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Drive over a painted speed bump around 15mph. Don't brake.
That would test the camera scan. But "ABC commonly referred to as MBC" sounds like OP is talking about the entire system. If the hydraulic suspension were not operating, the car's handling and ride would be pretty terrible. If the beast has only minimal body roll in cornering, ABC is working. If the ride is pretty cushy, ABC is working. Yes, the scan-ahead gimmick is an improvement that could have failed, but if ABC/MBC has failed, the car would drive like crap. If components have failed, you'd probably see one or more corners lower than the rest of the car.
The name change was more about ABC also being Air Body Control on other models than the scan-ahead being a major change to the hydraulic suspension, btw.
18 AMG GTC and 22 F150 Limited. Past owner 16 Maybach, 17 Brabus Smartcar, 06 Ford E150, and 22 G70
Yes magic body control is exactly supposed to do this. In normal mode the car will go over a speed bump almost undetected. In sport mode on my car it goes over a speed bump like any other car.
if you have a newer car with mbc it will lean in turns I have read.
Were trying to help you ascertain if your system is working but quite frankly if you don’t have any fault messages it is reasonable to assume it is.
Put your foot on the gas and press and don't take your foot off the gas when you go over a speed bump.
If it glides over - its working normally. If the car jumps into the air - there is a defect.
Common mistakes are not being in Comfort Mode - and not keeping your foot on the gas. You must be accelerating (not coasting) in order for the system to operate as intended.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
I had a 2015 S550 with MBC. The feature of the camera system recognizing bumps and other road imperfections and adjusting the suspension accordingly, had spotty performance at best, at least over things like speed bumps. Sometimes it worked perfectly, many times it did not. I have MBC on my 2018 S560 and I would have to say it is greatly improved over the 2015 car, but it is still nowhere close to 100% effective.
I had a 2015 S550 with MBC. The feature of the camera system recognizing bumps and other road imperfections and adjusting the suspension accordingly, had spotty performance at best, at least over things like speed bumps. Sometimes it worked perfectly, many times it did not. I have MBC on my 2018 S560 and I would have to say it is greatly improved over the 2015 car, but it is still nowhere close to 100% effective.
Same.
Problems included sensors with a haze or dirt on them - not enough lighting - any other jarring imperfections - road debris - leaves - rocks, etc - angles - etc.
There are many factors that prevented the system from operating the way it was intended.
The BMW has road preview scanning cameras as well - as does Audi A8 - I wonder how they work.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by Chucky3000
Same.
Problems included sensors with a haze or dirt on them - not enough lighting - any other jarring imperfections - road debris - leaves - rocks, etc - angles - etc.
There are many factors that prevented the system from operating the way it was intended..
When I take a sharp curve at speed with the curve function on I do not notice the car tilting up but the second the road straightens out one can actually watch the high side of the hood quickly lower. Also with the curve function on your body does not shift in the seat as much during spirited driving. I can feel a huge difference during spirited driving with the function on or off and have my independent setting on all S settings and curve function. This is on my 2019 SL550. Your set up may be different....
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by aypues
Just the curve tilting function in the S560.
Yes, the Curve function was the only NOTED improvement in the MBC system for 2018, but the whole MBC system works much better than on the pre-face lift models, as per my experience. MBC is a work in progress. I feel it will improve every year, as the technology becomes more sophisticated.
Thanks-, yeah I remember when initially it was adaptive (speed control) for cruising on highways, now its for semi-autonomous driving.
If the difference in ABC is just a reprogram/change in the algorithm, I was curious to see if there would be any Mercedes "Hackers" that could implement that into the pre-facelift models.
The only way I know to test MBC is to repeated drive over a speed bump and see if sometimes it softens the bump. It works better on gently sloped speed bumps rather than abrupt configurations. No matter what you do it will not work 100% of the time.
Hmmm. Took it to the dealer and they said "if it wasn't working a message would appear on your instrument cluster"
Is there no other way to diagnose this? Went over a bump in MBC and in Sport, no difference....
That is a classic response from dealer mechanics. They run the tester for codes and if something isn't dragging under the car they are done.
As some have suggested most qualitative issues, squeaks, rattles vibrations noises, feelings etc have to be able to be duplicated for them and sometimes showing the service person with a drive exactly what is the issue. Sounds like a tough one.
09-16-2019, 10:17 PM
