Streamliner

I owned a new 2004 R230 SL500 for 12 years. I ordered it with 18” wheels, ABC was standard and it was a great riding car. I’ve had three W222’s all ordered with MBC & 18” wheels, all with the run flats swapped out for conventional tires. Those were the best riding cars I’ve ever been in. Your comparison might have been based on W222’s with larger wheels and/or with run flat tires. The SL was a nice ride, but nothing like my W222’s.

SW20S

But it won't completely carry its weight, it does sag.

No, it is a true statement. I said it won't COMPLETELY completely carry the weight of the car and will sink substantially, and that is true. If it sinks at all below normal ride height it does not completely carry the weight of the car. The point is the car is suspended by the hydraulic fluid, the springs alone are not enough to completely carry the weight of the car. People are acting like this is a normal strut/spring suspension with a hydraulic actuator and thats not correct. The difference between this and airmatic is airmatic has no spring...

MercedesBenzers

As someone who has a great feeling for detail in riding, i can say that airmatic gives you more of the feeling you're sailing over water. A hydraulic suspension usually doesn't come close to it, but MBC does. However, it gives you more of a feeling you're driving on a road, in stead of floating over it. It does a great job at keeping the car level, making it more comfortable when going over a speed bump or pot hole. But when cruising over a normal road surface, airmatic is better at eliminating the small subtle changes making it better for long distanc trips.

amir1

I'm no expert but can tell you I absolutely love my 2020 W222 with MBC. My 2017 S550 did not have it and the difference is significant. Overall the ride is much smoother and quieter with MBC. Especially on rough roads, over bumps and pot holes. Sadly, it doesn't work at night (I guess the cameras can't see at night sufficiently). Thus, roads and bumps I smoothly drive over during the daytime become rougher at night. Especially bumps in the road. Bottom line, I wouldn't buy another S class without it.

Quietride

Can anyone comment on the differences in road noise transfer on coarse roads (e.g. chipseal roads)?

MBC appears to work only until 80 mph (we have 80 mph posted roads here in TX...), and when on the throttle.

The only MBC car near me is a new Maybach. Not going to ask the dealer to drive that, since there are too many differences.

Streamliner

I am a ride quality FREAK! The three W222's I had with MBC were "THE" best riding, best driving cars I have ever owned and I have had way too many. If you have the chance to get a W222 with MBC,
do not hesitate. It is an absolutely SENSATIONAL option.

chassis

This is an apples-to-oranges comparison, and not relevant to the discussion.

chassis

Correct.

MBNUT1

The correctness of the statement comes down to the definition of "carry the weight". The hydraulic strut sits on top of the springs which results in the springs seeing the full weight of the car, regardless of the functioning of the strut. It is a given that if the hydraulic strut function is to set the level of the car, that if is failed, then the car will sit at a different level than if it is functioning.

SW20S

LOL, come on. I said the springs won't completely support the weight of the car in the event of a hydraulic failure, and that the car with notably drop in that event. That statement is correct.

Lets leave the "it depends on what your definition of is, is" BS out of it...

MercedesBenzers

Let's keep it friendly shall we? Air suspension will drop noticeably further if it fails compared to hydraulic suspension.

SW20S

Perfectly friendly, being told you said something you didn't say repeatedly is frustrating though.

MBNUT1

What does support the weight mean to you? The springs are supporting the weight of the car. The entire weight of the car is resting on the springs. BTW the the entire weight of the car is also resting on the struts failed or not. The cars weight sits on the struts the struts sit on the springs, the springs transmit the weight to the wheels. They are not sharing the load with each other, they are transmitting the same force to each other.

SW20S

When an air suspension fails, the car is supported by the emergency springs that keep it from falling completely to the ground. Does that mean that the suspension supports the weight of the car in the event of an air suspension failure? Of course not. Air is required for the suspension to fully support the car at its ride height, same is true with MBC and the hydraulic pressure. If the car is not at its normal ride height, then most people would say the suspension is not supporting or not fully supporting the car.

The point was to highlight that this is not a normal strut/spring suspension with adaptive dampers, that it is suspended by the hydraulic rams. For instance in my old Lexus GS with AVS if the AVS dampers fail, you just have a normal suspension without the added adjustable dampers, thats not the case here with MBC even though it has coil springs.

MBNUT1

Sounds like you agree that the ABC/ MBC springs support the weight of the car in the event of a hydraulic failure in the same manner that the airmatic emergency springs support the weight of car in the event of a loss of air pressure.

SW20S

But that wasn't what I meant and you know it. The springs are not enough to support the car at its normal drivable ride height without the hydraulic pressure. Everybody understood what I said including you. I'm not going to continue to argue semantics with you.

MBNUT1

It's just a matter of correct use of terminology. Completely carry the weight of means just that. An analogy would be if a guy had someone sitting on their shoulders who had dumbbells in their hands. The guy on the bottom would completely carry their weight (and dumbbells) whether the person raised the dumbbells over their head or rested them by their waist.

SW20S

We are arguing over semantics...everybody understood what I meant you included.

NbyNW

MBC sounds like a really nice system. Interesting it stops working when the sun goes down. But in the end I need 4Matic so it’s not an option for me.

MBNUT1

No I just figured you didn't understand how it worked.

SW20S

You're the only one...and I clearly have demonstrated I do know how it works...so why not quit dragging it out?

aypues

When the sun goes down and the road surface scan feature of MBC is deactivated, does it ride as good as an Airmatic equipped car?

2012 merc amg

I’d say worse than an aromatic car at night. I’ve had both. Traded a 2017 with air matic for a 2018 with mbc. Night and day difference driving cars back to back during daytime. The mbc rides so much better and feels so much more connected to the road. When I first drove my mbc 2018 it felt like a totally different car. At night time on smooth roads the mbc is better as the feel of the car and handling is better. It’s just over bumpy roads at nighttime the air matic will take the bumps better and be more floaty. To me the mbc is a very worthwhile option. I leave it in curve mode most of the time and very great feeling leaning in and out of corners. Car stays very firmly planted.

S_W222

@Streamliner can you weigh-in here? Am also interested to know the differences comfort wise when MBC is in-active.

amir1

Magic body control on my 2020 S560 is amazing. well worth it. You'll notice the difference at night especially when driving at lower speeds on rough roads or over speed bumps. That said, even with the MBC not working (at night) the ride is still very good. My previous 2017 S550 did not have MBC, had the "Sprorts package" 20" run flats and it drove rough all the time. Swapping out the run flats helped a bit, but it was still rough. Other factors will also affect ride. I chose the 19" rims on my 2020 S560. Together with MBC the car ride is fantastic. (Better than the ride in the new W223 in my opinion) My suggestion, if you can find a W222 with MBC, get it.