Air-Matic Failure
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Alton, NH
All of them
Air-Matic Failure
Well the first major issue with my 06 ML500 happened this morning. It would not get up... lol... The front suspension is completely deflated and will not rise. Wheels are tucked up inside the wells. Looks like a flatbed is in its future. I am getting a "visit workshop" message and it will not switch modes.
Has anyone else seen this happen?
Has anyone else seen this happen?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 6
From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
There have been a couple of airmatic failures posted here but in reality they are few and far betweeen. My 06 ML500 with Airmatic has never given me one issue and I love the ride which I feel along with the handling is far superior to the std suspension. Your failure could be the compressor or the control module. Its unlikely that you have a leak or bad shocks. There were some com pressor issues that I have read about. In any case its not a big deal for a dealer to repair only an inconvience to you.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,308
Likes: 35
From: Atlanta, GA USA
2000 MB G500 NMLE, 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Prestige
There have been a couple of airmatic failures posted here but in reality they are few and far betweeen. My 06 ML500 with Airmatic has never given me one issue and I love the ride which I feel along with the handling is far superior to the std suspension. Your failure could be the compressor or the control module. Its unlikely that you have a leak or bad shocks. There were some com pressor issues that I have read about. In any case its not a big deal for a dealer to repair only an inconvience to you.
A car down on its suspension is probably not a compressor failure; but is more likely a leak in the system. Both times that my compressor failed, the car was at the normal operating level with no give of any kind in the suspension.
Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Thessaloniki, GREECE & Tirana, ALBANIA
From 2006 ML 320 CDI - from 2009 Audi Q5 S-Line 3.0 TDI DSG - from 2011 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE
A friend of mine was travelling in Europe with his ML 320 CDI while his car, driving at high speed, changed operating level, tending to be more low on the left side, then he felt that he was driving just without any shock absorb, the car was hard, not comfortable like before, but he could drive, lowering a bit the speed, till the nearest service....He was I believe in Germany and he payed a lot - perhaps something like 2000 euro to fix the problem there, in 2 days...it was a compressor failure and electronic command failure together....they replaced all parts. It was the first problem he had in three years with his ML. Mine is still fine, 95000 km till now, perfect, but now is about the time to try to sell it and pass for a newer experience - I am thinking hard for a Audi Q5 quatro, S-Tronic, 3.0 diesel with 240 hp and about 540 nm, 1.8 ton of weight instead of the 2.2 ton of the ML, which seems almost perfect for a better ride in city traffic, a bit smaller then the ML, more performant, german assembly, fantastic engine - much more quiet, with the newest 7-speed perfect trasmission that does not make the jokes of the one we all have in the ML, cleaner as it has the particular filter and is Euro 5, and all the rest that a car of this category includes (about 65000 Euro new, better then the 82000 Euro I payed for the new ML 320 CDI in my country)
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,308
Likes: 35
From: Atlanta, GA USA
2000 MB G500 NMLE, 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Prestige
now is about the time to try to sell it and pass for a newer experience - I am thinking hard for a Audi Q5 quatro, S-Tronic, 3.0 diesel with 240 hp and about 540 nm, 1.8 ton of weight instead of the 2.2 ton of the ML, which seems almost perfect for a better ride in city traffic, a bit smaller then the ML, more performant, german assembly, fantastic engine - much more quiet, with the newest 7-speed perfect trasmission that does not make the jokes of the one we all have in the ML, cleaner as it has the particular filter and is Euro 5, and all the rest that a car of this category includes (about 65000 Euro new, better then the 82000 Euro I payed for the new ML 320 CDI in my country)
An interesting comparison between the air suspension on the ML vs the Cayenne is that the Cayenne changed levels in 2-3 seconds vs almost a minute for the ML. I will miss the fuel economy of the diesel, though.
Last edited by DUTCH; Jun 17, 2009 at 06:49 AM.
Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Thessaloniki, GREECE & Tirana, ALBANIA
From 2006 ML 320 CDI - from 2009 Audi Q5 S-Line 3.0 TDI DSG - from 2011 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE
Congratulations for the step UP!
A Porsche Cayenne is like buying jewlery! Great for you! That car has fantastic grip, the mechanics of that car are state of art technology. The engine is something better then all other german engines. Of course you will empty faster your pockets to fuel it but you will enjoy something special, daily, and that is priceless..........:-)
Bravo - I wish I could afford that too....:-)
A Porsche Cayenne is like buying jewlery! Great for you! That car has fantastic grip, the mechanics of that car are state of art technology. The engine is something better then all other german engines. Of course you will empty faster your pockets to fuel it but you will enjoy something special, daily, and that is priceless..........:-)
Bravo - I wish I could afford that too....:-)
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 359
Likes: 1
From: Kelowna, BC
'09 ML550
A friend of mine was travelling in Europe with his ML 320 CDI while his car, driving at high speed, changed operating level, tending to be more low on the left side, then he felt that he was driving just without any shock absorb, the car was hard, not comfortable like before, but he could drive, lowering a bit the speed, till the nearest service....He was I believe in Germany and he payed a lot - perhaps something like 2000 euro to fix the problem there, in 2 days...it was a compressor failure and electronic command failure together....they replaced all parts.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 6
From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Don't believe thats so unusual. have you ever noticed that when raising the ML the rear goes up, then the front. I believe that the system is divided into front and rear segments thus what ever your problem is, its related to the front system.
Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Thessaloniki, GREECE & Tirana, ALBANIA
From 2006 ML 320 CDI - from 2009 Audi Q5 S-Line 3.0 TDI DSG - from 2011 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE
Roadruz - Nothing is perfect and unbrakeable, especially when we speak for cars, vehicles.
