Airmatic On Or Off?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Chicopee Ma
White S63 AMG W/Designo Interior
Airmatic On Or Off?
Is better to drive around with airmatic on in the city, or with it off, by the way if you have it on constantly are you more likely to wear it out quicker?
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Germany
'00 S320 W220, '98 A160 W168/ sold in 2005 '86 260 E W124 '90 260E W124
I'm driving with Airmatic on 99%. for 60.000 miles and 6 years w/o trouble. The only time I go in level 1 or 2 is, if I'm going "wild" on the German Autobahn with speeds above 125mph. My guess is that the "Airmatic off" increases the pressure to stiffen the suspension, which may be more load on the suspension components.
The differnence driving with "Airmatic on" is just the biggest change against any other car, no matter how good the system may be.
The differnence driving with "Airmatic on" is just the biggest change against any other car, no matter how good the system may be.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Chicopee Ma
White S63 AMG W/Designo Interior
that makes a lot of sense, cause i do too, you dont feel any bumps, i just purchased my 00 s500 with 36k mile/3 yr warranty for 26k, 51k miles, black on black...Im new to the forum.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2006
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airmatic is always on, its a term used to describe the fact that the suspension is regulated by pressurised air, in laymans terms.
you can increase the height of the car my adjusting airmatic. which i think you mean
when aimatic is off, you will know, your car will be sat on the wheels as the airmatic has failed, with warnings in the dash
you can increase the height of the car my adjusting airmatic. which i think you mean
when aimatic is off, you will know, your car will be sat on the wheels as the airmatic has failed, with warnings in the dash
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: OC
AMG E55, Stage 1, Strait Pipe from Primary Cats
I always drive in the lowered position (red airmatic indicator light off), why would anybody want to drive in chuckwagon mode ? The ride is the same, it's only function is to raise or lower the airmatic suspension.
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Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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S500
even if you press the button to raise your car up, as soon as you hit speeds of somewhere around 60 mph, the car auto lowers itself again...due to the speed. i think ppl are just referring to keeping the car in non sport mode..so that the airmatic isnt working as hard? i usually drive my car in sport 1 just in case there is that dumb@$$ that cuts me off or makes me swerve...
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 689
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From: So Cal
07 GL450, 91 NSX, 12 Prius
Airmatic is ALWAYS on. To drive it at raised position may not be the best for tire wear. Alignment is set at static height. change of height will always effect alignment to some degree.
I usually drive with static height which is Lowered
and soft setting because it is a family hauler.
I usually drive with static height which is Lowered
and soft setting because it is a family hauler.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 51
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From: Phoenix, Arizona
2000 S500
Can someone tell me how to switch the car to
"Lowered/stiff" mode? (Sorry, still waiting for my manual from eBay, as I have no clue what the buttons do on the car yet
Newb, I know.
"Lowered/stiff" mode? (Sorry, still waiting for my manual from eBay, as I have no clue what the buttons do on the car yet
Newb, I know.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Tampa, FL
2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
Aleksandar,
1) Lower the car (the button with the arrow pointing up should not have the light illuminated).
2) Push the button with a symbol that resembles a strut (shock absorber) so that it has either one or two lights illuminated. No lights is soft ride. One light is somewhat stifffer than the softest ride (and is where I usually kept my 2000 S500); and two lights is a bit stiffer ride yet. I found that the stiffest ride setting helped when driving in strong crosswinds, especially gusty ones.
If you register on the MBUSA website at http://www.mbusa.com you can download an owner's manual as a pdf file. Go to the "Owners Online" section - then click on the"about my MB" tab then on "owner's manual." You may have to register on the site (it's free) to get to the page. You can also get your warranty info and maintenance booklet. On a different tab, you can check your car's service history.
And, you can download the COMAND manual for your car on Paul H. Dick's website at http://home.earthlink.net/~phdwebsite/comand_manual.htm - spending some time with the manuals will help you greatly to enjoy the features of your car.
1) Lower the car (the button with the arrow pointing up should not have the light illuminated).
2) Push the button with a symbol that resembles a strut (shock absorber) so that it has either one or two lights illuminated. No lights is soft ride. One light is somewhat stifffer than the softest ride (and is where I usually kept my 2000 S500); and two lights is a bit stiffer ride yet. I found that the stiffest ride setting helped when driving in strong crosswinds, especially gusty ones.
If you register on the MBUSA website at http://www.mbusa.com you can download an owner's manual as a pdf file. Go to the "Owners Online" section - then click on the"about my MB" tab then on "owner's manual." You may have to register on the site (it's free) to get to the page. You can also get your warranty info and maintenance booklet. On a different tab, you can check your car's service history.
And, you can download the COMAND manual for your car on Paul H. Dick's website at http://home.earthlink.net/~phdwebsite/comand_manual.htm - spending some time with the manuals will help you greatly to enjoy the features of your car.
Last edited by Skylaw; Dec 26, 2006 at 05:03 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,063
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From: Tampa, FL
2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
I have not done an iPod integration in my '05 S500 because it completely lacks an aux jack either in the glove compartment or on the back of the COMAND (which eliminates the Apple/MB iPod integration); and because the other MOST bus options have so far been either vaporware or problematic in some other fashion. However, I am definitely watching the posts by miroj concerning the MBENZNL unit - http://www.benzworld.org/forums/audi...highlight=iPod
Last edited by Skylaw; Dec 27, 2006 at 08:16 AM.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 27
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From: Key Biscayne, FL
me: 2001 S500, 1993 K1500 wife: 2003 X5
I keep mine on stiff (2 lights on) all the time, I can't stand the soft ride without any road feel, and for such a big, heavy car, it really does handle nicely in stiff setting.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 51
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From: Phoenix, Arizona
2000 S500
Gotcha. I had a chance to play around with the settings yesterday, and boy does the car feel different. Of course, you also get 200" of wheel gap, but hey, can't have it all. However, one interesting thing is, when I hit the left switch, it said "ABC active, vehicle rising". Are all S500s equipped with ABC?
Aleksandar
Aleksandar
Super Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 872
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From: Saint Louis
CLS 63 S AMG , s500,clk550
about the airmatic thing i only use it whenever im at a drivethrough and i want get a little higher to the window and it makes the car go up slowely and its like...coooolll.... lol thats the only time i turn it on other wise i turn it off after im done
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2002
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Gotcha. I had a chance to play around with the settings yesterday, and boy does the car feel different. Of course, you also get 200" of wheel gap, but hey, can't have it all. However, one interesting thing is, when I hit the left switch, it said "ABC active, vehicle rising". Are all S500s equipped with ABC?
Aleksandar
Aleksandar
Almost a Member!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 51
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From: Phoenix, Arizona
2000 S500
Now I'm confused. So I don't have the airmatic, rather the ABC (or do I have the airmatic+ABC)? If so, is ABC considered better (i.e. less problematic than Airmatic)? Sorry about so many questions, I'd like to learn as much as possible about the car.
Thanks for your help
Aleksandar
Thanks for your help
Aleksandar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,574
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From: Sugar Land, TX
BMW E39
Now I'm confused. So I don't have the airmatic, rather the ABC (or do I have the airmatic+ABC)? If so, is ABC considered better (i.e. less problematic than Airmatic)? Sorry about so many questions, I'd like to learn as much as possible about the car.
Thanks for your help
Aleksandar
Thanks for your help
Aleksandar
