Arnott Industries Update
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
2003 S500 4Matic
Arnott Industries Update
I just got off the phone with Arnott Industries and they had good news and bad news for me.
Good news was that they now carry 4Matic Remanufactured Suspension Parts. (Price: $599 with $200 core charge = $399)
Bad news came when I, out of curiosity, asked about the ABC system. They said their 4Matic Suspension won't work if my car came with ABC! Boy, was I disappointed!
Basically, they said that the difference between the AirMatic/4Matic Suspension parts vs. ABC is that AirMatic is an all air suspension whereas the ABC is combination of hydraulic and air suspension (correction?).
Arnott only manufactures all air suspension systems, so they not only don't carry the remanufactured systems for Merc's with ABC, but also don't plan on carrying those in the future.
What are my other options for finding replacement suspension parts??
btw my car is 2003 S500 4Matic w/ ABC...
Good news was that they now carry 4Matic Remanufactured Suspension Parts. (Price: $599 with $200 core charge = $399)
Bad news came when I, out of curiosity, asked about the ABC system. They said their 4Matic Suspension won't work if my car came with ABC! Boy, was I disappointed!
Basically, they said that the difference between the AirMatic/4Matic Suspension parts vs. ABC is that AirMatic is an all air suspension whereas the ABC is combination of hydraulic and air suspension (correction?).
Arnott only manufactures all air suspension systems, so they not only don't carry the remanufactured systems for Merc's with ABC, but also don't plan on carrying those in the future.
What are my other options for finding replacement suspension parts??
btw my car is 2003 S500 4Matic w/ ABC...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,455
Likes: 11
From: Long Island, NY
W220 S65 AMG
ABC and AIRmatic are completely different. ABC struts are a very complex combination of a hydraulic cylinder, steel spring and a gas shock absorber.
Here is a diagram of the front and rear ABC struts for the W220/W215 cars...
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
2003 S500 4Matic
Weird thing is, from other threads I've read they said that if you see an air feed tube going into the top of the struts, then I have AirMatic System.
(My car HAS the tubes going into the top of the struts.)
However, one, they (Arnott) made it sound like AirMatic and 4Matic are completely different systems. AND two, from reading about ABC and looking at the diagrams above, I don't see an air feeding line going into the ABC's...
Could I be mistaken about the type of suspension my car has?
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,746
Likes: 1
BMW F02 (750Li) F10 (550i)
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 39
From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
Jesus there is some confusion here:
1. Airmatic= Air suspension
2. 4matic= AWD system unrelated to type of suspension (although it affects front susp. components in terms of fitment)
3. ABC=Active Body Control= Hydraulic suspension
If you have feed tubes into your strut tops, you have airmatic. The picture of the strut on the dash is another sign that you have airmatic. ABC has an "ABC sport" button on the dash.
YOU HAVE AIRMATIC, NOT ABC.
1. Airmatic= Air suspension
2. 4matic= AWD system unrelated to type of suspension (although it affects front susp. components in terms of fitment)
3. ABC=Active Body Control= Hydraulic suspension
If you have feed tubes into your strut tops, you have airmatic. The picture of the strut on the dash is another sign that you have airmatic. ABC has an "ABC sport" button on the dash.
YOU HAVE AIRMATIC, NOT ABC.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
2003 S500 4Matic
That's awesome. Good to know. So I can get the replacement shocks from Arnott afterall.
Jesus there is some confusion here:
1. Airmatic= Air suspension
2. 4matic= AWD system unrelated to type of suspension (although it affects front susp. components in terms of fitment)
3. ABC=Active Body Control= Hydraulic suspension
If you have feed tubes into your strut tops, you have airmatic. The picture of the strut on the dash is another sign that you have airmatic. ABC has an "ABC sport" button on the dash.
YOU HAVE AIRMATIC, NOT ABC.
1. Airmatic= Air suspension
2. 4matic= AWD system unrelated to type of suspension (although it affects front susp. components in terms of fitment)
3. ABC=Active Body Control= Hydraulic suspension
If you have feed tubes into your strut tops, you have airmatic. The picture of the strut on the dash is another sign that you have airmatic. ABC has an "ABC sport" button on the dash.
YOU HAVE AIRMATIC, NOT ABC.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
2003 S500 4Matic
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Texas
2000 Mercedes Benz S500 Designo
FALSE. The button will say ABC on it or ABC sport, airmatic also has a button with a picture of a shock on it
