S-Class (W221) 2007-2013: S 320 CDI, S 350, S 450, S 500, S 550, S 420 CDI, S 600

S500 LWB - Crosswind sensitive?

Old Feb 14, 2024 | 05:18 AM
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Class S 500 M278
S500 LWB - Crosswind sensitive?

Hi, am I the only one who has experience that such an S500 LWB, is a bit of a crosswind sensitive? I'm fully aware that the car have a large surface area where the wind can catch up, but..... What's you're experience's?

S500 LWB 4 Matic - 2011.
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Old Feb 14, 2024 | 05:32 AM
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not noticed it in mine - but in general its much less stable than it should be (the wind has nothing to do with it)

if you are not running 'normal' versions of premium branded tyres using the std tyre sizes, std load rating and std tyre pressures - of course it will be less stable, less safe, and worse to drive (premium aka continental, goodyear, michelin

of course (above points equally applying) if you are not on standard ride heights with the suspension geometry at manu specs - that again will add to more and more degradation in how the car performs under all aspects of driving

ABC cars get a further option of crosswind compensation - where it plays with suspension settings to compensate - whether the airtragic ones get this seems less clear (as they have the ability to do individual corner ride height - but I have only seen the wording "crosswind compensation" on ABC car I nearly bough (same age as mine and the chassis code tools don't mention it it was the main dealer sales sheet that listed the option
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Old Feb 14, 2024 | 10:37 AM
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Class S 500 M278
Originally Posted by BOTUS
not noticed it in mine - but in general its much less stable than it should be (the wind has nothing to do with it)

if you are not running 'normal' versions of premium branded tyres using the std tyre sizes, std load rating and std tyre pressures - of course it will be less stable, less safe, and worse to drive (premium aka continental, goodyear, michelin

of course (above points equally applying) if you are not on standard ride heights with the suspension geometry at manu specs - that again will add to more and more degradation in how the car performs under all aspects of driving

ABC cars get a further option of crosswind compensation - where it plays with suspension settings to compensate - whether the airtragic ones get this seems less clear (as they have the ability to do individual corner ride height - but I have only seen the wording "crosswind compensation" on ABC car I nearly bough (same age as mine and the chassis code tools don't mention it it was the main dealer sales sheet that listed the option
Hi - thanks for your reply, I also found an older post from you regarding the same topic. I'm driving on the stock 20" AMG wheels and Michelin all year tyres, and normally on the highway in "sport mode". I will ask Benzninja to take a look at steering angle correction, as you mentioned in the other post.
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Old Feb 14, 2024 | 12:05 PM
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is yours super high mileage ? I remember when mine had done 45k miles a well regarded indy in London told me my rear diff bushes are worn out.... two weeks back when getting trans fluid changed - 9 years on from "worn out" another garage looked at mine as I mentioned I think its wandery at the back - and they didn't find anything ... after a test run all he said mine is a lot softer than his v12 with ABC
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Old Feb 14, 2024 | 03:11 PM
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Class S 500 M278
Originally Posted by BOTUS
is yours super high mileage ? I remember when mine had done 45k miles a well regarded indy in London told me my rear diff bushes are worn out.... two weeks back when getting trans fluid changed - 9 years on from "worn out" another garage looked at mine as I mentioned I think its wandery at the back - and they didn't find anything ... after a test run all he said mine is a lot softer than his v12 with ABC
Yes indeed + 400.000 km - but fully serviced by Mercedes from new. Maybe I should take a look at the rear diff bushes ? Good evening.
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Old Feb 14, 2024 | 11:38 PM
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222 S-65
That many miles says there should have been a bunch of suspension arms that have been replaced along the way.

Anything that is worn will make the car less stable. Especially in a strong cross wind.

I never noticed that my 221 S65 cared about cross winds to speak of. It was much easier to manage then a 240 series Volvo that was tight... for one of those.
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Old Feb 15, 2024 | 01:34 AM
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Class S 500 M278
Originally Posted by JohnLane
That many miles says there should have been a bunch of suspension arms that have been replaced along the way.

Anything that is worn will make the car less stable. Especially in a strong cross wind.

I never noticed that my 221 S65 cared about cross winds to speak of. It was much easier to manage then a 240 series Volvo that was tight... for one of those.
It's nothing to do with how many kilometers the car has driven, it's something to do with how the car has been maintained This car has been better maintained than most look after their children. I know the car from new, I've had it since it was new, until 390,000 kilometers, it was my company car, driven primarily by my secretary/driver, I took over the car privately afterwards. The car has a full service history from Mercedes, and is in a condition that is well above standard. A car with so many kilometers would never drive so many kilometers without being well looked after, driven properly. Your S65 probably have ABC with crosswind mode, that's most likely why you didn't have discovered crosswind sensitiveness.
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