Airmatic question
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Member
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 148
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From: Tewksbury, MA
2008 S550
Airmatic question
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?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 148
Likes: 47
From: Tewksbury, MA
2008 S550
Brand new ContiPro's in November so it's not the tires. As for the shocks, what could be wrong as the ride height is totally fine and they don't sag after a few days? I'm pretty sure all the Airmatic shocks are original, but it would be pricy to just randomly replace all four corners.
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Brand new ContiPro's in November so it's not the tires. As for the shocks, what could be wrong as the ride height is totally fine and they don't sag after a few days? I'm pretty sure all the Airmatic shocks are original, but it would be pricy to just randomly replace all four corners.
The airbags act as springs. They are paired with a gas shock that has dual valving modes to either give you sport or comfort setting. This is ADS, for advanced damping system in long form. If this shock is worn out, your car is gonna be all over the place and the ride will feel weird and bouncy.
Your air springs seem to be fine and not leaking, but if they for some reason leak under use, it is possible you’re riding on the bump stops and that would make the ride feel extraordinarily rough. But I don’t think that’s what’s going on here.
Last edited by Max Blast; Mar 19, 2026 at 10:54 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2022
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From: Tewksbury, MA
2008 S550
You have me confused. If the airmatic isn't leaking, then what "gas shock" are you talking about? I thought these expensive Airmatic shocks at $1800 a piece were the shock and spring all in one.
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W221 S500
Brand new ContiPro's in November so it's not the tires. As for the shocks, what could be wrong as the ride height is totally fine and they don't sag after a few days? I'm pretty sure all the Airmatic shocks are original, but it would be pricy to just randomly replace all four corners.
1. The air bag, as said, this is the spring part.
2. Top mount. These separate the shock red from the body.
3. Shock absorber. This does the damping. And they can fail.
4. Possibly optional, the adaptive damping valves.
The adaptive damping valves can be dismantled and cleaned, not unheard of for the wiring to have issues in the valve body.
Otherwise it's a new strut.
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S500
I expect 18 year old suspension airbags are almost rock hard - add in dampers that are less then they once were won't help
I have been recently driving mine with a lot of pressure in the tyres and in sport and the ride is totally shocking
Comfort setting and 22 PSI in the tyres and it almost has some ride comfort - they biggest shock is getting in my fathers 2006 E class with 120k miles and steel springs - it has a beautiful blend of handling, compliance over potholes, great ride comfort, and fun that my S class has never ever had
I have been recently driving mine with a lot of pressure in the tyres and in sport and the ride is totally shocking
Comfort setting and 22 PSI in the tyres and it almost has some ride comfort - they biggest shock is getting in my fathers 2006 E class with 120k miles and steel springs - it has a beautiful blend of handling, compliance over potholes, great ride comfort, and fun that my S class has never ever had
Last edited by BOTUS; Mar 20, 2026 at 07:48 AM.
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From: Suburban Maryland
2023 E 450 Sedan. 2018 GLC 300. 2013 E 350 Coupe (retired)
Sorry. But it sounds expensive to get a good ride quality back. I imagine that there are alot of rubber bushings worn out too, and you might consider having that evaluated with any of the spare change you may have left in your pockets.
Last edited by smiles201; Mar 20, 2026 at 06:20 AM.
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1983 Nissan Shltbox
New/reman struts aren't expensive anymore. And they are easy to replace. These are old cars now, especially yours. $600 on eBay will get you all 4 corners replaced. There are a ton of other sources and the price goes up from there.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/18601087293...Bk9SR_CiprehZw
These are our struts exactly. Nevermind the audio (it is good for a laugh though).
https://www.ebay.com/itm/18601087293...Bk9SR_CiprehZw
These are our struts exactly. Nevermind the audio (it is good for a laugh though).
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W221 S500
I expect 18 year old suspension airbags are almost rock hard - add in dampers that are less then they once were won't help
I have been recently driving mine with a lot of pressure in the tyres and in sport and the ride is totally shocking
Comfort setting and 22 PSI in the tyres and it almost has some ride comfort - they biggest shock is getting in my fathers 2006 E class with 120k miles and steel springs - it has a beautiful blend of handling, compliance over potholes, great ride comfort, and fun that my S class has never ever had
I have been recently driving mine with a lot of pressure in the tyres and in sport and the ride is totally shocking
Comfort setting and 22 PSI in the tyres and it almost has some ride comfort - they biggest shock is getting in my fathers 2006 E class with 120k miles and steel springs - it has a beautiful blend of handling, compliance over potholes, great ride comfort, and fun that my S class has never ever had
That said so is running the incorrect tyre size for the wheel.🤐
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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S500
cracked wheels are worse - and that’s the norm in the UK these days - seldom manage to reach 55mph these days, the fake traffic jams are so bad so it not a big deal
used to run 2.3 bar but then realised the fuel consumption was dropping to little more than just set the pump to run to drain and walk to get a bank loan - so I pushed it to 2.8 bar - but the ride is horrific
Last edited by BOTUS; Mar 20, 2026 at 03:24 PM.
