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With the front Airmatic struts replaced, everything was fine for 3 days and over 200 miles until…
On a short trip yesterday I noticed the red “Airmatic Sport” light was on, and the car was riding very firmly. Pushing the button to switch from Sport and return to “Comfort Mode” had no effect and the “Comfort Mode” notice did not display. Airmatic appears to be locked in Sport Mode. The Airmatic Raise button functions normally with the car lifting and slowly lowering to normal height and the red light turning off when the button is re-pressed.
Today the issue remains, restarting the car and disconnecting and reconnecting the battery did nothing to coax the car back into Comfort Mode.
So, logically, my replaced struts must have something to do with this issue. Why did the problem wait three days to manifest itself?
I wonder if my new Suncore Struts are not adjustable? Are they not the same spec/capability as my just replaced OEM ThyssenKrupp struts? If that’s the case, I’m OK with it if I can get my car locked into “Comfort Mode”. Sport Mode is way too stiff, lumpy and uncomfortable.
I’ll contact Suncore and see what they can tell me.
The good news is the car is drivable, and if I have to take it in for service it won’t have to be on a flatbed.
I don't think it has anything to do with the strut. Unless the solenoid is stuck in one/both of them, preventing the system from making active adjustments and defaulting to Sport. But I could be wrong. I'd unplug both, start the car, see what happens, turn off car, plug in the struts, start car and assess.
Haha, that's a good question! Like Arnott, only their brand new struts are without ADS, you can only get ADS with their remans. Can't say I ever saw a 221 without it though... At least here in the states.
That condition usually means there is a fault in the ADS system and for safety it locked you into the stiffest setting. Scan for codes and report back. Could be a problem with the ADS valving (open circuit, a resistance it doesn't like), or a problem with the ride sensing stuff (ride height, accelerometers).
I spoke with another Customer Service Rep from Suncore today, Friday afternoon no less.
He suggested I unhook the battery for 15 minutes and said if when I reconnected the mode had defaulted back to Comfort, I may have a faulty Airmatic suspension control unit. Tried it, still stuck on Sport. He also said to double check and clean the electrical connections. I’m sure they’re fine. He said if all attempts fail, they will replace the strut.
This excellent YOUCANIC video describes my situation and the required fix exactly.
It looks like one of my solenoids has failed. Now I wonder if my Diablo code reader will work on the 550. Would be nice to confirm it is the solenoid and which side. Given all my recent S Class front end experience, I’m sure I can knock it out in a morning.
if you changed all 4 struts the air pump will have to work to fill and pump the car back up - if you then "play" to check things, the tired old pump might give up
check the pump is still working - 40 amp orange fuse in the front SAM box - and it needs a new relay too
mine (as eluded too, above) always defaults to Sport when the battery is disconnected - its really annoying
You can't use a generic OBD-II reader. You need to scan whatever the suspension module is. It will tell you exactly which strut/position it thinks is the issue.
I made these to ramp up on so that my floor jack will slip right underneath the nose and far enough aft to reach the center front jack point. 2x6's and 1/2" high density rubber mat, like a gym mat, very heavy. I painted them with house paint even, to make them cleanable and fancy. Work perfectly.
It is the shocks. Sometimes you get what you pay for. I would get a set of Reman from the dealer or original Bilsteins but they are not going to be $300
It is the shocks. Sometimes you get what you pay for. I would get a set of Reman from the dealer or original Bilsteins but they are not going to be $300
I think your right. I've got my eye on a pair of Bilsteins at Rock Auto for roughly $1400.00 (a couple bucks cheaper than Arnott)
My plan is to call Suncore Monday, reference the "Youcanic" video calling out a faulty solenoid, and insist on a prompt replacement. BTW, their Rep told me Suncore Struts should be able to switch from Airmatic Comfort to Sport just like the OEM's.
Considering Suncore shows no inventory on S550 Base Front Struts I may be asking for a full refund.
We're still using the car as normal, riding around in sport mode being jostled and jolted. I like to think this is a good sign the air compressor is still fit for service as its have no problem making the struts feel as tight a a bow string.
I hooked up my Diablo inTune i3 scanner and can confirm it can't read Mercedes suspension codes.
I think your right. I've got my eye on a pair of Bilsteins at Rock Auto for roughly $1400.00 (a couple bucks cheaper than Arnott)
My plan is to call Suncore Monday, reference the "Youcanic" video calling out a faulty solenoid, and insist on a prompt replacement. BTW, their Rep told me Suncore Struts should be able to switch from Airmatic Comfort to Sport just like the OEM's.
Considering Suncore shows no inventory on S550 Base Front Struts I may be asking for a full refund.
We're still using the car as normal, riding around in sport mode being jostled and jolted. I like to think this is a good sign the air compressor is still fit for service as its have no problem making the struts feel as tight a a bow string.
I hooked up my Diablo inTune i3 scanner and can confirm it can't read Mercedes suspension codes.
Car has gone into a safe mode. Safe mode equals stiff suspension. if you plan on keeping the car, get the money back and buy the Bilsteins. You won't have to look back for another 100K miles after that.
