Unsettled ride quality
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Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 26
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W220 S320 CDI
Unsettled ride quality
I've owned my W220 for a few weeks now, and I'm just not quite happy with the way it rides. There's an unsettled quality to the front, whereby the suspension seems to transmit nearly every little bump into the floor, steering wheel and pedal area. It's as though there's a little secondary shudder when going over small imperfections and ruts, which is really quite annoying. The rear doesn't seem to have this problem, and the whole thing feels excellent when going over large bumps or going slowly across seriously uneven ground. Does anyone have any recommendations? There's nothing wrong with the way Airmatic is operating from what I can see - it sits at the right height, raises and lowers properly, and cycles through the settings fine. Two separate garages have looked at the car recently and not noticed any play in suspension parts.
I should note also that it's only on 17"s.
I should note also that it's only on 17"s.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2017
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W211 E550
The previous owner complained of the same thing on my car. The dealer response was to bleed the ABC system, do a rodeo on it and it seemed to resolve the problem.
I make sure to exercise the system every time I drive it. I raise it and lower it a couple of times to keep things moving.
Chris
I make sure to exercise the system every time I drive it. I raise it and lower it a couple of times to keep things moving.
Chris
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Welwyn, Herts, UK
2006 S600
Jack the car up, each corner in turn, and see if you can moves the wheels up or down.
Use big forces, and look out for very small movements.
It's a test for the bushes and ball joins.
nick
Use big forces, and look out for very small movements.
It's a test for the bushes and ball joins.
nick
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 554
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From: New York
2024 GLE 350
The previous owner complained of the same thing on my car. The dealer response was to bleed the ABC system, do a rodeo on it and it seemed to resolve the problem.
I make sure to exercise the system every time I drive it. I raise it and lower it a couple of times to keep things moving.
Chris
I make sure to exercise the system every time I drive it. I raise it and lower it a couple of times to keep things moving.
Chris
Thread Starter
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W220 S320 CDI
Thanks for the input all. I've checked and it doesn't look like there's any particular issue with the engine mounts. I've not had chance to have a play with bushes yet, but as I said, two garages have been in with a pry bar and not found anything other than perhaps some play in the tie rods which doesn't really tally up with the problem. From what I've seen however, the suspension on this car looks to be very DIY friendly, and given the reasonable price of parts I might just replace some of the most obvious items.
I have tested various Airmatic settings, and interestingly the problem is somewhat reduced when it's in either of the Sport settings, and slightly reduced when the ride height is increased too. I can only assume that the slightly stiffer settings reduce whatever is causing the bouncing/skipping/lumpy feeling. This again leads me to believe that Airmatic itself is not at fault. My next question then, is, can the struts simply wear out and lose some of their damping composure unconnected to the performance of Airmatic? I assume that there's a plain old oil-filled damping unit in the strut as well as the air bag? There's a definite difference to front and rear, with the rear gliding over small bumps that would upset the front a little.
Thanks again!
I have tested various Airmatic settings, and interestingly the problem is somewhat reduced when it's in either of the Sport settings, and slightly reduced when the ride height is increased too. I can only assume that the slightly stiffer settings reduce whatever is causing the bouncing/skipping/lumpy feeling. This again leads me to believe that Airmatic itself is not at fault. My next question then, is, can the struts simply wear out and lose some of their damping composure unconnected to the performance of Airmatic? I assume that there's a plain old oil-filled damping unit in the strut as well as the air bag? There's a definite difference to front and rear, with the rear gliding over small bumps that would upset the front a little.
Thanks again!
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2011 S550 / 2001 S430 - RIP
Thanks for the input all. I've checked and it doesn't look like there's any particular issue with the engine mounts. I've not had chance to have a play with bushes yet, but as I said, two garages have been in with a pry bar and not found anything other than perhaps some play in the tie rods which doesn't really tally up with the problem. From what I've seen however, the suspension on this car looks to be very DIY friendly, and given the reasonable price of parts I might just replace some of the most obvious items.
I have tested various Airmatic settings, and interestingly the problem is somewhat reduced when it's in either of the Sport settings, and slightly reduced when the ride height is increased too. I can only assume that the slightly stiffer settings reduce whatever is causing the bouncing/skipping/lumpy feeling. This again leads me to believe that Airmatic itself is not at fault. My next question then, is, can the struts simply wear out and lose some of their damping composure unconnected to the performance of Airmatic? I assume that there's a plain old oil-filled damping unit in the strut as well as the air bag? There's a definite difference to front and rear, with the rear gliding over small bumps that would upset the front a little.
Thanks again!
