Fried Chicken

It seems the new W223 chassis has foregone the hydraulic ABC system form the e-active ABC system.... is this correct?

Is this the end of the Hydropneumatic suspension from Mercedes?

Wolfman

ABC (actually MBC) as a hydraulic (oil) suspension is gone for the S-Class. All suspensions, including the E-active suspension is based on Air, so ALL S-Class suspensions are Air suspensions. MBC was limited to rear wheel drive systems only and E-active has more features/capabilities

bkdc

It’s a huge improvement when it comes to repair headaches. I love my MBC but for repair technicians, air is better.

Fried Chicken

How is MBC technically ABC? I have never heard it called MBC

Wolfman

The W222 introduced MBC (Magic Body Control) which is technically the ABC (Active Body Control) suspension we know from other Mercedes models paired with two windshield cameras and software to provide forward-looking road sensing ability to adjust the dampers for a smoother ride. Cool by concept but hampered by limitations (only use during daylight, comfort mode and rear wheel drive cars) in addition to some software quirks. E-active suspension eliminated these limitations...

Kaloteck

Care to shed some light on that? What quirks are you referring to?

Wolfman

Not quirks as much as a too narrow set of conditions when the "Magic" part of the body control is enabled. The suspension is supposed to adjust for surface imperfections or driving over speed bumps. All of the work is conditional, similar to how ECO start/stop kicks in if all conditions are met.
For example to drive smoothly over a speed bump, you must be in Comfort (Sport model disables it) mode and with the foot on the gas pedal. Instinct will have your foot on the brake pedal when approaching a speed bump. Braking deactivates the features; you must drive over the speed bump (albeit slowly) without braking.

This simply reduces some of the practicality. The latest version of E-active is supposed to have more leeway to keep features enabled.

Fried Chicken

Pour one out of the hydropneumatic suspension. Thank you Citroën for this amazing tech.

Kaloteck

OK, so it comes on top of air or what? Or simply takes its place?
You expect me to believe there's a small electric motor in each corner, squeezing steel springs and adjusting them accordingly in real time?
Because that's what they've been telling us all along...

Wolfman

Google is your friend here. There are lots of videos explaining E-Active

Fried Chicken

I have found very little information on how the suspension works beyond marketing blurbs.

Kaloteck

Yeah, they're clearly hiding something.

Streamliner

It’s interesting to note that EABC was an $8,200.00 option on the 2020 GLE SUV models, but was unceremoniously dropped from the option list for 2021. One year and BANG! Gone.

Wolfman

People are choking on spending half the money on MBC on an S-Class and you wonder why people don't flock to a $8k+ suspension on a $60k car?
It is available on the pricier GLS for $6500...

Wolfman

Sounds like you enjoy conspiracy theories

Wolfman

There is plenty info out there. But you will have to look at reviews where the suspension is actually offered, namely the MY20+ GLS
Keep in mind that this suspension has different feature sets as its in a SUV with off-road use...

Streamliner

I’m not wondering why the option is gone from the GLE, I’m wondering why it was there in the first place. I drove a GLE580 with EABC and was not impressed. They should have given the GLE an MBC option, for around $4K and I believe it would have been much better received.

Wolfman

We both are strong proponents of ABC and MBC. They are fantastic suspensions, especially over the last 7 years plus. But they have also been limited in its use (no AWD, no lift capability for SUV's). At the same time the latest Air suspensions have evolved to the point that they became the go-to choice for AMG's.
I can only assume that there was a point to pick the right suspension tech moving forward and oil lost to air...

Streamliner

I must admit that the Air Body Control in my E450 wagon is very impressive, while the air suspension in the Bentley “New” Flying Spur that I test drove was disappointing, giving a sort of bloated, billowy ride. It will be very interesting to drive the W223 with EABC. Hope they get it right.

superangrypenguin

The demands on the 48V system for the eActive suspension will prove to be interesting from a long term perspective. Lithium ion batteries tend to hate 'high current' short draw demands which is what all of these electronic active suspension systems demand. No one knows how reliable or $$ they will be but time will tell.

Wolfman

So I just spent a little time reading about the suspension and there is a hydraulic component to the suspension. So it really is Air+Oil

Here is some info on the S-Class E-ABC suspension. It is in German only but can be easily translated via Google translate, etc...
https://jesmb.de/3863/

Streamliner

Have you heard anything about the EABC option cost?

Wolfman

Wishful thinking would have it at MBC pricing but likely closer to GLS pricing. It's only a guess but $5500 to $6500

Streamliner

Talk about an option that will never be seen in a car ordered for dealer stock, special order only.

Wolfman

Depends. MBC is pretty common on RWD S-Class models I think. Very different than on the SL's