cold weather airmatic failure
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r500
cold weather airmatic failure
very cold weather in Illinois the past two days.......I had not driven my R for 3 days, went out to garage and saw that my front airmatics had gone out....I started the car, and the front went back to normal.......called local Mercedes tech and he said that there was nothing to worry about as long as there were no messages on the dash (which there weren't).....I think it is the first sign of my front end suspension going out......any thoughts?
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Chandler, AZ
06 R500 / 03 CLK430 Conv
very cold weather in Illinois the past two days.......I had not driven my R for 3 days, went out to garage and saw that my front airmatics had gone out....I started the car, and the front went back to normal.......called local Mercedes tech and he said that there was nothing to worry about as long as there were no messages on the dash (which there weren't).....I think it is the first sign of my front end suspension going out......any thoughts?
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 39
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From: Chandler, AZ
06 R500 / 03 CLK430 Conv
I'd say you're entering into the mileage range where the struts become prune to leaking. The cold makes it more difficult for the seal to do it's job.
If it doesn't drop every night then you could put off changing the strut for a while, but each time the car needs to rise means work for the compressor, too much work and that will fail too.
If it doesn't drop every night then you could put off changing the strut for a while, but each time the car needs to rise means work for the compressor, too much work and that will fail too.
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Joined: Nov 2009
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From: California
06 R360, 06 F350 6.0, 04 CayenneS, 96 911TT 500HP, 86 928S, 74 911S, 73 914-4, 70 914-6, 02 Durrango
I have 38,000. Do you think I can talk to my dealer about getting them replaced before mine go bad? Does Mercedes have an "updated" part that replaces them?
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Joined: Jun 2006
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2011 C300 4matic, 2015 Porsche Macan S, 2006 R500 (sold)
very cold weather in Illinois the past two days.......I had not driven my R for 3 days, went out to garage and saw that my front airmatics had gone out....I started the car, and the front went back to normal.......called local Mercedes tech and he said that there was nothing to worry about as long as there were no messages on the dash (which there weren't).....I think it is the first sign of my front end suspension going out......any thoughts?
https://mbworld.org/forums/r-class-w...ic-failed.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/r-class-w...-warranty.html
Last edited by supernsx; Dec 14, 2010 at 10:33 PM.
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r500
update
called again because it happened again...front end low, rear normal.....but this time when I unlocked the car, the front end went up without starting it....called my tech again because this time there was a loud pop as it was going up....he said that because of the cold weather and the warm air that the compressor puts out, there is moisture developing in the lines that are not allowing the seals on the airmatic to do their sealing......he said the only way to check and see if it was the temperature causing it would be to park the car in their garage...constant temp of 70 and see if it happens then....so now I need advice and strategy to have these seals replaced while my extended warranty is still covering it.
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 39
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From: Chandler, AZ
06 R500 / 03 CLK430 Conv
called again because it happened again...front end low, rear normal.....but this time when I unlocked the car, the front end went up without starting it....called my tech again because this time there was a loud pop as it was going up....he said that because of the cold weather and the warm air that the compressor puts out, there is moisture developing in the lines that are not allowing the seals on the airmatic to do their sealing......he said the only way to check and see if it was the temperature causing it would be to park the car in their garage...constant temp of 70 and see if it happens then....so now I need advice and strategy to have these seals replaced while my extended warranty is still covering it.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 556
Likes: 4
2011 C300 4matic, 2015 Porsche Macan S, 2006 R500 (sold)
called again because it happened again...front end low, rear normal.....but this time when I unlocked the car, the front end went up without starting it....called my tech again because this time there was a loud pop as it was going up....he said that because of the cold weather and the warm air that the compressor puts out, there is moisture developing in the lines that are not allowing the seals on the airmatic to do their sealing......he said the only way to check and see if it was the temperature causing it would be to park the car in their garage...constant temp of 70 and see if it happens then....so now I need advice and strategy to have these seals replaced while my extended warranty is still covering it.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Pennsylvania, USA
2011 GL450, '06 R500 traded, '08 ML350 sold
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
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r500
although the car has not lowered for the past week, it is going in next week to repair the suspension leak....extended warranty through chrysler covers it.........also seems that the rear suspension has been unusually stiff lately......could be just me paying more attention to ride quality lately.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: North NJ
2005 MINI Cooper S Conv, 2006 R350
couldn't get the front up
It started when the weather got cold here late last year, that I noticed the front of the car was low to the floor in the morning. It got back up once I started the car, so I thought this was a feature that I didn't know before ... until today, it couldn't get the front up anymore, so I had to drive very slow home about 5 miles with the low front.
