Lowering module question
#1
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S6 LP640 E500
Lowering module question
Wanting to know what brand of lowering module will lower the w221 the lowest.
1. Carlsson = 30mm
2. Renntech = ? 50mm (thanks s600ed)
3 kleeman = ?
4. Lorinser = ?
5. Brabus = ?
1. Carlsson = 30mm
2. Renntech = ? 50mm (thanks s600ed)
3 kleeman = ?
4. Lorinser = ?
5. Brabus = ?
Last edited by jagata; 12-14-2008 at 12:51 AM.
#5
Does lowering the W221 affects the airmatic suspension? Also, does it affect your warranty through Mercedes? I've been interested in lowering my car but was concern with voiding my warranty or affecting the airmatic suspension.
Last edited by emagni; 01-29-2009 at 12:07 AM.
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2007 s600 2007 cls63
Does lowering the W221 affects the airmatic suspension? Also, does it affect your warranty through Mercedes? I've been interested in lowering my car but was concern with voiding my warranty or affecting the airmatic suspension.
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08 S550, 08 E63
I have the brabus lowering module, it s about 25mm but you can adjust it through the module, at least thats what they told me. I have a set of 21 in brabus rims and I always get the comment that the rims make it look lower.
Last edited by slau2332; 01-29-2009 at 12:39 PM.
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#8
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mostly a Lorinser C-Class
After installing the lowering links you have to adjust it at a Mercedes-Benz dealership with Star Diagnostic. If you install lowering kits it will affect the warranty for the suspension for sure. If you want to lower a car just a little bit try it at a Mercedes-Benz dealership. They have the possibility to lower the car with the Star Diagnortic. It won't be 30mm but maybe 10mm. I know some dealerships will do it.
#9
After installing the lowering links you have to adjust it at a Mercedes-Benz dealership with Star Diagnostic. If you install lowering kits it will affect the warranty for the suspension for sure. If you want to lower a car just a little bit try it at a Mercedes-Benz dealership. They have the possibility to lower the car with the Star Diagnortic. It won't be 30mm but maybe 10mm. I know some dealerships will do it.
Thanks for that info Chris! Do you know if dealerships charge for this and how much?
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2005 E55, 09 S63 & 04 SL55
I was riding low, I was riding on 22s and I would drive through the canyons here in Los Angeles and I would say it makes the ride more harsh but at the same time with those modifcations I was still very comfortable and every time I took passengers I never had any complaints.
Also depends if you have ABC or airmatic.
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2007 CLK63 Cab
Adjustable Air Ride Lowering Links are fully adjustable so you set the vehicle to whatever height you like. For the S and every other vehicle except the E & CLS there is no unbolting and the wheels don't have to come off. Simply pop off the stock Links and pop the fully adjustable 1's on. Really that easy!!!!
#18
I was riding low, I was riding on 22s and I would drive through the canyons here in Los Angeles and I would say it makes the ride more harsh but at the same time with those modifcations I was still very comfortable and every time I took passengers I never had any complaints.
Also depends if you have ABC or airmatic.
Also depends if you have ABC or airmatic.
#19
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07 RS4 sold, R53 Cooper S, 2008 Cayman S, 2012 GTR
The dealer used the Star tool to lower your vehicle, if you are in San Diego we can also do the star lowering for you.
For the gentleman who is having an error code with this RENNtech ELM, do you have the version 1 or 2? was it a plug and play model or did you have to spice the wires? Also what was the fault that you were receiving?
Hopefully I can help so that you no longer receive the faults.
We are also the RENNtech dealer in San Diego, and stock the RENNtech ELM's if anyone who is interested.
James
For the gentleman who is having an error code with this RENNtech ELM, do you have the version 1 or 2? was it a plug and play model or did you have to spice the wires? Also what was the fault that you were receiving?
Hopefully I can help so that you no longer receive the faults.
We are also the RENNtech dealer in San Diego, and stock the RENNtech ELM's if anyone who is interested.
James
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89 e30 325is, 03 CL55, 2011 Toyota Sienna SE
#23
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My recommendation is that you achieve the drop using links. Lowering via module, links or by STAR produces the same net result. All three methods rely on "tricking" the car into believing it's riding higher than it is. It responds by lowering itself. Each method has its own benefits and downsides. Links seem to be the most cost effective, give you full-range lowering, and can be installed by yourself in your driveway in under thirty minutes without tools.
(This is a cut and paste from a tutorial I'm working on to explain how lowering works)
AirMatic 101
The air suspension system uses inflatable chambers on top of the conventional struts, connected to an air pump system. A computerized controller monitors the car's ride height via sensors on the suspension and instructs the air pump to add more air volume to the struts, or to vent air and reduce the volume as necessary to maintain a designated ride height.