It is sure that if a car does not have at all air-matic or any advanced technology in it will not face failures on something does'nt have.......
More sofisticated something is - more things can be broken or have failures in the time frame of its life.
But one would buy a Ford or a GM SUV (SLUV-s) only if he seraches for this special compromise: S(L)UV that is big, s(L)ow, cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, never happy for its fuel consumption cost but overall costing almost half of any real good german or japanese SUV.
Someone else which hunts for another compromise: for a SUV with quality, reliability, comfort, performance, safety, status, fuel economy, joy of ride, sportivity, speed, acceleration will only be directed to something not called Ford or GM.........can be german or japanese but will never be an american suv........we like it or not!
It is sure that if a car does not have at all air-matic or any advanced technology in it will not face failures on something does'nt have.......
More sofisticated something is - more things can be broken or have failures in the time frame of its life.
But one would buy a Ford or a GM SUV (SLUV-s) only if he seraches for this special compromise: S(L)UV that is big, s(L)ow, cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, never happy for its fuel consumption cost but overall costing almost half of any real good german or japanese SUV.
Someone else which hunts for another compromise: for a SUV with quality, reliability, comfort, performance, safety, status, fuel economy, joy of ride, sportivity, speed, acceleration will only be directed to something not called Ford or GM.........can be german or japanese but will never be an american suv........we like it or not!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 6
From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Roadruz - Nothing is perfect and unbrakeable, especially when we speak for cars, vehicles.
It is sure that if a car does not have at all air-matic or any advanced technology in it will not face failures on something does'nt have.......
More sofisticated something is - more things can be broken or have failures in the time frame of its life.
But one would buy a Ford or a GM SUV (SLUV-s) only if he seraches for this special compromise: S(L)UV that is big, s(L)ow, cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, never happy for its fuel consumption cost but overall costing almost half of any real good german or japanese SUV.
Someone else which hunts for another compromise: for a SUV with quality, reliability, comfort, performance, safety, status, fuel economy, joy of ride, sportivity, speed, acceleration will only be directed to something not called Ford or GM.........can be german or japanese but will never be an american suv........we like it or not!
It is sure that if a car does not have at all air-matic or any advanced technology in it will not face failures on something does'nt have.......
More sofisticated something is - more things can be broken or have failures in the time frame of its life.
But one would buy a Ford or a GM SUV (SLUV-s) only if he seraches for this special compromise: S(L)UV that is big, s(L)ow, cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, never happy for its fuel consumption cost but overall costing almost half of any real good german or japanese SUV.
Someone else which hunts for another compromise: for a SUV with quality, reliability, comfort, performance, safety, status, fuel economy, joy of ride, sportivity, speed, acceleration will only be directed to something not called Ford or GM.........can be german or japanese but will never be an american suv........we like it or not!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,308
Likes: 35
From: Atlanta, GA USA
2000 MB G500 NMLE, 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Prestige
Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Thessaloniki, GREECE & Tirana, ALBANIA
From 2006 ML 320 CDI - from 2009 Audi Q5 S-Line 3.0 TDI DSG - from 2011 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE
Aparently he does'nt know that - but what is worst, he makes the mistake to mix up things, daring to offend nationalities. I never had something against americans, or any other nations, but just gave my opinion on some cars, which in ordinery life are better known for their country of origine.
Yeah, in Thessaloniki MB G class for military is assembled, many military vehicles, tanks, and also Scania/Volvo/MB, etc powered buses for urban transportation as well as tourist buses.....but this has nothing to do with greeks or others.
Like americans can not produce today neither tresories of archaelogy nor antient glorious history that we in Greece walk over everywhere in every single centimeter of land.......If one wants to put the discussion in that way, there is no end, and certainly McDonald will never win over Acropolis..........
Yeah, in Thessaloniki MB G class for military is assembled, many military vehicles, tanks, and also Scania/Volvo/MB, etc powered buses for urban transportation as well as tourist buses.....but this has nothing to do with greeks or others.
Like americans can not produce today neither tresories of archaelogy nor antient glorious history that we in Greece walk over everywhere in every single centimeter of land.......If one wants to put the discussion in that way, there is no end, and certainly McDonald will never win over Acropolis..........
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 6
From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
Aparently he does'nt know that - but what is worst, he makes the mistake to mix up things, daring to offend nationalities. I never had something against americans, or any other nations, but just gave my opinion on some cars, which in ordinery life are better known for their country of origine.
Yeah, in Thessaloniki MB G class for military is assembled, many military vehicles, tanks, and also Scania/Volvo/MB, etc powered buses for urban transportation as well as tourist buses.....but this has nothing to do with greeks or others.
Like americans can not produce today neither tresories of archaelogy nor antient glorious history that we in Greece walk over everywhere in every single centimeter of land.......If one wants to put the discussion in that way, there is no end, and certainly McDonald will never win over Acropolis..........
Yeah, in Thessaloniki MB G class for military is assembled, many military vehicles, tanks, and also Scania/Volvo/MB, etc powered buses for urban transportation as well as tourist buses.....but this has nothing to do with greeks or others.
Like americans can not produce today neither tresories of archaelogy nor antient glorious history that we in Greece walk over everywhere in every single centimeter of land.......If one wants to put the discussion in that way, there is no end, and certainly McDonald will never win over Acropolis..........
Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Thessaloniki, GREECE & Tirana, ALBANIA
From 2006 ML 320 CDI - from 2009 Audi Q5 S-Line 3.0 TDI DSG - from 2011 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE
You are welcomed for the greek salad but not only, some fish too? - it's ok - let's take it easy!
