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I have a 2015 S600 and even though it's a great car overall it is just horrible over bumps. There's a road I drive on all the time with my sports car and if I hit a pothole or bump I feel it more in the S-class. I have it in comfort mode and it's still very stiff. Isn't the car supposed to have "magic body control" to make it detect potholes adjust the suspension so you don't feel them as much? Whenever I go over when it's like I got hit by a rocket launcher.
Is there any way to detect if the system is working properly? I have the scheduled maintenance coming up and I wanted to see if there is any information available before I bring it in.
Check the tire pressures. Too high a pressure and you feel more of the road (for better or worse).
Change to non-Run-Flat tires. The stiff sidewall transmits road surface crap to the suspension and chassis.
I have done both, but I like a certain amount of road feel and keep the air pressures on the high side.
You’re probably on 20” wheels I’m guessing which are the worst riding of the bunch. Not much rubber between you and the road...you can’t get around the physics of it even with MBC. Non runflats would help like others have mentioned, aside from downsizing.
You’re probably on 20” wheels I’m guessing which are the worst riding of the bunch. Not much rubber between you and the road...you can’t get around the physics of it even with MBC. Non runflats would help like others have mentioned, aside from downsizing.
You're right about the tire size. So that's normal? Everything feels very comfortable 99% of the time. Then I go over even a small pothole and the who car shakes violently.
You're right about the tire size. So that's normal? Everything feels very comfortable 99% of the time. Then I go over even a small pothole and the who car shakes violently.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
This is truly insane. MB produces this magnificent, very luxurious saloon, which should be one of, if not “THE” most comfortable car in the world and then they ruin it with overly large wheels and run flat tires. These cars should be running on 18” wheels with very compliant tires. I ordered both my 2015 S550 and my 2018 S560 with 18” wheels and had the dealer swap out the RFT for Bridgestone Serenity Plus conventional tires. With MBC, my cars ride beautifully and I believe are rivaled only by something from Bentley or Rolls-Royce. I know, I know, the big wheels just look so “awesome,” but these are luxury SEDANS, not sports cars. Equip them properly and the ride is wonderful.
I have a 2015 S65 with MBC. What you consider to be jarring could just be my feeling of the car is communicating the road condition. We each have different expectations and tolerances. That said my S65 is not horrible over bumps nor worse than a sports car. The biggest difference is likely the S65 does not come with run flat tires. The MBC is an interesting feature that may sometimes help but on the 2015 it is little different from just the ABC system. I know what jarring and horrible over bumps is because my wife drives a new E63S with Airmatic, still no run flats. My S65 makes the bumps disapear compared to the E63S. I do not think you can do what Streamliner did because 18" wheels will not clear the brakes on an S600.
Last edited by Quadrobenz; Sep 24, 2019 at 07:04 PM.
This is truly insane. MB produces this magnificent, very luxurious saloon, which should be one of, if not “THE” most comfortable car in the world and then they ruin it with overly large wheels and run flat tires. These cars should be running on 18” wheels with very compliant tires.
Spot On
<snip>
I know, I know, the big wheels just look so “awesome,” but these are luxury SEDANS, not sports cars.
People who think bigger wheels look awesome is the first sign that you should not be listening to them.
Race cars use bigger wheels (except for F1) because it allows them to put bigger brakes inside the wheel for longer lasting brakes. {F1 is regulated to 13" to keep brake technology at bay (yeah right!)}.
Even sports cars (think Corvette and Ferrari) handle better with smaller wheels,
Drag cars accelerate faster with smaller tires.
Yet some yodle who couldn't think through the physics of the issues says "those look awesome" and everyone follows (off the gangplank).
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by Mitch Alsup
Spot On
<snip>
People who think bigger wheels look awesome is the first sign that you should not be listening to them.
Race cars use bigger wheels (except for F1) because it allows them to put bigger brakes inside the wheel for longer lasting brakes. {F1 is regulated to 13" to keep brake technology at bay (yeah right!)}.
Even sports cars (think Corvette and Ferrari) handle better with smaller wheels,
Drag cars accelerate faster with smaller tires.
Yet some yodle who couldn't think through the physics of the issues says "those look awesome" and everyone follows (off the gangplank).
