2024 GLE53 Coupe: Suspension Light, CarWash Mode, Hissing.....What's Happening?
 

I bought a 2024 GLE53 Coupe in July and have about 11K miles on it. All of a sudden I am having the following problems:

1. The yellow suspension warning symbol has appeared twice along with a message: Malfunction, Drive at Max. 50 mph. The symbol and message eventually go away.

2. The car wash mode does not fully activate. It starts to activate, but the function to raise the vehicle doesn't complete, and car wash mode is deactivated. This happens every time I try to use CarWash Mode.

3. I occasionally get a message that the compressor is cooling.

4. When I turn off the car, I hear a loud click and a steady hiss that seems to come from the front driver's wheel well.

Does anyone have any idea what may be going on? Are these things related? Is the car safe to drive? I have an upcoming road trip and am hesitant to use this car. I appreciate any insights!

Bring it to the dealer?

Sounds like a leak in air suspension, bad air spring or loose air line, causing air compressor to run constantly and overheat.

Thanks for the insight, taphil! What you say makes a lot of sense. Yes, I brought it to the dealer and am waiting to hear the formal diagnosis.

Regarding all of the possible problems you mentioned, how hard are those things to fix? If the air compressor fails, does that render the car not-drivable? If I have to wait for parts, I need the car back until it can be fixed, but if it's unsafe to drive, I have to make alternate plans. The dealership doesn't have any loaners available apparently.

Kinda crazy - the car only has 11K miles on it.

I wouldn't drive it. A dead air spring sags a lot. I wouldn't want to be left stranded on the side of the road.

Pretty sure dealer can diagnose and easily fix the problem under warranty.

"Easily fix the problem" wouldn't describe my experience today. Turns out 3 lines were leaking. The dealer replaced those along with some fittings. All 4 lines from the compressor needed attention.

So the vehicle is no longer hissing. The car wash mode is now intermittent - sometimes works, sometimes falls out of the mode. The function to raise the vehicle sounds like a series of incremental clunks and only sometimes works. The whole system now sounds clunky. I will clearly need to take it back in.

Not sure what is going on. Any thoughts?

Well I may have an answer! My service advisor told me that Car Wash Mode works best when the vehicle is slowly rolling forward.

He said that when Car Wash Mode raises the vehicle, the wheels move out slightly also. The stance gets wider. He said the clunking sound I am hearing is the sound of the tires trying to move outbound while the vehicle is stationary. So if I am rolling slowly when activating Car Wash Mode, I shouldn't hear the clunking. I haven't tried it out yet, but it makes sense.

Anyone else have this experience?

Interesting theory. Possible.
I'll have to try it.