Airmatic question
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
careful jumping right at these valves. They deenergize if anything else in the system is wrong. so a read out of any stored or current codes who’s the first step.
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
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E220cdi avantgarde
2008 S550 with 135K miles and it's not smooth over bumps. I feel a lot of the imperfections from the road and know that the ride should be better. The ride height is fine; back in the Fall I had to replace the level position rod in the rear of the car and had someone with the Xentry get the level right, and the car height looks fine. The shocks don't deflate after a couple days, the height stays fine. What else could cause this rough ride?
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From: Tewksbury, MA
2008 S550
Do you have a picture or diagram of the connections you mention?
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From: New York
2010 CL550
as circled, I think this is what he’s referring to. That 90 degree clip/plug is sandwiched with the wheel speed sensor and if dirty or not seated correctly it does indeed put the suspension in some kind of default mode that feels way too stiff
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...port-mode.html
Last edited by COUPCONNOISSEUR; Apr 3, 2026 at 07:03 AM.
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
That is the connector for the advanced damping system that communicates with each struts solenoid valve to regulate the hardness of damping.
There are two solenoid valves, and they can either be open or closed. If this connector is dirty or has failed in anyway, the system revert to a deenergized closed mode, giving you a full hard mode.
Comfort mode is both valves open, giving you soft rebound and soft damping
Sport mode is one valve closed and one valve opened, giving you hard damping, and soft rebound
soft damping and hard rebound as a result of the respective valves being open and closed is actually undefined in WIS
Hard damping and hard rebound is as previously mentioned the fail safe mode.
it’s important to note that any sensor or valve failure, or dirty connector in the airmatic with EDS will give you the fail safe mode.
There are two solenoid valves, and they can either be open or closed. If this connector is dirty or has failed in anyway, the system revert to a deenergized closed mode, giving you a full hard mode.
Comfort mode is both valves open, giving you soft rebound and soft damping
Sport mode is one valve closed and one valve opened, giving you hard damping, and soft rebound
soft damping and hard rebound as a result of the respective valves being open and closed is actually undefined in WIS
Hard damping and hard rebound is as previously mentioned the fail safe mode.
it’s important to note that any sensor or valve failure, or dirty connector in the airmatic with EDS will give you the fail safe mode.
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E220cdi avantgarde
The electrical connectors are in the engine bay, very close to the top of each suspension mounts.
I am trying to upload photo's, but I can not seem to be able to do it
I am trying to upload photo's, but I can not seem to be able to do it
Last edited by giuseppesalvato; Apr 3, 2026 at 02:59 PM.
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From: New York
2010 CL550
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S500
the end you can't do anything with (vehicle loom) is on the inside front wings (behind / obscured by the ABS module on one side)
the actual connectors sit up by the suspension level sensors - pop the link rod off one end to get room - then a metal spring clip pops upwards and off (its hidden by a bit of plastic you could break off and likely will trying to understand how to release the metal clip)
its just a sprung wire thing - but totally obscured by the plastic bit then the plugs slide outwards (backwards to rear of the car) - lube the blocks with wd40 or silicon and wiggle then it will just pop out (once the clip is off)
the actual connectors sit up by the suspension level sensors - pop the link rod off one end to get room - then a metal spring clip pops upwards and off (its hidden by a bit of plastic you could break off and likely will trying to understand how to release the metal clip)
its just a sprung wire thing - but totally obscured by the plastic bit then the plugs slide outwards (backwards to rear of the car) - lube the blocks with wd40 or silicon and wiggle then it will just pop out (once the clip is off)
Last edited by BOTUS; Apr 3, 2026 at 03:11 PM.
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E220cdi avantgarde
I know the electrical connectors are in the wheel bay, but I am talking about the connectors in the engine bay close to the top of the suspension mounts, spray those with contact cleaner should allow you to use comfort mode.
Last edited by giuseppesalvato; Apr 3, 2026 at 03:19 PM.
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Those are not the only connectors/valves/sensors that can fail. check them all with a MBStar das readout.
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W221 S500
That is the connector for the advanced damping system that communicates with each struts solenoid valve to regulate the hardness of damping.
There are two solenoid valves, and they can either be open or closed. If this connector is dirty or has failed in anyway, the system revert to a deenergized closed mode, giving you a full hard mode.
Comfort mode is both valves open, giving you soft rebound and soft damping
Sport mode is one valve closed and one valve opened, giving you hard damping, and soft rebound
soft damping and hard rebound as a result of the respective valves being open and closed is actually undefined in WIS
Hard damping and hard rebound is as previously mentioned the fail safe mode.
it’s important to note that any sensor or valve failure, or dirty connector in the airmatic with EDS will give you the fail safe mode.
There are two solenoid valves, and they can either be open or closed. If this connector is dirty or has failed in anyway, the system revert to a deenergized closed mode, giving you a full hard mode.
Comfort mode is both valves open, giving you soft rebound and soft damping
Sport mode is one valve closed and one valve opened, giving you hard damping, and soft rebound
soft damping and hard rebound as a result of the respective valves being open and closed is actually undefined in WIS
Hard damping and hard rebound is as previously mentioned the fail safe mode.
it’s important to note that any sensor or valve failure, or dirty connector in the airmatic with EDS will give you the fail safe mode.
Last edited by doni01; Apr 3, 2026 at 04:27 PM.
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I've had the same concern with my 2022 S580 Airmatic, the system can get a little wonky in the snow. Try clearing the memory by turning the car off then on again, that seems to reset the system and it should function normally.
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Hmm interesting...when I suggested the fail safe mode aka the hard mode, you told me that the " Hard Mode " is only on abc cars and airmatic doesn't have a fail safe mode and on how google was wrong lol Now I see that you did some reading and have a more educated opinion on how the airmatic works.So the above post is exactly how the whole system works.
Last edited by Max Blast; Apr 3, 2026 at 11:05 PM.
