (after removing your rear wheel).

You will need to a 10mm crescent wrench to remove the air tube at the rear top center of the airbag (I let the air out slowly because I couldn't remember the process to stop the air suspension from activating while jacked). And make sure you use those jack stands!



You cannot see it in this pic but this is what the airbag looks like on your vehicle. Note: I'm not replacing the struts, only the airbag.

After I removed the air hose, I simply compressed the air bag and pulled it out from the bottom. At the top there is a white grommet(sp?) that holds the top in place at the center of the airbag. Note: I ordered an Arrnott replacement airbag and it came with a new grommet.

Here's what the grommet looks like once I replaced it (screwed old one off/screwed new on on). You can also see the remove hose with the copper/gold fitting still attached. Per the Arnott instructions the fitting is to be removed complete as it will not be necessary on the new Airbag. (the fitting is built in, just insert ihe hose and give a quick tug to make sure it stays in place)



After the fitting is removed and your new grommet is screwed in, compress the new airbag and install in reverse order. ensure the hole for the hose is facing the same way the original airbag was so that you can attach the hose. Be mindful of that center grommet as you align the airbag, as well as the rubber damper that aligns at top of the airbag.


After I seated everything properly, I put a few bolts on the wheel and opened up the drivers door to activate the air suspension but it only raised the front. So I ended up starting the vehicle and the entire vehicle leveled out.





I haven't driven it yet, I just moved it from one set of garages to another to park. The air has held for the last few hours so I assume its good to go. I've done this process on my 164ML on the exact same side. The x166 seems slightly easier to do though (maybe because there is more space to work).

My symptoms were the occasional sagging overnight and guaranteed sagging after using sport mode or spirited driving on back roads in comfort mode (which automatically kinda puts you in sport mode). I had the replacement for over a year but dreaded attempting to repair this it as I could not find instructions for x166 airbags.

I'm in a hurry, I just wanted to get this posted before kids interrupt me. I'll come back later for grammar and type o's.

 

Congratulations! Great writeup, thanks.

 

thanks for the pictures. I also did my rear bade on my 2014 gl it went one step further by replacing the level sensors as well.

 

Hi I was just wondering do I have to do a suspension hight calibration once I change my rear air bags on my Mercedes ml w166

 

You do not.
Before putting full weight of vehicle on new air bag I started my engine, as bag inflated I lowered the car.

 

I am about to do this job. Where is a good spot to place the jack stands? At the jack points?
Thanks, Bob

 

Thank you for the detail original post. I gave me courage to attempt to replace my airbag. I was planning to have the bags replaced at coming service interval. One burst while going over a very rough patch of road. Since local shops have long wait time, I decided to give it a try. Worse case i would mess up 2 Arnault bag, which are cheap compared to labor in Bay area. The hardest part was taking the wheel off, and putting them back on. For the bag, after remove 10mm air-line nut, it comes out very easy to the side as shown in OP. Put in the bag, I was debating whether to reuse the old air connector nut (as instructed in some youtube videos) or just trust Arnault instruction to just stick into new bag's connector. I decided to trust Arnault instruction, which still seems sketchy, a snap on air connector making air tight connection with a plastic tube. After seating the bag into grove, reach behind the bag from the safety of being at the side of the car, and insert the air tube into connector and done. Working well after 1 weeks. I check for overnight leak every morning, all good so far.

This job is easy and relatively safe with Arnault bag . You don't need to crawl under the car at any time, risking freakish accident. To be extra careful, jack up and replace only 1 side at a time, put fuse in, pump bag before lowering jack. The repeat for other side. The reason is normal jack tends to pull the car one way or another as you pump the jack up, which risk slipping off jack or jack stand.