Spicy

I had my doubts as well, but now as far my limited exposure has allowed , I'm beyond impressed with that and the 4D sound system. Which truly is a game changer, if you are a music aficionado.

cd8705

Appreciate the feedback!

It seems that everyone is really impressed with how E-ABC handles curves. Based on my driving style and the roads I drive on, I'm much more focused on how it handles your everyday moderately bumpy road. That's where the reviews haven't been so stellar.

crabman

You're not alone; I purposely avoided it. Not that there's something wrong with it but I'm not looking for what it does with this car and there seems to be some consensus that it can reduce the ride quality. An actual AMG car, I'd check that box without question.

Fried Chicken

The motivation behind e-ABC is 1. electrification, 2. fuel efficiency, 3. simplicity. I remember reading a research article (I believe by BMW) about electrohydropneumatic suspension vs regular hydropneumatic suspension that specifically talked about the efficiency and gas savings, especially while rolling down the road.

I'm dubious that e-ABC can achieve these goals while having the same awesomeness of an always-on engine-driven pump putting out a constant 2000psi that the valves can do with what they want to achieve car handling/performance.. Unfortunately, the #1 designer of German cars these days are the various governments in Germany, Europe, and here in the States; not the actual car manufacturers. Thus saving that 1l/100km by going electric is key (or whatever was in that article. I wish I could find it)

Bubba1

For me, the S580 is my daily driver and the NUMBER ONE priority is ride quality. EABC appears to take away from this and therefore I did not get it.

Ive said previously, that combined with 20" Pirelli all seasons the ride is pretty good. Could it be better...yes! Next time around I will opt for the 19's.

Streamliner

I have lived with EABC on my 2022 S580 for over 8,000 miles and I'm as unhappy with it now as I was when I first got it. It should provide a ride that is BETTER than the previous Magic Body Control, but at speeds under 50mph, on anything other than a ribbon smooth road,
it fails miserably. If anyone is giving any thought to ordering it, DON'T!

SW20S

Have you compared it to an airmatic S580?

Streamliner

I have test driven a car without EABC and the ride is definitely cushier.

Fried Chicken

That's really unfortunate to hear but goes in line with my suspicions about electrification of hydraulic suspension.
That's actually very sad to hear, because hydraulic suspension is the GOAT of suspension.

jsoloddss65

I am so upset I checked the E_ABC box as an impulse. My car should be here in 10 or so days after being 2 months delayed. I am going to be super annoyed if I spec'd a $6500 option to have a less comfortable ride. I plan on taking it for a long test drive and not buying it if I don't like the way it drives! I wonder if there is a way to totally disable it.....

Fried Chicken

Umm
I don't think you understand what E-ABC is. It's not a fEaTUrE or an aPP or some piece of software, it's an entirely different suspension system: a hydraulic one. It's actual meat-and-potatoes engineering. Citroën invented and pioneered the hydropneumatic suspension system in their cars, and to date those cars have the best ride ever fitted to a car. Citroën discontinued it in like 2011? or 2012? This is very unfortunate, but Mercedes picked it up and created their own version that debuted in 1999 with the W220 S-Class. They called it "Active Body Control" or ABC. It works slightly different than the Citroën version, using electronic ride-height sensors instead of mechanical ones. Technically I believe it is an electrohydropneumatic suspension system, but Mercedes saved that moniker for their new one.

You can see how Citroën's system works here: Another explanation here:
Showing it off here: and here:
The traditional hydropneumatic suspension system uses an engine-belt driven hydraulic pump that generates 2000psi of hydraulic pressure. This is distributed around to the four struts in a sort of circular way back to the reservoir using a series of hoses and valve blocks. You can read more about this system here: https://mercedes-abc-drive-carefully...y-part-of.html

Further advancements in the ABC system added automatic bridge-wind correction (in the W221), and then Mercedes added road scanning and pre-loading of the suspension over bumpy roads (in the W222) and taking inspiration from apple called it "Magic Body Control".