Pretty sure my struts are all original with 102k and they seem to function perfectly. Meanwhile my E63 front struts feel a bit tired (and are starting to leak - the rears were leaking the day I bought the car). Turns out Bilstein builds a better shock then Monroe. What a revelation.
Everything in the pic looks fine. So you replaced the sensors themselves as well, or just disconnected the rod to replace the upper control arm?
I just replaced the upper control arm at first. Then after getting an error related to the level sensor, I replaced that as well. Still stuck w/ the same level sensor code, so something else is going on. Just today I was inspecting everything again looking for an error, and perhaps I found one. I noticed the small parallel pin at the bottom of the strut next to the ball joint was apparently broken off while taking out the strut. I'm not sure what (if anything) the pin does, but that's the only thing I see wrong. Anyone know if this is related to the sensors in the strut? I happen to have an appointment at MB in two weeks, but am open to replacing some parts before handing it over to them. As we all know, the cost is so crazy high once they start diagnosing and replacing that I could use a shotgun approach in my garage and it still may cost less than them pinpointing the problem.
This was interesting and confirmed I do have a faulty solenoid in my newly replaced right front strut. Turns out a friend of a friend, named Eric is a former Mercedes mechanic with the proper scanner. (Nice guy and a good guy to know) Happily it confirmed the same 5150 fault code the Youcanic video predicted. He attempted to clear the strut solenoid fault but it returned immediately (Eric cleared the non critical other stored codes likely caused by a low voltage situation)
I called Suncore, again with no wait and got right through to customer service. After a brief conversation, a replacement is on its way. Suncore's service has been excellent, and the struts have a limited lifetime warranty.
If the replacement's a dud or they fail within a few months, I'll bite the bullet and immediately order a pair of Bilstein's which, BTW also appear to be made by ThyssenKrupp, same as the OEM's.
Not happy about having to doing another strut R&R, but relieved the solution appears at hand.
Is the code 90d0 - the illumination on the cigarette lighter - if so its normal, but an easy fix (well getting to it is) getting the bulb holder to bother to do its job is "interesting"
Nice work, John. That's great you found a capable friend to help keep the 221 on the road yourself. I'm glad you went the cheap, Suncore route. I think if you get a couple good units they'll be just fine and you'll have proven what everyone else was too afraid to do and roll the dice with cheap struts on a Mercedes. I really almost did the same thing, as my 221 just sits in the garage and I commute with my Nissan, so I don't really have a problem experimenting with mine, I just thought I was doing a little better by getting Arnott units thinking they were reputable. So in the end, we both basically have had the same experience with two lesser expensive options, and it didn't seem to matter one option was almost four times the other.
I pulled my Left front just now. Took about an hour from car on the ground, to up in the air, wheel off and strut out. It's packed up in it's Fedex box and will get dropped off tomorrow morning. I'll give Arnott one more chance since it's under warranty. If the replacement still clicks or there are any issues with either before warranty runs out, I'll send both back for a refund and install the Bilstein's. I already paid for these, and I don't have a problem leaving the Bilstein's on the shelf if/until the day comes when the Arnotts give up.
I just replaced the upper control arm at first. Then after getting an error related to the level sensor, I replaced that as well. Still stuck w/ the same level sensor code, so something else is going on. Just today I was inspecting everything again looking for an error, and perhaps I found one. I noticed the small parallel pin at the bottom of the strut next to the ball joint was apparently broken off while taking out the strut. I'm not sure what (if anything) the pin does, but that's the only thing I see wrong. Anyone know if this is related to the sensors in the strut? I happen to have an appointment at MB in two weeks, but am open to replacing some parts before handing it over to them. As we all know, the cost is so crazy high once they start diagnosing and replacing that I could use a shotgun approach in my garage and it still may cost less than them pinpointing the problem.
Sounds like your level sensor is toast. There are no sensors in the strut, only a solenoid.
I pulled my Left front just now. If the replacement still clicks or there are any issues with either before warranty runs out, I'll send both back for a refund and install the Bilstein's. I already paid for these, and I don't have a problem leaving the Bilstein's on the shelf if/until the day comes when the Arnotts give up.
I put febi bilstein lower steel arms on mine and they had slop with strut inside 3k miles - I got a second hand arm, pulled the OEM gator off fitted on the right outer joint (replacing the damaged one a main dealer had stabbed with a screwdriver to get a nice earner) and re fitted my original 55k mile arms - 20k on they are quiet and operate correctly
febi is crap - it might have been good in the 1970s, not now
I suspect the issue with your noise is that appalling lower connection of nothingness Mercedes have - if all parts are the same manu maybe the cone idea fits (and almost operates quietly) - it seems machining is so random today if you don't match to each manus wrong design it doesn't really work out
UPS tracking says my replacement Sencore strut should arrive tomorrow. My plan is to get after it first thing Thursday morning.
With some good fortune I'll be test driving my wife's S550 in Airmatic Comfort Mode by noon.
From Bilstein, this PDF (second half in English) shows their S Class strut fitting instructions. They are very specific about making sure the shocks are pressurized before lowering all the way, plus they give a torque spec for the strut lower set screws of 20 Nm.
And Senecat, I like your jack stands. Do they fit into the jack point depressions in the same manner PLANGER jack pads made for Mercedes vehicles fit?
05-28-2024, 11:00 AM