I’ve used this analogy before, so please forgive me if you have heard it here previously. An S Class, riding on 20” and larger wheels, is like a beautiful woman wearing 6” stilettos. She looks fantastic, but don’t ask her to walk anywhere. A truly beautiful woman, knows that a 3” heel looks great. A 4” heel if you are going to basically sit and look pretty. Anything over that is just ridiculous and cheap looking. Same goes for huge diameter wheels on an S Class.
I have a 2015 S600 and even though it's a great car overall it is just horrible over bumps. There's a road I drive on all the time with my sports car and if I hit a pothole or bump I feel it more in the S-class. I have it in comfort mode and it's still very stiff. Isn't the car supposed to have "magic body control" to make it detect potholes adjust the suspension so you don't feel them as much? Whenever I go over when it's like I got hit by a rocket launcher.
Is there any way to detect if the system is working properly? I have the scheduled maintenance coming up and I wanted to see if there is any information available before I bring it in.
One other thing to consider is how much rubber is left on the tires..... A new Fresh Set is more forgiving regardless of Extended Mobility or not. Once they start to wear down, they will be stiffer and add to the jarring feeling.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by Nice Ride
One other thing to consider is how much rubber is left on the tires..... A new Fresh Set is more forgiving regardless of Extended Mobility or not. Once they start to wear down, they will be stiffer and add to the jarring feeling.
I completely agree. If I lease a car for 3 years and 36,000 miles, I usually replace the tires half way through the lease at about 18,000 miles. I like using the first half of a tire’s life, not the last half.
I’ve used this analogy before, so please forgive me if you have heard it here previously. An S Class, riding on 20” and larger wheels, is like a beautiful woman wearing 6” stilettos. She looks fantastic, but don’t ask her to walk anywhere. A truly beautiful woman, knows that a 3” heel looks great. A 4” heel if you are going to basically sit and look pretty. Anything over that is just ridiculous and cheap looking. Same goes for huge diameter wheels on an S Class.
I have a 2015 S65 with MBC. What you consider to be jarring could just be my feeling of the car is communicating the road condition. We each have different expectations and tolerances. That said my S65 is not horrible over bumps nor worse than a sports car. The biggest difference is likely the S65 does not come with run flat tires. The MBC is an interesting feature that may sometimes help but on the 2105 it is little different from just the ABC system. I know what jarring and horrible over bumps is because my wife drives a new E63S with Airmatic, still no run flats. My S65 makes the bumps disapear compared to the E63S. I do not think you can do what Streamliner did because 18" wheels will not clear the brakes on an S600.
Same car, same experience...it just flattens bumps and rides very smooth even with 20 inch sporty tires (Michelin PS4S).
One thing to look into for the OP - check your tire pressure. Maybe some knucklehead aired them up to max pressure and that's why you're bouncing around like a bobblehead doll.
I completely agree. If I lease a car for 3 years and 36,000 miles, I usually replace the tires half way through the lease at about 18,000 miles. I like using the first half of a tire’s life, not the last half.
I do exactly the same. Primary reason is safety, secondary reason which is a given is comfort. My primary concern is rainy weather.
This is truly insane. MB produces this magnificent, very luxurious saloon, which should be one of, if not “THE” most comfortable car in the world and then they ruin it with overly large wheels and run flat tires. These cars should be running on 18” wheels with very compliant tires. I ordered both my 2015 S550 and my 2018 S560 with 18” wheels and had the dealer swap out the RFT for Bridgestone Serenity Plus conventional tires. With MBC, my cars ride beautifully and I believe are rivaled only by something from Bentley or Rolls-Royce. I know, I know, the big wheels just look so “awesome,” but these are luxury SEDANS, not sports cars. Equip them properly and the ride is wonderful.
I currently have 19" wheels on my sport package S550. Can I go down to 18" with no rubbing issues? I already cracked a rear wheel on the highway and don't want that to occur again. Please advise. Thanks.
I currently have 19" wheels on my sport package S550. Can I go down to 18" with no rubbing issues? I already cracked a rear wheel on the highway and don't want that to occur again. Please advise. Thanks.
Just get rid of those run flat tires, or you know, buy a proper flagship that still has a spare tire? :P
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