Airmatic suspension issues




I have W220 S320 petrol Germany origin car, I am facing several issues in the Airmatic system as below.
1. Every time when I switch on the car, the air compressor triggered on for 3 min and it will always triggered in 15 min cycle with loud and noisy sound during driving.
2. Car level switch, it will not trigger the air compressor at all only it shows a message at the screen and it will deactivated after 5 min when moving more than 65mph (deactivation is normal).
3. car level up very slowly and it will not be on the normal level until driving for 20 minutes in highway.
4. Front left level always not as the same as the right and always get down in long parking but during driving it is the same.
5. Car level and especially the front left side is get down easily in cold temperatures than in summer times (+30 degrees C) while driving in bumpy, hills and inclined surfaces.
6. in hot weather I rarely face the low level issue but I may face it in hills inclined or bumpy surfaces only.
After troubleshooting the issue, I didnt hear any Hisssssessss from any strust only the one that we hear it when lock/unlock the car, I check the air comperessor it is old and the hose is bad.
Please help me to idenitfy the main issue since I dont want to change the compressor before fixing all issues. may the block valve make this or the resevoir or what? please help me




















the meachanic told me to replace the compressor and the right shock.
my question did the right shock is the cause of low level in left strut?
Last edited by redaotrosh; Oct 28, 2017 at 03:12 PM.
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The most common failure in the struts is a leak in the rolling diaphragm inside the strut. It is very difficult to see or hear this type of leak.
"the meachanic told me to replace the compressor and the right shock."
The compressor is a single-cylinder pump, with one Teflon piston ring. Sometimes you can get the compressor working well enough by replacing that piston ring. Kits are available on-line.
The noisy operation might be failed or missing spring/rubber compressor mounts. Understanding the mounting system is a bit tricky. I have no idea whether or not a new compressor includes new mounts.
No idea why the mechanic suggested replacing the right strut when it sounds as if the left strut is the one that leaks.
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The most common failure in the struts is a leak in the rolling diaphragm inside the strut. It is very difficult to see or hear this type of leak.
"the meachanic told me to replace the compressor and the right shock."
The compressor is a single-cylinder pump, with one Teflon piston ring. Sometimes you can get the compressor working well enough by replacing that piston ring. Kits are available on-line.
The noisy operation might be failed or missing spring/rubber compressor mounts. Understanding the mounting system is a bit tricky. I have no idea whether or not a new compressor includes new mounts.
No idea why the mechanic suggested replacing the right strut when it sounds as if the left strut is the one that leaks.


There is no separate damper - the strut is one complete unit, with no replaceable parts.
If you are there when he removes the compressor, both of you need to really look at the mounts as you take them apart, so you can put them back together properly.




There is no separate damper - the strut is one complete unit, with no replaceable parts.
If you are there when he removes the compressor, both of you need to really look at the mounts as you take them apart, so you can put them back together properly.
There is no separate damper - the strut is one complete unit, with no replaceable parts.
If you are there when he removes the compressor, both of you need to really look at the mounts as you take them apart, so you can put them back together properly.
see here
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220-s-class/2411265-air-pump-rebuild-new-desiccant.html








, it will cost totally 500$








But if there is no leak so does this message will affect If I kept it.
thanks u all for supporting




After testing the car for 2 weeks, air compressor engaged after overnight parking for 15 sec, and it will not engaged again till I press raise buttom, message come up on screen for 10 seconds only.
No low level again, front struts height were above wheel about 5 to 10(I can insert my hand totally) cm and rear level about 3 to 4 cm(insert 2 to 4 fingers).
I notice one thing that, left front strut is higher than right one by 1 finger, and left rear strut is higher than the left one by 1finger and 1/4 all the time even if I raise the car or not.
Note: right front strut still give warning message at dashboard as I told before and the mechanic will replace it next Saturday under warranty.
May it need calibration or any level sensor failure or related to damping issue in right front strut?
My step father just went thru this with his S550, shock went bad and rather than paying $600 for a shock he got entire suspension for $1000 and ditched the entire Airmatic system or the possibility of any future problems. Sure it's not the same, but I think it's a wise financial move.
I will do the same.




FL 38.9CM
FR 37.7CM
RL 37.8CM
RR 34CM
tomorrow morning I will measure again to check if any loss there.
but I am confused why thiscdifferrence between left and right, please advice.




I measure the height today(after 11 hour parking) as below
FL 37.8cm
FR 37.5cm
RL 36.5cm
RR 33.7cm
left side leak 11mm to 13mm and right side 2mm to 3mm per 10 hours while mercedes benchmark <2mm/hour and in extreme cold 3mm/hour so everything was under recommendation with car 258k km.
any reply please why I still have difference between left side with the right side????
please how can I fix the leveling between right and left?
Last edited by redaotrosh; Nov 13, 2017 at 01:49 AM.