Anyway, "E-ABC" is still technically a hydraulic system, but rather than having an engine-drive hydraulic pump and hoses and valves transporting hydraulic pressure around the car, you have a small reservoir and motor at each strut (or maybe a single motor and reservoir for the front and rear? Mercedes has been pretty tight-lipped about it). This motor only turns on only when needed and as needed. I imagine the cost savings of this system are pretty significant as the complexity is significantly reduced, and you have less energy usage, because the electric motors run only as needed. The question is, is this electronically driven system as good as the old hydropneumatic suspension system ("regular" ABC) or not. It seems the consensus is that it's not.

Fried Chicken

I should add, Mercedes did have precursors to ABC they fitted to their E-Class station wagons in the rear (I believe it was called SBC), and also had some form of hydraulic suspension in the R129 SL600's, but not as extensive as the ABC systems from 1999 onwards.

SW20S

Thats crazy! I can only imagine how mad that makes you...

jsoloddss65

Thank you for the explanation. After I picked it as an option, I have only heard very poor reviews about it. This is the first non-AMG car I have ordered in many years so I was going for true ride comfort vs performance. I will be disappointed if I end up with a 160K car that is not comfortable due to an expensive option. At least I know about it ahead of time and can decline the car if I don't like it.

Fried Chicken

Yeah I wouldn't necessarily go in with a pessimistic attitude based on someone's opinion. The problem with a too-cushy ride is obvious: handling suffers. Making an extremely cushy ride is relatively easy, but the car will roll around like a tumbleweed. Stiffening up the suspension alleviates this, but obviously then you have a ride like a sports car. Hydropneumatics are the only suspension system I know of that give you both simultaneously (not either-or).

Mercedes is being frustratingly secretive about it. Perhaps because it's so new in the automotive industry. I can't even find a strut for sale, just to see a diagram of what it looks like.

jsoloddss65

I just LOL'd because my wife tells me the same thing about twice a month (not about cars, just in general). I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to explain the system to me. I thought it was just a more advanced upgrade to the air suspension. I am going from a GT63 which rides pretty harshly at times. I am sure the S580 will be much different.

Fried Chicken

If you're coming from a GT63... I think E-ABC is the suspension you want. Like... I think the people that want a cushier ride, and you... I think y'all are on different planets. The E-ABC lets the boat do things that boats aren't supposed to be able to do... at least ABC does, I haven't found much information on E-ABC (much less driven one... if anyone's in the East Texas area and wants to let me drive their E-ABC car, I'd be more than happy to!)

jsoloddss65

..

Diesel Benz

Is your opinion that eABC gives less smooth drive than the standard Airmatic? Irrespective of the selected suspension mode? I understand eABC can be tuned to a harder suspension but it should also handle softer ride? Or does eABC on your market mean bigger wheels and less comfortable tyres?

crabman

Wheels end tires remain the same. A few people who have owned both state the ride is a little better without it and then you have those who report it being a less compliant with it during test driving as streamliner did.

For myself I couldn't order it when I first put my order in; along with 4D, tech, and exclusive leather. Not sure how jsloddss65 did it because we ordered at the same time. It did become available during the wait but by then I had read it might be a bad idea when going for comfort so I skipped it.

I came from Porsche; this is all new to me. I can say this car is softer in sport plus than my Panamera's we're in their cushiest setting. To me it seems supremely comfortable and compliant but I'm not sure someone with experience in the brand would agree. I did go all in on comfort; got the 19s and so on.

jsoloddss65

You are correct! I was going back and forth on colors and options after I ordered it. I like to ruminate and drive myself crazy picking options. I was bouncing back and forth over graphite grey and selenite gray magno. This week I now wishing I did selenite gray magno after seeming all of the pics of the S63. I added the E-ABC at the last minute. It was like the candy bars at the grocery store when one is waiting in line….

Streamliner

At $6,500.00, that's a pretty big Hershey Bar!

jsoloddss65

Dam impulse control…I have 2 modes, off and full throttle. In business it works out well (most of the time). Not so much in other areas..

crabman

I think you're going to be fine with the suspension; the wheels on the other hand will require relentless vigilance...

jsoloddss65

Relentless Vigilance is a great name for a boat!

I have already come to terms with having a tire go within the first three months. Since it’s a known issue my salesperson is getting me a full size spare and tire. Ugh.