Whats the different between Active Body Control and Airmatic?
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Houston, TX
2002 Mercedes S 430(GONE), 2001 E320(GONE), 2007 S550(GONE), 2009 BMW X6(GONE), 2014 S550
Whats the different between Active Body Control and Airmatic?
Which one is better and less problematic?
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Virginia Beach, VA
2005 S500 4Matic
AirMatic is utilizing pressurized air to maintain a level ride. It is NOT an active system, but will increase / decrease pressure on all 4 corners several times a second to maintain normal riding height.
ABC (Active Body Control), is a hydraulic system on steel springs. It is an active system, which actively counters dive on all 4 corners.
ABC is the more sophisticated system, providing a better ride. It is standard on all S600 and AMG cars (i.e. S55 and S65), but not on the S430 or S500 (not even the ones with the AMG body kit). Although it was an option on all, but the 4Matic equipped S-classes (W220).
If you are looking for an ABC-equipped S500 (even more so for the S430), you will have a hard time finding one. But go for it!
ABC (Active Body Control), is a hydraulic system on steel springs. It is an active system, which actively counters dive on all 4 corners.
ABC is the more sophisticated system, providing a better ride. It is standard on all S600 and AMG cars (i.e. S55 and S65), but not on the S430 or S500 (not even the ones with the AMG body kit). Although it was an option on all, but the 4Matic equipped S-classes (W220).
If you are looking for an ABC-equipped S500 (even more so for the S430), you will have a hard time finding one. But go for it!
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From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
Dino, can you elaborate on the better ride part?
Do you mean better as in softer, or better, as in less bodyroll, better handling, etc?
I've driven an S600 and I didn't think the ride was any softer than my car, and we have the same wheels.
Any clarification here would be great.
thanks.
Do you mean better as in softer, or better, as in less bodyroll, better handling, etc?
I've driven an S600 and I didn't think the ride was any softer than my car, and we have the same wheels.
Any clarification here would be great.
thanks.
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From: Long Island, NY
W220 S65 AMG
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From: DFW
BMW M850i Gran Coupe
ABC is Well Worth the $$$
The technical answers to your question can be found on mbusa.com and mercedesbenz.com, but I am not sure that the detailed information will accurately describe the real differences between Airmatic and ABC. First of all, Airmatic is the basic suspension of most S-Class (W220-W221) Mercedes since 1999. Initally somewhat problematic in early models, Airmatic has proven to be a comfortable luxury vehicle ride with adaptability for various road surfaces plus the ability to raise and lower the vehicle height automatically and manually. If you only had Airmatic suspension available you would have the finest quality ride in a truly luxurious vehicle. Fortunately, Mercedes upped the ante and developed ABC, an incredible suspension system that enables an S-Class to handle like a sports car but still have the expected ride quality of a boulevard cruiser. ABC has been standard equipment on the SL and until 2009, the CL550. It is a somewhat expensive option at nearly $4000 on the S-Class so I can't imagine many S-Classes being optioned with ABC over the years. Having driven both I can tell you that ABC is an incredible option offering "the driver" an unbelievable driving experience while still maintaining the feel of luxury and smooth. It is expensive, but it's worth every penny.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Indianapolis, IN
2004 Audi A8L
The handling was very good, but the car felt and sounded like it was falling apart when going over speed bumps and railroad crossings. I was told by the dealer that this was normal for the ABC.
I've only briefly driven one with Airmatic though, so I can't give a fair comparison.
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From: Long Island, NY
W220 S65 AMG
That sounds a little crazy to me... all the ABC components should be accessible from the underside of the car, with the exception of the pump which is attached to the engine, but I can't see why they would need to lift the engine out of the car to change a component of ABC.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Indianapolis, IN
2004 Audi A8L
Seemed odd to me, too
As I recall, they had to rerun one of the lines. I had the car in several times for the same problem - I'd get the abc warning light when I started the car, but turning it off and on again would clear it up. They first replaced several sensors, but the problem would keep recurring.
Since my car was a 2001 S500, ABC was a very rare thing and I think I suffered from being on the bleeding edge--there weren't many other ABC equipped cars being serviced by my dealer.
It always sounded like absolute crap whenever I went over a speedbump or railroad tracks. I was told by the dealer that this was normal for ABC, but I have a hard time believing that it is. Do you have similar experience?
The ABC did offer a very unusual driving experience in being very compliant, but rigid at the same time. You'd expect roll, but it would never show.
Since my car was a 2001 S500, ABC was a very rare thing and I think I suffered from being on the bleeding edge--there weren't many other ABC equipped cars being serviced by my dealer.
It always sounded like absolute crap whenever I went over a speedbump or railroad tracks. I was told by the dealer that this was normal for ABC, but I have a hard time believing that it is. Do you have similar experience?
The ABC did offer a very unusual driving experience in being very compliant, but rigid at the same time. You'd expect roll, but it would never show.