For example, if you add passengers, or fill up with gas, the car will drop a bit for a moment under the added load, and then the controller would sense the change and add air to compensate, restoring the original ride height. When your passengers depart, the system compensates again in reverse.
The key to lowering is to "trick" the controller into thinking the car is riding higher than it actually is, and respond by lowering the suspension. The controller gets its information about ride height from a small sensor located near the strut of each wheel well up front, and a single sensor located near the rear differential for the rears.
The sensors have a little mechanical lever with a small socket ball attached to it. For the front wheels, a few inches away, on the upper control arm of the suspension there's another small socket ball.
Connecting these two points is a small metal arm with a female ball socket at each end, called a "link". It looks like a tiny open ended wrench. The link is not a working, load bearing part of the suspension. Its only job is to continuously report the position of the upper control arm down to the sensor.
If the suspension moves up, the link moves up along with it, which in turn pulls the little lever on the sensor. The sensor converts the mechanical position of the lever to an electrical signal, the strength or voltage of which varies in proportion to the mechanical input. As a result, by interpreting the voltage readings being reported by the sensor the controller has constant real time information on the ride height.
Lowering On Links
Your car currently "rides" on links. The system's accuracy is entirely dependent on the fact that the factory link is a fixed length. A lowering link allows you to increase the length of the link. This in turn pushes the sensor lever down further than the OEM link would, which causes the controller to believe the car is riding too high and respond by venting air and lowering the car.
Lowering links allow for fairly precise control of the car's height. They snap on and off the ball sockets without tools and can be removed and reinstalled quickly just by jacking up the wheel and pulling them off.
If for some reason an issue develops with the car where you think the drop might present a warranty issue, (highly unlikely, BTW) pop the adjustable links off and the OEM links back on before you take the car in.
Trusted link fabricators:
www.adjustableairride.com (Beautifully machined pieces, BTW)
www.ghostmotorsports.com (Not as pretty, still get the job done)
Contrary to an earlier post in this thread, your car does not need a STAR diagnostic session after installation of links. Once you've settled on a drop level, regardless of method, the car will require a new 4 wheel alignment.
Lowering By Module
A lowering module replaces the controller and allows you to input whatever value you want for ride height. The controller then interprets the signals coming from the sensors differently and adjusts the ride height accordingly. They are expensive, and require some skill to install. Once installed, making changes is easy.
Lowering By STAR
This involves a tech connecting your car to a STAR diagnositic terminal, and telling the controller to interpret signals from the sensors differently. There is a limited range (about 1") of adjustment available with STAR. It's also a one-shot deal, requiring another STAR session to change or reverse.
Ride Degradation & Alignment Issues
Debate about the wisdom of lowering rages on. Certainly it's not how Mercedes engineers intended the suspension to behave, however the "harm" seems to be limited to a stiffer ride, and a tendency to shred front bumper lips or bottom out the entire car, and it's entirely reversible. (In fact, your car's "lift" function will still add a couple of inches of height if you do occasionally need more clearance. Just remember that if the car goes over 80 mph the lift will be cancelled.)
The car's signature silky, insulated ride relies entirely on having a sufficient cushion of air in the strut chambers. Lowered cars ride stiffer. Whether or not this is a tolerable side effect is entirely a personal choice. There is a "sweet spot" when lowering in which the car looks aggressive but still provides a reasonably compliant ride, and then a steep drop off in ride quality. ("Slamming" the car by completely evacuating the air chambers and relying entirely on the mechanical struts themselves puts an unintended load on the struts and may hasten strut failure, air chamber failure and then by extension AirMatic pump failure.)
When you modify the front ride height, you change the front suspension geometry and can push the alignment outside of factory specs. Generally on a moderate drop there is enough range in the adjustment points to bring the alignment into spec. Failing to have an alignment performed after a drop will result in uneven and premature tire wear. However, I recommend you live with the results of your drop for a few weeks until you're satisfied on the final amount of lowering, and then get the alignment once the drop is "locked in".
Last edited by Mike5215; 04-09-2014 at 02:26 PM.
#24
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Great write-up!
I also leave the air matic on "sport" all the time. It retains this setting even after turning off/on the car. If I remember, it makes the car a glaf an inch lower. I read this in the manual. I would hope everyone has their car on "sport" via the top dash switch by the navi.
I also leave the air matic on "sport" all the time. It retains this setting even after turning off/on the car. If I remember, it makes the car a glaf an inch lower. I read this in the manual. I would hope everyone has their car on "sport" via the top dash switch by the navi.