Hello.

I am living in Europe.

Please understand that my native language is not English.

I bought a new GLE 350DE COUPE 2024 model and I am having a really hard time.

I can no longer feel the difference between sports mode and comfort mode while driving,
and it goes from very smooth to very stiffe.

(It gets worse on rainy and snowy days)

I visited the Benz service center twice, and both were judged as no problem.

I drove the same route of about 40 km twice almost every day for 2 months (including highways), so I know the roughness of the road by section, and I also drove it with my XC90 T8 2023 (AIR SUSPENTION) and S90 2020 (SPRING), so I know the approximate difference.
So I don't think it changes depending on my mood.


Even if I leave it overnight after setting +1 to AIRMATIC, the vehicle's level will be maintained.

I measured the height this morning and it was roughly as follows.
FR45 cm, FL45 cm, RR48.8 cm, RL48 cm

After driving (about 22 km, city driving about 50 km/h ~ 70 km/h)
As soon as you park, open the driver's door, turn off the engine, and measure.
FR43.9 cm, FL44.2 cm, RR48.4 cm, RL46.7 cm





The measurement method was from the center of the wheel to the end of the wheelhouse.
Tire size is 275/50/R20, pirelli scorpion winter mo.
tire pressure are All maintain equal values and
34~35PSI (230~245PSI)


I don't know if this is normal,
If I look at the OFFROAD program of MBUX, I can monitor the suspension,
While driving, the Suspention heighe is all lowered or only the front is lowered. (The front is particularly lowered, I don't know if it's height compensation..)









While driving, I suddenly felt like doing the following test, so I did it.
So I changed to PARKING mode, pressed the electronic parking brake button, and no press the paddle brakes,

(When I press the paddle brakes and adjust the height, I often hear a very unpleasant clicking noise. So I didn't press the paddle brakes because I was worried that AIRMATIC might interfere with the measurement while adjusting the height.)

I raised the car to +1 mode, and after it was fully raised, I lowered the car back to level 0 by switch (MBUX shows a graph where all suspension heights match.)








And I drove for about 10 minutes to my destination, and the ride was very comfortable.
It's taking too long to make an appointment for Benz service...

Are there any problems you can expect?

Thank you for reading the long post.

 

I have had a similar problem with a 2023 e 450 with airmatic. After I hit a pothole on the highway and blew out a tire, the ride was rough. Dealer basically said all is good and you are not remembering the ride correctly. There was no difference btwn comfort and sport. They humored me and checked the settings, updated new software. Now it is better. Everything changes on comfort and sport settings including the stiffness of the suspension. I still think it is a little off and will be visiting another dealer to ask that they check the calibration settings on the airmatic, both height and dampening settings. I assume it is cold where you are. Try reducing the air pressure 2 or 3 psi? I also understand it is ok to take the car to an independent shop, as long as they use the same tools, parts and settings. That is my plan if the next dealer does not satisy me. I have two or three good independent shops in my area. DC. Good luck to you!

 

I wonder if one or more of your airmatic suspension's airbags have sprung a small leak.

 

Hi.

I updated software by the BENZ SERVICE of opinion.
but..its same..

I took my car to a self-proclaimed specialist to have it diagnosed, but he said that if he did anything more, it would void the warranty, so he couldn't do any more diagnosis. He said that he might have to touch the ECU as well for setting up.

 

If they use star diagnosis system and set it to factory specs that would not void the warranty as far as I understand.

 

Do you have a car wash mode? Does it raise the car properly?

You mentioned that you have winter tires installed. What tires did the car come with and what tires do you use in the summer?

 

Hi.

The vehicle rises well in wash mode.

It was equipped with summer tires.
summer tire ..pirelli zero 285/40/R22, 325/35/R22,
summer tires were runned around 200km.
It was immediately replaced with a winter set, and the car hasn't even had a summer since I became its owner.

winter tires is pirelli scorpion winter mo 275/50/R20 and 20inch rims set.

 

thanks for info
I would like to discuss with Benz service to make sure and concider to go to Self-proclaimed Benz specialist repairman.

 

I wonder if the Airmatic suspension has to be calibrated for the tire size. Did the problem start after you installed the winter tires?

 

This car came with 21-inch winter tires from the dealer,

and I changed it to 20-inch winter tires because the ride was too uncomfortable.

And it got a little more comfortable, but the problem persists.

When I put the 20 inch on and go to the Benz, they said they did a software update and there was no mention of calibration.

