Steinhart

now that the W222 has been out for a while, what is your experience with MBC?
does it work? if so, how well?

chrislambros

I have MBC on my S550. Unfortunately, this is my first Benz, and I did NOT test drive an S-Class without MBC. Ride is awesome but I'm not sure if that's all Benz or MBC. Only "strange" thing is the little dance the front end does when the car starts (to center the MBC).

Steinhart

thanks chrislambros, appreciate your response

does the car dampen the bumps, like speed bumps, so you can't feel them or minimal feel, as advertised? just trying to understand if it really works or a marketing ploy

chrislambros

Speed bumps still hurt .. a lot. For me the largest difference (from my LS460L) is the handling on my neighborhood round-abouts .. the car doesn't seem to lean as much, which is cool.

TomS

I will concur that the car does not lean very much at all. It gives you the impression it is handling the turns flat. Regarding speed bumps, the standard American type of speed bump you still feel pretty much like you normally would. However, if you go into a neighborhood with speed tables, then the MBC works very well. As I do not live in a neighborhood with speed tables, that is not too big an issue for me. So, the ride is great. I too could not tell you which is MBC and which is because of other suspension features. It does seem that rough roads are smoother and dips in the road are softened.

Maybe MB should have a display feature that indicates when MBC is adjusting the car.

Best thing to do is drive one with and without at your dealer if you can.

Steinhart

thanks TomS, both times I went to test drive they only had a non MBC car, even their designated test car did not have it

Chucky300

I enjoy mine. My favorite thing to do is go down a road that has a speed bump and then try to figure out how the hell the car just made it feel like flat ride. It does what it is supposed to do.

Costs a fortune, but it handles as advertised.

Steinhart

thanks Chucky300, that helps a lot, it's expensive but at least it works

TomS

I happened to have some time today after I stopped at the local Mercedes dealer. There is a street with speed tables that demonstrates MBC very well. I recorded a video of the tests. I did two runs. First with MBC on, then I switched MBC off. You can see the difference from how the car shakes. I did another run with both on and off. Please forgive the quick breaks in the video. I was driving and filming and I didn't spend much time editing this all together.

Note I give to credit for the idea to another video on YouTube that I saw a dealer do awhile back, but that was before the MBC system on the 2014.

Here is the link:
Please note that MBC does far more than just handle these speed tables. Otherwise, unless you lived in a neighborhood like this, why would you have it? It was just cool to watch the technology in action...

Steinhart

wow, that's an awesome video, clearly shows the difference with MBC on and off, exactly what I was looking for, many thanks TomS!

AppleFan1

Tom, That's a great service you are providing here. Btw, I think you have a radio voice.

Chris_Ostby

I have Magic Body Control and I can tell you first hand that it does not work. Neither dealer I took it to in Palm Springs or Seattle had any experience with the option. Sad. Any ideas to get it working?

TomS

What do you mean it doesn't work? Did you try it on speed tables? What suspension mode do you use?

It may not work in your situation ( perhaps a modifier you meant to add to your post) but it does work for others including me.

Chris_Ostby

Thank you TomS. I should have said that Magic body control does not work on my car. If it works for you great! I hope it works for me soon.


I have attempted all modes and speed tables. It does not work - for me. Sad!

LovinMercedes

Great video Tom, thank you.

TomS

If you have speed tables like my video earlier in this thread and you do not notice a difference with it on and off then something is wrong.

I assume you confirmed on your invoice that you actually have the MBC option and not just active body control. MBC was a priced option. You don't have a 4 matic, right?

Chris_Ostby

Yes. I have speed tables just like your video (Thanks for the video!). I tested it over and over again for the past few months - it does not work!


I also have the feature on my car and it was very expensive. I know my car I have three MB's. A 2012 S350 4matic, 2013 SL550 and the 2014 S550 (not 4 matic).

Chris_Ostby

I'm thinking I have one of the 1st cars delivered to the West coast, maybe the firmware or software requires an update??? Not sure.

LovinMercedes

I don't understand how the dealer is unable to help you, regardless of whether they had any experience with it.

I would take it to the dealer and insist the regional MB manager come and take a look at your car and go on a test drive with you.

If my dealer told me they couldn't help me with a problem like this, I'd laugh... and think they thought it was April 1st.

Chris_Ostby

Agreed. I do intend to take it back to Palm Springs MB on Monday. I just wanted to know from this forum if others are having similar issues. If not, then the issue must be specific to my car.

TomS

Sorry for the obvious questions. I work in IT so I just naturally ask silly and obvious questions when I troubleshoot. The car is plugged in right?

Seriously though, yes the dealer may not have experience with MBC but they can still check it out.

Chucky300

Can you explain what you are doing specifically as you are driving (like give us your action by action) and lets see what is going on.

Your car does not do this?

Chucky300

vcae

Is ABC written in the center console? Is it green? if not that may be the case

ChuckinTucson

If you really want to test Magic Body Control, head to the BQE in New York. Was on it the other night (unfortunately not in a MB) and it has got to be the roughest road in America. I've been four-wheeling on smoother surfaces than that. Granted, part of it was under construction, but there's construction all over the country, but nothing like that. Michigan doesn't hold a candle to it.