Hi everyone,
I'm still trying to figure out my S560 Build and wanted to know if anyone has the Magic Body Control option on thier S class?
How much better is the ride quality compared to the models without this option?
Thank you,

 

It is amazing from what people have written that have it. However, you lose 4matic. Rear Wheel Drive Only.

 

Maybach has it.

Set in sport mode it rides over the big speed bump near our house just like our AMG GTC or our Ford Van. Otherwise put YOU KNOW YOU WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP.

SET in normal mode it nearly always goes over that same speed bump as if it is NOT even there!!!! Ever so often I assume the camera does not see the bump and its a normal crossing.

As Streamliner pointed out these cars handle REALLY good. Here is some pics of me driving the car on an F1 track. I swear you dont even realize your driving a 5300 pound car. At car shows I tell people in sport mode it is JUST LIKE driving my racing car only slower.

In the straightaways I am about 90mph

Curves I dont recall the speed but the car handled really good.

3.5 miles F1 track

 

 

I love the MBC on my '18 S560, when it's operable. It doesn't always see the bumps, I'm not sure what the criteria are that turn it ON or OFF, I wish there was an ON/OFF light on the dash, It doesn't work at night or on rainy days, I assume because the cameras don't work properly. But on a sunny day with a clean windshield, it works quite well. I agree the CURVE function is pretty cool and overall the ride is far superior to my '15 S550 I had before. I would definitely get MBC again.

 

I love Magic Body Control. It was a choice between 4MATIC versus MBC. I'll take the latter in Southern California.

 

 

Even if the camera doesn't work to swallow bumps, you get the ABC suspension that takes care of 99% driving situations. The value and most of the cost is in ABC anyways. The "magic" component aka software accounts for only $400 of the $4450

 

My only mistake when I test drove my first S-Class was Magic Body Control. I honestly did not notice one imperfection during the test drive. If you plan on leasing the car or keeping it for less than 4-5 years, I'd say go for it. Could be some bigger problems later down the road. GLWP

 

I can see why you needed rear brake pads......

 

Thoughts on handling differences between a RWD S560 with MBC versus AWD S63 with Airmatic? Really want MBC but this is not available on the S63. Thoughts?

 

 

What's the difference between ABC and MBC?

 

MBC has a camera system that watches the road for bumps, dips, etc. and adjusts the suspension accordingly. ABC is pretty much the same system, without the camera setup.

 

So "487 ABC SUSPENSION (ACTIVE BODY CONTROL)" in the VIN decoder is not "Magic Body Control" ... ?

 

ABC was available on the W221 S Class. Starting with the 2014 W222 S Class, ABC was replaced by MBC.

 

@Tom in Austin @Streamliner

Is the Magic Body Control code still 487 for S550 and S560 models?

 

Yes, it is. BTW, and a little trivia for you ... MBC/487 cars do not have stabilizer bars. And the lower attachment point for the front struts is a ball joint in the suspension arm (vs. a rigid bolt on the regular air suspension.

 

Interesting, maybe to allow the car to have more suspension play for the MBC system to work best? I wonder if there are any impacts on the reliability of the suspension system (good or bad).

 

the hydraulic oil and filter must be changed every 6,000 miles to avoid expensive errors in the system

 

143,000 miles on my 222 S-65. Only MBC failure is the pulsation dampener that threads into the MBC pump. Same as 221 ABC cars. Ten minute fix when it happens. Suspension parts much better than the 221 S-65 that needed all four front suspension lower arms annually. Yes; annually. The 222 car got two of the lower arms at 90,000 and upper control arms at 125,000 (or so) miles for noise (but no slop in suspension) over low speed bumps.
I love my 222 car.

 

That's pretty fantastic reliability, especially for such a sophisticated suspension.

I'm really curious to test a MBC car and see how it compares to Airmatic, particularly in terms of NVH, riding in situations where the camera scanning system is obscured (rain, night), etc.

Have you tested it back-to-back with the standard Airmatic?

 

I have MBC on my 2018 S560 and ABC on my 2017 SL550. Both cars' handling is outstanding. I have replaced the Accumulators on the 2017 (strictly as preventative maintenance). No suspension problems with either car.

 

NVH is more to do with choice of tire and aspect ratio of the tire. AMG cars on 20” wheels with sporting rubber inflated to 48lbs will not ride the same as a car on 19” wheels with tires designed for quiet/smooth with 35lbs of air. My car has Carbon/Ceramic brakes that are huge and fill the inside of the 20” wheel so a 19” wheel is not an option (not that I ever would). CCB reduces unsprung weight in a big way. This helps ride/handling.

MBC in daylight at under 50mph is the best test. I get to see this often on certain stretches of road where cars in front and behind are tossing the car up/down side to side... my car is smooth. Through turns always zero body roll. Best test being driving over an elevated cross walk that is 2-3” higher than the road... you feel.... nothing. Car doesn’t bump up, then down as with any other suspension.

Any car equipped with sway bars... Airmatic or steel springs... will not ride as well as an MBC equipped Maybach.

Where the cameras can’t read the road it behaves as a car with ABC.... still rides well with... no body roll.

No body roll is a double edged sword.... many-most drivers use body roll as a guide for when the car is approaching the limit in turns. Limits are high in the AMG car. Don’t get it wrong and visit the scenery at speed!

 

What was the cost of the control arms?