I have tested various Airmatic settings, and interestingly the problem is somewhat reduced when it's in either of the Sport settings, and slightly reduced when the ride height is increased too. I can only assume that the slightly stiffer settings reduce whatever is causing the bouncing/skipping/lumpy feeling. This again leads me to believe that Airmatic itself is not at fault. My next question then, is, can the struts simply wear out and lose some of their damping composure unconnected to the performance of Airmatic? I assume that there's a plain old oil-filled damping unit in the strut as well as the air bag? There's a definite difference to front and rear, with the rear gliding over small bumps that would upset the front a little.
Thanks again!
Make sure the car is not in sport mode.
Push down on the right front fender to see if it's stiff or it bounces. Do this to all 4 corners.
If any corner is stiff then it may have to do with the strut or struts being stuck in some sort of damping mode. (This is what is happening to mine as we speak. This started when I bought the cheap version of the strut twice - Replacing it with Arnotts now. 3rd time's a charm)
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Thread Starter
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W220 S320 CDI
I've just given johnksss' recommendation a go, and have discovered that the front two struts appear to have completely different damping abilities. One is much softer than the other, but I'm not sure which one is the problematic one. The stiffer strut feels more like the rears, so I'm not sure that it's stuck in a stiff setting. I'm wondering if the softer one is shot and is skipping or bouncing over small bumps which is what causes the small shudder.
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2011 S550 / 2001 S430 - RIP
That is interesting. I just went out and pushed on mine. And i have bounce in 3 corners that are still original struts, while the new strut corner is super stiff.
It also takes air and will rise, but it will not drop past it's lowest set point. Which is about 2 fingers. (The finger measurement system - lol) I can lower the other 3 corners to the ground using star or my handheld bluetooth scanner.
This time open the hood if you didn't do so already. And push down on the front left and right fenders again. This time your listening for creaking or a faint banging noise. If it's banging then the strut is going bad. And creaking usually means a stiff strut.
It also takes air and will rise, but it will not drop past it's lowest set point. Which is about 2 fingers. (The finger measurement system - lol) I can lower the other 3 corners to the ground using star or my handheld bluetooth scanner.
This time open the hood if you didn't do so already. And push down on the front left and right fenders again. This time your listening for creaking or a faint banging noise. If it's banging then the strut is going bad. And creaking usually means a stiff strut.
Thread Starter
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W220 S320 CDI
Just an update on this. Tried out a couple of low mileage used struts from different cars in different positions at the front, and have replaced both front upper wishbones. The bounce test is now the same for both struts, and there's been a slight improvement, but unfortunately the ride is still absolutely terrible, particularly on one side. It's just not how the car should ride. I'm at the point where I don't really know what else to do. Don't really want to spend big money on new struts without knowing they'll solve the issue.
I have seen a few people discuss replacing the valve block for this issue, but I don't see how that would help really?
I have seen a few people discuss replacing the valve block for this issue, but I don't see how that would help really?
Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 80
Likes: 16
2011 S550 / 2001 S430 - RIP
Just an update on this. Tried out a couple of low mileage used struts from different cars in different positions at the front, and have replaced both front upper wishbones. The bounce test is now the same for both struts, and there's been a slight improvement, but unfortunately the ride is still absolutely terrible, particularly on one side. It's just not how the car should ride. I'm at the point where I don't really know what else to do. Don't really want to spend big money on new struts without knowing they'll solve the issue.
I have seen a few people discuss replacing the valve block for this issue, but I don't see how that would help really?
I have seen a few people discuss replacing the valve block for this issue, but I don't see how that would help really?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 26
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W220 S320 CDI
Thanks John. I'll look at having the ride height adjusted via SDS once I'm out of other ideas, but not sure how much different it will make, as height looks totally correct on all corners. It's one of those things that just doesn't feel like an adjustment is the issue. Something is seriously amiss. What's annoying is that searching through this and other forums reveals other people with similar problems, but there never appears to be a resolution. I'm in Switzerland at the moment, and all the car seems to do is thump and shudder its way down the road!
Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 80
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2011 S550 / 2001 S430 - RIP
Thanks John. I'll look at having the ride height adjusted via SDS once I'm out of other ideas, but not sure how much different it will make, as height looks totally correct on all corners. It's one of those things that just doesn't feel like an adjustment is the issue. Something is seriously amiss. What's annoying is that searching through this and other forums reveals other people with similar problems, but there never appears to be a resolution. I'm in Switzerland at the moment, and all the car seems to do is thump and shudder its way down the road!
This may or may not be what you have to do, but it was the only way I was able to get mine back to right. And no more level error when on the freeway doing 80+