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
It seems to me as the car has gone into a safe mode. So when the car senses a leak or any abnormalities it puts itself into the safe mode aka Harsh Ride. I chased the same thing with my W220 and trust me I changed shocks, tires, control arms you name it. So do not listen to the shocks being old etc these shocks either leak air or they don't. They just don't change to a hard ride overnight. What helped me was a Ride Re-Calibration followed with an alignment afterwards at the dealership.
that is very possible what BOTUS is saying a pair with hard rubber components, combined with worn out bushings, added to a worn out shock can create the feeling of a harsh ride.
Last edited by Max Blast; Mar 20, 2026 at 03:48 PM.
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Right, but there’s no harsh mode. You have whatever psi is available in the central reservoir to keep the bags inflated via the valve block for as long as that lasts. Once the suspension is fully depleted, you’re riding on the rubber bump stops, and you bet that feels rough.
by the way, Google AI will straight up lie to you sometimes.
by the way, Google AI will straight up lie to you sometimes.
Last edited by Max Blast; Mar 21, 2026 at 02:58 PM.
Right, but there’s no harsh mode. You have whatever psi is available in the central reservoir to keep the bags inflated via the valve block for as long as that lasts. Once the suspension is fully depleted, you’re riding on the rubber bump stops, and you bet that feels rough.
by the way, Google AI will straight up lie to you sometimes.
by the way, Google AI will straight up lie to you sometimes.
https://www.benzworld.org/threads/c1...#post-17422445
Last edited by doni01; Mar 21, 2026 at 05:04 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Tewksbury, MA
2008 S550
Has anyone on MBWorld ever tried using those Chinese made shocks found on ebay for $600 for all four corners? I assume no warranty other than if it's dead out of the box. The labor alone to change all four units would be way more than the $600 so you don't want to do it more than once. I would do it in my younger days but my back won't allow that! Does anyone have an idea how many hours it would take for a good mechanic to swap out all four?
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S500
I think if I ever bother I will go with these guys - I'd estimate 2 hours a corner going leisurely - or an hour if throwing it in and stealing the money
https://aerosus.com/mercedes/s-class/w221.html
https://aerosus.com/mercedes/s-class/w221.html
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W221 S500
Has anyone on MBWorld ever tried using those Chinese made shocks found on ebay for $600 for all four corners? I assume no warranty other than if it's dead out of the box. The labor alone to change all four units would be way more than the $600 so you don't want to do it more than once. I would do it in my younger days but my back won't allow that! Does anyone have an idea how many hours it would take for a good mechanic to swap out all four?
I would rather buy a cheap car to get to work whilst I figure out a solution/save up for genuine. Did the same thing when the gearbox failed.
Fronts are probably an easy couple of hours a side. Rears will take longer because you have to remove the parcel tray to have any hope of accessing the top nuts.
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Not as long as I have a hole in my ***.
I would rather buy a cheap car to get to work whilst I figure out a solution/save up for genuine. Did the same thing when the gearbox failed.
Fronts are probably an easy couple of hours a side. Rears will take longer because you have to remove the parcel tray to have any hope of accessing the top nuts.
I would rather buy a cheap car to get to work whilst I figure out a solution/save up for genuine. Did the same thing when the gearbox failed.
Fronts are probably an easy couple of hours a side. Rears will take longer because you have to remove the parcel tray to have any hope of accessing the top nuts.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I think if I ever bother I will go with these guys - I'd estimate 2 hours a corner going leisurely - or an hour if throwing it in and stealing the money
https://aerosus.com/mercedes/s-class/w221.html
https://aerosus.com/mercedes/s-class/w221.html
Rears are a “Bit**” because of the air connection is hard to undo and re-do. Other part of the job is also easy with proper tools. Hardest part is to force the lower control arm down to get the strut free from it when working on garage floor with the corner jacked up with the jack from the car. But doable. Perhaps an hour and a half.
Last edited by Arrie; Mar 22, 2026 at 05:03 PM.
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W221 S500
You're probably correct. I remember seeing the top mounts etc when I swapped out my non Isofix tray for an Isofix one. I had forgotten that the tray has a removable panel😉
