Hi there.

This forum has provided me with a lot of information. Thank you all for sharing your experiences.

I wonder if anyone could help me about going for one of the options below:

1. Airmatic with 17'' rims
2. 18'' rims without Airmatic
3. 17'' rims without Airmatic

(of course the best would be - I suppose - to have 18'' rims with Airmatic, but it cost much more)

Regards,
Jorge

 

Go for the Airmatic. However the additional cost of the rims is small change when you consider the overall vehicle price and the length of time you will have it. When you save up your pennies in the future you can always change the rims but cannot add Airmatic.

 

Go for Airmatic and 17'', is just fine!

I have this and really, driving the car and beeing inside you'll feel as great as with Airmatic + 18'', plus, you will have some more comodity and better performance of the suspension in Comfort mode. While with 18'' rims and up you will have better grip, sporty feeling, less comfort a more rigide but more sincere response by the car.

However Airmatic is Nr.1 option to be added and 17'' rims are fine, and anytime in the future you can decide to change the rims and tires or use both sizes for specific winter or summer, so your expense makes more sense!

 

Make your airmatic decision based on who is driving and what vehicle you are exchanging for your ML. Our CDI is my wife's vehicle, and we traded in a minivan. 17" wheels and no airmatic on the ML feels great and having never been in an airmatic vehicle makes me not miss it at all. The web postings from owners who like airmatic are balanced by owners who have had airmatic problems (not just MLs), especially after their warranty is up. The 17" wheels should give you longer tire life, quieter ride (especially after many miles), and better snow handling. That said, if my driving style made me want an ML500 or an ML63, I would probably get it.

 

this posting makes sense also

 

I will go for the Airmatic with 17'' rims. As you mention, I can always change the rims latter.

Thanks,
Jorge

 

I have the Airmatic with 19s, which I love. However, the 17s will make great snow rims if you have such a need.

 

I have 19" with Airmatic and love the combination. It also fills the wheel well and looks better.

 

Hopefully if MBUSA upgrades the ML500 to ML550 status they'll make Airmatic standard and keep it as an option on the ML450.

M

 

It is something proven 100% that airmatic gives to the car much more stability, adaptivity for different conditions of the road, of the weight on th car, combinating all data from sensors and producing the best solution in every possible condition.

For example: You are in four in the car and also load plenty of luggage in the rear, with airmatic car stand horizontally perfect, car preserves it's setup, not like in cars without airmatic where front axle looses grip as the car is subject to heavy weight on the rear axle. You can imagine this while driving in a highway, or manouvring anywhere.

In the snow, water or remote roads, with airmatic you can set the car higher with a touch of a button, or the opposite! Great!

In high speed the airmatic adapts to sportive setup giving more stability especially in the fast curves, at same time giving more comfort to the riders stabilising side-roll, and also automatically lowering the car in speeds over 120 km/h in order to stick the car more with the ground and everyone understands what this means in terms of performance, safety, consumption!

So Airmatic or without Airmatic are two separate worlds!

Said that, of course the car is operating and drivable as well as without airmatic, but if I can give a note I would compare it at the 50% of what the car with airmatic performs!

Be sure about this, I have used both type of cars, from different brands, this is my 35 Car in my life that i happen to drive, work with, own, etc and I am not exagerating one single word!

For something like 2000-3000 $ airmatic is absolutely an investment for who buys the car and his family as well as for the safety of every one in relation to this car.

Have a nice day to all

 

Thanks a lot dante&david, it was a great explaining post about Airmatic