whats with the un even ride height on w220's
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Flying Spur
whats with the un even ride height on w220's
is it just me or does the passenger side rear sit lower than the drivers side?...the 760 is the same way..my bro was saying that there are two reasons and they are that for one..the gas tank is on that side..and 2 that when you sit inside the drivers weight balances it...i notice that the rear pass side at the lowest setting has absolutey no gap so u cant even stick a finger in..and the drivers rear it has about 1 finger gap..am i losing my mind or are all 220s like this..???? thanks
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From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
is it just me or does the passenger side rear sit lower than the drivers side?...the 760 is the same way..my bro was saying that there are two reasons and they are that for one..the gas tank is on that side..and 2 that when you sit inside the drivers weight balances it...i notice that the rear pass side at the lowest setting has absolutey no gap so u cant even stick a finger in..and the drivers rear it has about 1 finger gap..am i losing my mind or are all 220s like this..???? thanks
Assuming it's your S600 (ABC), it's most likely a valve block.
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
is it just me or does the passenger side rear sit lower than the drivers side?...the 760 is the same way..my bro was saying that there are two reasons and they are that for one..the gas tank is on that side..and 2 that when you sit inside the drivers weight balances it...i notice that the rear pass side at the lowest setting has absolutey no gap so u cant even stick a finger in..and the drivers rear it has about 1 finger gap..am i losing my mind or are all 220s like this..???? thanks
1. using Star to reset the signals at each transducer, or
2. there is tilt sensor in the middle of the chassis that causes this so it is tewwked or changed.
I have this don to my car over the summer for the same reason and they got to within 1/4" so I was happy.
YOu will not find many W220 with much less variation than that so expect to have some all the time.
YOu can also try to raise the car fully with sport mode turned off a few times up and down and see where it lands...
To whoovers point,
I was sure I had a bad strut or something, but thank goodness my SR and the techs that work for him are as curious abut some of the nuances of this car as I am so they did all of this work for me just to make my car sit right and it still does... So I know first hand that this can be corrected without replacing anything.
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From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
This is very common although I wouldn't exactly call it normal either. The dealer can fix this for you two ways..
1. using Star to reset the signals at each transducer, or
2. there is tilt sensor in the middle of the chassis that causes this so it is tewwked or changed.
I have this don to my car over the summer for the same reason and they got to within 1/4" so I was happy.
YOu will not find many W220 with much less variation than that so expect to have some all the time.
YOu can also try to raise the car fully with sport mode turned off a few times up and down and see where it lands...
To whoovers point,
I was sure I had a bad strut or something, but thank goodness my SR and the techs that work for him are as curious abut some of the nuances of this car as I am so they did all of this work for me just to make my car sit right and it still does... So I know first hand that this can be corrected without replacing anything.
1. using Star to reset the signals at each transducer, or
2. there is tilt sensor in the middle of the chassis that causes this so it is tewwked or changed.
I have this don to my car over the summer for the same reason and they got to within 1/4" so I was happy.
YOu will not find many W220 with much less variation than that so expect to have some all the time.
YOu can also try to raise the car fully with sport mode turned off a few times up and down and see where it lands...
To whoovers point,
I was sure I had a bad strut or something, but thank goodness my SR and the techs that work for him are as curious abut some of the nuances of this car as I am so they did all of this work for me just to make my car sit right and it still does... So I know first hand that this can be corrected without replacing anything.
The Sport mode suggestions also don't apply to ABC.
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
In my experience, there's a big difference between ABC and Airmatic in this regard. Slight adjustments to Airmatic may work ok, but rarely will fix an ABC problem. With ABC, tiny particles of metal mess up the functioning of the valves and 9 times out of 10 they need replacing. Sometimes a fluid flush and "rodeo" cycling the valves will work, but the valve block often needs replacement down the road anyway. The OP might also notice that the steering wheel is not quite centered when driving straight. It's another symptom of an out-of-whack ABC valve block. ABC is significantly more sophisticated than Airmatic, but also more sensitive.
The Sport mode suggestions also don't apply to ABC.
The Sport mode suggestions also don't apply to ABC.
Either way,, This is how I had mine corrected.. and from a Static stance.. this theoretically could be corrected in the same manner but if not, its worth a trip to the dealer to find out.
Its funny though..with all the talk going around about ABC and the superior sophistication, compared to the Airmatic system, It is my understanding that none of the newer cars use this system.....They are all just airmatic. If that's fact it kinda makes you wonder why..?
