Yes. ABC and it's "green".


Anyway, happy to say that MB of Palm Springs, CA is working very hard to help us out and get it working. Looking forward to using the car with MBC. It goes under the knife tomorrow AM. Should know what's wrong by end of day tomorrow. If we find a solution I'll let you all know


Take care

 

Good luck with the surgery. I hope for a speedy recovery.

 

What is the verdict?

 

Bottom line… MB stated that my car “functioned as designed”… As far as I can tell there might be some general confusion WRT the technology posted on the internet - I don’t want to add to the confusion - so for a detailed explanation of Magic Body Control, please contact your local MB dealer. Given the complexities, you may want to discuss this with the “expert”.

 

That sounds disappointing. Sorry.

 

Its a Monday night, so my brain may be off key - but is that their advice to YOU or your advice to US.

My MBC works over speed bumps - I just experienced it again today.

 

I was told by my MB dealer that if you brake before the speed bump it turns off MBC. It then turns back on automatically, but that may the reason why some people have problems with it.

 

This is absolutely true - I thought at first it was not working - until I kept on the gas and it eliminated the bump. Also - if u take your foot OFF the gas - (not even touching the brake, but simply taking your foot off the gas) - it turns off MBC.

They really should have the system either ON OR OFF via a switch - irregardless to whether the car is in sport, or comfort, or braking or coasting or accelerating.

ON or OFF, period.

 

so it only works for speed bumps or does it also help with uneven road surfaces as advertised?

 

I agree with having a separate on/off switch. Why should MBC not work in Sport Mode? I also don't know why it isn't discussed more in the Operator's Manual. Why should I have to look at the Digital Operator's Manual in the car? Don't all S550s have ABC?

/new car problems

 

4matic S Class don't have ABC.

I'm not 100% sure on the following facts so please correct me if I'm wrong:
Isn't the RWD S550 not standard with ABC rather ABC is part of the MBC option. So if you don't get the MBC on a RWD S550 it's Airmatic suspension?

 

yes, I believe you are correct, airmatic comes standard, the MBC option replaces airmatic with ABC/MBC

 

I tried some speed tables today, and didn't think that the MBC did much. I am going to try some smaller bumps and see if there's more of a difference.

 

I agree. I feel that MBC doesn't do what it's suppose to. I still pretty much feel all the small bumps, speed bumps, etc.

and I know 100% that I have MBC and it's turned on

 

You have to keep your foot on the gas while going over the speed bumps. It deactivates when you remove your foot from the gas, or apply the brake.

Not sure why. It should be on all the time. Try it with your foot pressing the gas and let us know?

 

It deactivates with your foot off the pedal so you feel speed bumps. Mercedes said they didn't want drivers ignoring them.

 

Not bright - because they advertised the system going over speed bumps. Naturally, we the driver would wanna try that out.

 

Hello everyone!

I'm very intrigued by the Magic Body Control (MBC) ... by the look of the videos around, it seems to "iron" out speed bumps and pot holes!

I was considering a brand new S-Class with MBC, but I'm concerned about what I'm reading here, especially the inconsistent behavior that the system seems to show to some of us...

I know for certain that the car has to be in Comfort mode for MBC to be active and no driver actions such as braking, but what was stopping MBC to work on Ormond and Chris SClass??

Thank you for your comments and feedback!

Richard

 

Hi Richard Fix and others,

I ordered MBC with my 2015 S550; took delivery Dec. 29, 2014. I have not been "wowed" by MBC as expected. It is not as "active" as the MB videos would suggest. I expected to be floating along over every little road irregularity, as per those videos. Sometimes MBC would seem to work for me, sometimes not. As I cruise along some of our local bumpy roads, it seems as if my S550 is just driving like a luxury sedan should, nothing special. Thanks to all who contributed to this thread with their advice, i.e. keeping foot on the gas and not breaking, and comparing the ride with Sport/Comfort Modes on and off. The dealer never explained those things to me when I expressed disappointment with MBC. I've driven like that, but still not impressed. Agree that the manual is disappointing as well. Would I buy it again? Yes, but for most people I don't think it is worth the approx. $4500 that it cost me, that's the bottom line. Best, Peter in Fort Lauderdale, FL

 

very helpful, thanks for posting!

 

Mbc is definitely worth it if you look at it from a suspension standpoint as MBC is simply ABC suspension plus some software plus an extra camera. ABC is worth every penny (to me) by itself and the add-on stuff actually gives the package a bad reputation as people believe that all the money is for smoothing out the ride over bumps.

ABC alone used to be a $4k plus options so making it MBC was just a few hundred bucks more. You are really paying for a much better suspension than Airmatic

 

Wow, I did not know that the S class without MBC is the airmatic suspension. You're right about ABC, I have it on my SL550 and it's well worth it. Would definitely be worth getting MBC just to get ABC.

 

I would never get an S Class without ABC (or MBC now).

Really something to drive around a curve on a highway and there's no body roll (or movement for that matter).

Beats 4matic everyday! This is my 3rd S Class with ABC (MBC NOW) and my next will have it too if its an S Class.

 

Also the flat leveling during hard braking feels surreal..... at first I didn't understand what was happening..... absolutely no nose dive with ABC. Worth every penny

 

The thing that pisses me off about MBC is that, at least in the US, MB bowed to legal pressure and purposely disengaged MBC's abilities. The technology is present to send the car over even high speed bumps, but because someone cried that it's too dangerous for cars to speed past them, MB basically emasculated MBC here in the states... Had I known it would be so haphazard and ineffective I would have spent that money on interior luxury upgrades. Still, $4500 for the option is, as others have stated, about $4K for ABC and $500 for MBC. Maybe I've become used to ABC, but I don't mind a little drama in the turns, and kinda miss the body roll... I will spend that money on other options next time around...