At that time, I asked the engineer at the service center whether I should visit Benz again to change to 22-inch summer tires or to convert the tire inch, and they said that I could just replace it.

 

I'm not sure if this is relevant, but I'll mention a STIFF RIDE experience I had.

I went off-track at an event, hooked my LR tire in a prairie dog hole and knocked my toe alignment loose.
Everything went Rock Hard and I had it towed to the Dealer for repair (which they did under warranty).
In my case, though, I got an instrument cluster warning "Do Not Exceed 50mph."

They replaced a single use alignment bolt, re-aligned things and it has been fine for 30,000 miles.

 

When I press the pedal brake and raise the vehicle, there is a loud noise, and I suspect that the movement is unnatural because of that part. I think I need to perform various diagnoses first and then perform alignment correction.
thanks for info.

 

Did it get uncomfortable again the next time you drove?

Someone mentioned a leak in the airmatic, but this seems to be the opposite. If there was a leak I think the ride would get softer, not harder.

 

Hi.
thanks for interesting.

Yes. yesterday on my last drive, the suspention absorber on the mbux offroad utility was uncomfortable when it fell off the line between the red and white.

Then I lifted the vehicle with the switch and when the suspension on all four axles on the mbux offroad was on the red line, the ride was very comfortable for a while. Then when I drove, it fell off again.

 

I think about it carefully, there is a common characteristic...

Two days ago, I used the car wash mode and changed it to sports mode on the way home and it was very comfortable. (That's why I think sports mode is more comfortable and test drove with sports mode),

The ride quality of the 21-inch wheels was very uncomfortable, so I changed them to 22-inch wheels for a short test at a tire shop, and they were comfortable for next driving. (lifting up)

The 22-inch wheels became increasingly uncomfortable, so I bought 20-inch wheels and installed them, and they were very comfortable for next driving.(lifting up)

They all have the common feature of the ride quality returning when the suspension is extended and lowered.

I ll test more about it....

 

air noise.mp4


Is it normal sound?
Benz says it's a normal sound.
At first, I thought it was a air-leak noise,
but I don't think car can maintained height with leak air this sound of amount..because the sound keeps coming out like this (it lasts for 10 minutes).
So I think it might normal sound on for something. I'm asking just in case.
The sound only occurs when the vehicle is turned on engine (ev mode also).
(About two weeks ago, my wife asked me what this sound was, and I said I didn't know, and we watched for about two minutes, and then the sound went away. But now it lasts for 10 minutes.)

 

Hello.

It seems to be exactly as written, but could you give me some more detailed advice on the error code? I just went to a private center and had it tested with a diagnostic tool to find the error code.

 

I'm surprised your dealer didn't pull that code when you took the vehicle in for service. Take it back and have them repair it under warranty.

 

I am so hard.. I can not understand I bought this amount car by cash and why I am a struggling like that.. They said there was nothing wrong... I'm going to the service tomorrow again…so I wonder what they'll say.

 

I mentioned earlier about a potential leak in the airbags of the Airmatic. This is the other side of the equation, which is the compressor that pumps up the air into the airbags of the airmatic, seems to have a problem, and the airbags are not being pumped up properly.

 

Good luck with the dealer. Make sure they pull the codes and don't just drive it around the parking lot and declare there is no problem.

 

I consider it my job, as the owner, to make sure that the shop (any shop) can replicate the problem and demonstrate it to me. In person, on the road if need be.

That means in many cases, that I must find a location or section of road near the shop where the problem can be replicated. More importantly, subsequently checked to verify the repair is fixed. I have the Technician, SA or preferably the Service Manager ride along and/or drive. Always.
The technician then has complete information, much better than a few words or a sentence on the work order.

I also don't go to the dentist and not fully convey my issues before he starts a procedure.

 

If the codes weren't cleared, the error code itself should be all you need to demonstrate that the problem exists. You should not have to prove it to the dealership with a test drive.

 

I submitted report as below via email.

Do I really have to go this far..
it is for It can be so broad in its problem solving that it's approached with the mindset of minimizing the harm to both parties, but they don't seem to think that way.

I am keeping quiet about what happened with them now,

but I am also a businessman, and I approach my work with my customers with a sense of solidarity that although it is difficult to determine the exact cause at least for now, we should work together to solve the cause when my costumers complaind

 

I ll be happy if it just end with a pump issue...
The more I think about what the pump does and why it overheats, the more annoying the problem becomes.