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From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
Its funny though..with all the talk going around about ABC and the superior sophistication, compared to the Airmatic system, It is my understanding that none of the newer cars use this system.....They are all just airmatic. If that's fact it kinda makes you wonder why..?
It's worth every penny, in my opinion. It really transforms the handling and ride.
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
Oh Okay.. maybe I was thinking it was All of the new car but I guess it is just the 4matics.
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Newbie
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Orlando, Florida resident
2000 Black S500
I am having the same problem with mine in the exact locations. Does any one know what the dealer cost to re-adjust ride height? I had new struts installed in the front in 6/ 07 and have noticed this problem since then.
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Thread Starter
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From: Vancouver BC
Flying Spur
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
Again, it will matter if your car is ABC or Airmatic. In any case the dealer will want to examine the system for problems before just adjusting. At least that's what they should do. It's easy (and cheap) to just reset the height, but if that's sweeping a suspension problem under the rug it can be a dangerous fix. The leveling controls of both Airmatic and ABC are sophisticated and it would be pretty unusual for it to just be wrong. It would almost always be because something is not working right. That could be a strut, a valve, a sensor, a line or other part, but something probably needs replacing if your suspension is to be 100% again.
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From: San Francisco, CA
16 GLE400, 16 eGolf, 15 M3, 13 328i, 06 S430, 98 E320
Bringing this thread back to live, I just acquired a 06 S430 and noticed the exact same problem where the passenger rear is about half a finger lowered than the driver side rear. Based on the posts above, did anyone actually got it fixed and approximately, what is the cost to adjust the height using STAR?
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From: UK
W215 CL500 2005
Bringing this thread back to live, I just acquired a 06 S430 and noticed the exact same problem where the passenger rear is about half a finger lowered than the driver side rear. Based on the posts above, did anyone actually got it fixed and approximately, what is the cost to adjust the height using STAR?
Super Member
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From: San Francisco, CA
16 GLE400, 16 eGolf, 15 M3, 13 328i, 06 S430, 98 E320
Hmm...i'll check again tonight but the front seems to be fine and the car doesn't appear to have been involved in an accident previously. Not sure if this is a symptom to an expensive fix as the car has been dealer maintained for its entire life so hopefully the height can be adjusted.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: UK
W215 CL500 2005
Hmm...i'll check again tonight but the front seems to be fine and the car doesn't appear to have been involved in an accident previously. Not sure if this is a symptom to an expensive fix as the car has been dealer maintained for its entire life so hopefully the height can be adjusted.
^^That is correct. Just went through the whole procedure with a star and let me tell you, it is a PIA !!
Super Member
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From: UK
W215 CL500 2005
I did it this way too...but only because STAR could not fix it since an internal sensor had gone inside the front right strut. So far so good after 7 months.
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From: San Francisco, CA
16 GLE400, 16 eGolf, 15 M3, 13 328i, 06 S430, 98 E320
well it seems like both the right front and rear are lower than the left side when parked but the right rear seems to be significantly lower than the left rear by a finger. That being said, once the car is started, the height for all 4 corners appear to be normal with no significant deviation from each side. Not sure what it is but should I still be concerned?
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Mercedes
well it seems like both the right front and rear are lower than the left side when parked but the right rear seems to be significantly lower than the left rear by a finger. That being said, once the car is started, the height for all 4 corners appear to be normal with no significant deviation from each side. Not sure what it is but should I still be concerned?
Member
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From: Houston
1999 e320 ,2006 AMG S55
my car is doing this now and im scared i dont wana pay 3k to have a vavle block replaced.
I have abc on my car and when i go over a incline the car blinks abc for not even a second and goes away when im on the freeway with a lil beep. i can go over speed bumps and i dont get that chime or warning. any ideas ?
I have abc on my car and when i go over a incline the car blinks abc for not even a second and goes away when im on the freeway with a lil beep. i can go over speed bumps and i dont get that chime or warning. any ideas ?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,150
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Mercedes
my car is doing this now and im scared i dont wana pay 3k to have a vavle block replaced.
I have abc on my car and when i go over a incline the car blinks abc for not even a second and goes away when im on the freeway with a lil beep. i can go over speed bumps and i dont get that chime or warning. any ideas ?
I have abc on my car and when i go over a incline the car blinks abc for not even a second and goes away when im on the freeway with a lil beep. i can go over speed bumps and i dont get that chime or warning. any ideas ?