I dont have warrenty on my 2006 R350 with only 46k miles, so I plan to order from Arnott and then DIY for both front struts. Anything I should know of before ordering the parts? and how easy is it to DIY? Do I have to remove the half shalf?
Thanks ...
I dont have warrenty on my 2006 R350 with only 46k miles, so I plan to order from Arnott and then DIY for both front struts. Anything I should know of before ordering the parts? and how easy is it to DIY? Do I have to remove the half shalf?
Thanks ...
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 38
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From: North NJ
2005 MINI Cooper S Conv, 2006 R350
Ordered two structs from Arnott, went by a local shop and asked, but they wouldn't do the replacement for me, I guess I will have to search and try to do it myself.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 39
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From: Chandler, AZ
06 R500 / 03 CLK430 Conv
It started when the weather got cold here late last year, that I noticed the front of the car was low to the floor in the morning. It got back up once I started the car, so I thought this was a feature that I didn't know before ... until today, it couldn't get the front up anymore, so I had to drive very slow home about 5 miles with the low front.
I dont have warrenty on my 2006 R350 with only 46k miles, so I plan to order from Arnott and then DIY for both front struts. Anything I should know of before ordering the parts? and how easy is it to DIY? Do I have to remove the half shalf?
Thanks ...
I dont have warrenty on my 2006 R350 with only 46k miles, so I plan to order from Arnott and then DIY for both front struts. Anything I should know of before ordering the parts? and how easy is it to DIY? Do I have to remove the half shalf?
Thanks ...
I chickened out of the DIY as I wasn't sure whether I could work around the half shaft or not. I paid about 2hrs labor per side at my local indy. If you are serious about DIY, consider signing up for a day on Mercedes StarTek, and download the procedure.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 38
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From: North NJ
2005 MINI Cooper S Conv, 2006 R350
This is very frustrating ... I took the car to a local garage with the new structs, the guy told me I have a bad airmatic valve, the structs are good. After he replace the valve, the car still couldn't rise up, towed to MB dealer, was told a bad compressor, the structs are good, no leaks. Replaced the compressor and took it home, returned the structs (Arnott charges 20% restocking fee). Two days later, the front car is down again. Took the car back to dealer, after couple days, was told it has no problem (no leak, no error code). Took it home, two days later, it became worse, now its front sit down almost each time I park the car! I do regret a lot getting an airmatic car. This is painful in $ and emotion.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 556
Likes: 4
2011 C300 4matic, 2015 Porsche Macan S, 2006 R500 (sold)
This is very frustrating ... I took the car to a local garage with the new structs, the guy told me I have a bad airmatic valve, the structs are good. After he replace the valve, the car still couldn't rise up, towed to MB dealer, was told a bad compressor, the structs are good, no leaks. Replaced the compressor and took it home, returned the structs (Arnott charges 20% restocking fee). Two days later, the front car is down again. Took the car back to dealer, after couple days, was told it has no problem (no leak, no error code). Took it home, two days later, it became worse, now its front sit down almost each time I park the car! I do regret a lot getting an airmatic car. This is painful in $ and emotion.
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5
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R500
I noticed a problem at 65000 miles with my R500 rear driver side suspension leaking when it started getting cold without any error codes. the dealer here in korea do not service r class so i am really in trouble. I see arnott has the bags for the rear, but no mention of valves or compressor...or DO I NEED TO ONLY REPLACE THE BAGS (is what i hope). please advise folks, what is my best course of action.
