Sport mode height reduction?
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 45
Likes: 5
From: UK
Mercedes Benz S500L and S500 Night Edition
Sport mode height reduction?
Morning chaps,
Simple question. By how much if any does the cars suspension drop when you press the sport button on your dash? Car has airmatic not ABC. thx
Simple question. By how much if any does the cars suspension drop when you press the sport button on your dash? Car has airmatic not ABC. thx
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no need if you have star/das. normally it will not allow you to calibrate height that is too low, but there are ways to trick it so you can save the lower settings as valid...
if you dont have star/das, you can certainly do lowering links
however, in both cases lowering will change your toe-in and camber and car needs to be aligned at the new height.
also, you dont want to abuse it (ie too low) as you will get outside of the shocks working zone and it will lead to premature shock failure- especially for airmatic shocks. abc shocks are a different story- they dont seem to suffer if they are compressed a bit too much... at least i have not seen abc shocks fail due to lowering... but i have seen airmatic ones clunk if too low and eventually leak.
my personal w221 runs stock height.
if you dont have star/das, you can certainly do lowering links
however, in both cases lowering will change your toe-in and camber and car needs to be aligned at the new height.
also, you dont want to abuse it (ie too low) as you will get outside of the shocks working zone and it will lead to premature shock failure- especially for airmatic shocks. abc shocks are a different story- they dont seem to suffer if they are compressed a bit too much... at least i have not seen abc shocks fail due to lowering... but i have seen airmatic ones clunk if too low and eventually leak.
my personal w221 runs stock height.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 45
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From: UK
Mercedes Benz S500L and S500 Night Edition
I will be installing airmatics evolution lowering links reducing the ride height by a modest 20 to 30mm in the next week or so and let you know how I get on. Just a note to say my wheels are stock 18" 9.5 rears and 8.5's front. It just doesn't look right with the gap at the arches though. I'm not a 20" wheel fan as the small discs in my opinion just doesn't look right.
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From: Newcastle, WA
2019 S63 4Matic+, 2018 E400 Cabrio, wardens car.
I went from 18" to 19" with spacers in the rear and it made a huge difference. I would do that before messing with the geometry of the suspension by tricking it with links.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Chicago burbs
2015 S550
I will be installing airmatics evolution lowering links reducing the ride height by a modest 20 to 30mm in the next week or so and let you know how I get on. Just a note to say my wheels are stock 18" 9.5 rears and 8.5's front. It just doesn't look right with the gap at the arches though. I'm not a 20" wheel fan as the small discs in my opinion just doesn't look right.
20" wheels will actually improve the handing of your car and make it less wallowy, while maintaining a very smooth ride. They seem to give the perfect balance between a smooth ride, handing, and good looks. The only reason to go with a smaller wheel with a taller tire profile would be if you drive on some brutal roads with lots of potholes.
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 659
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From: New Jersey
2013 S550 4matic (AMG sport package), 2016 Corvette Stingray.
The car is definitely lowered when in sport suspension and sits a bit higher when not in sport as you can see in the wheel gap. You can tell better when the car is parked on uneven surface but in any event do what I did and change the suspension then measure the wheel gap. I actually parked in front of my house stood across the street and did a comparison and noticed a difference that way as well. Hope this helps, thanks.
Last edited by wilassasin; Oct 16, 2016 at 03:29 PM.
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From: Newyork
s550 Diamond white amg pano
no need if you have star/das. normally it will not allow you to calibrate height that is too low, but there are ways to trick it so you can save the lower settings as valid...
if you dont have star/das, you can certainly do lowering links
however, in both cases lowering will change your toe-in and camber and car needs to be aligned at the new height.
also, you dont want to abuse it (ie too low) as you will get outside of the shocks working zone and it will lead to premature shock failure- especially for airmatic shocks. abc shocks are a different story- they dont seem to suffer if they are compressed a bit too much... at least i have not seen abc shocks fail due to lowering... but i have seen airmatic ones clunk if too low and eventually leak.
my personal w221 runs stock height.
if you dont have star/das, you can certainly do lowering links
however, in both cases lowering will change your toe-in and camber and car needs to be aligned at the new height.
also, you dont want to abuse it (ie too low) as you will get outside of the shocks working zone and it will lead to premature shock failure- especially for airmatic shocks. abc shocks are a different story- they dont seem to suffer if they are compressed a bit too much... at least i have not seen abc shocks fail due to lowering... but i have seen airmatic ones clunk if too low and eventually leak.
my personal w221 runs stock height.
