Streamliner

I get these daily reviews from the Car Connection. Today, I am reading about the FL S Class and it says the following:

"A four-corner air-suspension with adaptive dampers is the standard suspension for the S-Class, but buyers can choose the Magic Ride Control system that switches to steel springs and active hydraulics. For 2018, it adds a curve tilting function that tilts the car 2.65 degrees inward in corners to fight gravity. This improves passengers’ comfort and makes this big car feel sportier."

Is that correct? I thought that even with Magic Body Control, you were still riding on an air suspension, no???

steveb9771

Magic Body use the ABC suspension system which is hydraulic and does not use air

Streamliner

But does it use steel springs as the article refers?

MTrauman

Yes it uses steel springs but they are contained inside the struts (I saw a diagram and the diagram refers to the steel springs inside the strut and not an external steel spring that you may be referring to).

Streamliner

Well, you learn something every day. And all the time driving my 2015 with MBC, I thought I was riding on air!

superangrypenguin

Goes to show air suspension systems are overrated!

Streamliner

Well, I may not know everything about cars, but my experience with cars equipped with air suspensions has been truly amazing. I had eight, new, Lexus LS sedans, all with air suspension and the ride was day & night better than the same car with steel springs. Our 2004 E500 with AirMatic rode so beautifully, compared to our 2010 & 2016 E Class sedans we had when AirMatic was no longer offered in the models we wanted. I feel very strongly that pretty much any air suspension will give a much nicer ride than pretty much any standard type of spring suspension. All that said, ABC and MBC are my favorites.

Wolfman

Airmatic has matured to a very capable suspension not only in the S-Class but also virtually all MB models. That said, it also is a less capable system than ABC/MBC.

Don't interpret ABC/MBC as riding on springs; that is not the case (even though there are springs), you are riding on oil
This is a high-pressure hydraulic suspension (2600+psi)

This cannot be compared to spring-based suspension with adjustable dampers...

docsout

2600psi WOW! When that baby leaks there'll be oil from here to kingdom come. Extended warranty most assurededly needed.