Got a message this PM on the MFD showing an outline of an ML with an arrow pointing up. Said visit workshop. All seems normal when driving in comfort mode. I will phone the dealer tomorrow AM and see when I can get it in there. Needs the post delivery inspection anyway. Anyone experience this??

 

Spoke with my SA have an appointment for Dec 27th. Said that unless the message came up in red I could drive the ML and asked that if it changes to red to call him so they can get the car into the shop with an emergency loaner immediatley. I could have gotten in immediatley but no loaners were available till the 27th.

 

I had the same problem. They had to change the air pump. Good luck.

 

Well today I got into my ML500 after driving my E Class for 2 days and as a surprise to me the airmatic warning message dissappeared. Checked all functions and it operated correctly. Perhaps the ambient temp had something to do with this as when the failure occurred it was in the low teens and today its in the 40's?? Still will have it checked out on the 27th. So, my ML has returned to a no fault vehicle on its own.

 

I had the airmatic warning light as mentioned in this thread. Took it to the dealer and they had to change the pump as well. Took the car home and few days later right rear suspension was all the way down. Even though the car was still driveable, the pump could be heard to be pumping continuously. Took the car back and had the leak repaired. All working well so far.

One thing I've noticed is that I would from time to time hear 'air bursts', like
the airbrake in trucks releasing pressure, only a smaller version of it. This happens when the car is parked and doors are closed/opened, or even when the car is moving. I asked the SA at the dealership and he claimed that this is normal release of pressure from the airmatic system. He said that he could reproduce this on another ML in the shop. Does anyone notice this too ?

 

[/QUOTE]
One thing I've noticed is that I would from time to time hear 'air bursts', like
the airbrake in trucks releasing pressure, only a smaller version of it. This happens when the car is parked and doors are closed/opened, or even when the car is moving. I asked the SA at the dealership and he claimed that this is normal release of pressure from the airmatic system. He said that he could reproduce this on another ML in the shop. Does anyone notice this too ?[/QUOTE]

The ML & R both do this. It's normal, just a pressure release

 

One thing I've noticed is that I would from time to time hear 'air bursts', like
the airbrake in trucks releasing pressure, only a smaller version of it. This happens when the car is parked and doors are closed/opened, or even when the car is moving. I asked the SA at the dealership and he claimed that this is normal release of pressure from the airmatic system. He said that he could reproduce this on another ML in the shop. Does anyone notice this too ?[/QUOTE]

The ML & R both do this. It's normal, just a pressure release[/QUOTE]

This didn't happen for the first 6 months I got the car, until a visit to the
shop for a replacement of the pump and some leaks. I used to hear some air
release sound, but it was more like a soft/more silent version (like releasing
air out of a balloon).

Anyone with similar experiences ?

 

Are these airmatic problems common? Or is it only a handful of you guys? Been looking at the new ML's and this option. How do you think these will be in the long run AFTER warranty?

 

same here, just got the air pump replaced last week.

 

So what are you doing to resolve this bursting of air sound (if at all) ?
.. or, are you just gonna live with this until some malfunction indicator
lights up ?

 

Some air noise is normal in any air suspension system.

 

if you follow this thread, the noise is more like a burst of air, which is a lot
louder than what we used to hear when the car is new. I guess we can only
just wait until something goes wrong, cause the dealer aint gonna do jack
about this.

 

Your new pump is putting out more air and higher pressures which your old defective pump never did. Thus the change in sound.

 

That's the best explanation so far. I will take that. Thanks.

 

Its only an educated guess but it does make sense.

 

Hey Folks,

What you are describing seems to be normal for the Airmatic system. I have Airmatgic on my S500, and I get the same sounds.... I hear the pump cycle on, and I hear the release bursts. At one point the pump had to be replaced. The new pump is quieter, but I can still hear it cycle, if I listen for it.

Interestingly, on my SL600, which also has Airmatcc, I never hear the pump cycle, and I never hear the pressure release. I asked my dealer about this and they said that the older pumps were better insulated, oversized, and positioned. I suppose that would make sense....

Considering Airmatic is an option on the new M, one would think MB would not make it noiser than the basic suspension system.

 

Well, it was not the airpump as I had thought. They did a diagnosis and a fault was stored in the ML's computer even though the fault warning had gone away. Turns out it was the Airmatic control unit, changed that and no further difficulties.