New Ninja Mod for S63/S65 to improve ride quality
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Joined: Apr 2023
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2014 S63 2010 ML350 Bluetec 2009 SL550
New Ninja Mod for S63/S65 to improve ride quality
I am very excited to share a new mod that our Benz Ninja worked on with me. I have been loving my new to me 2014 S63 but hating the ride. Our crappy new England roads are not kind to any vehicle with 20" wheels and the flinty suspension tuning only makes it worse. So I asked him if there might be a way to change the tuning of the dampers back to the standard S550 settings.
Of course - he delivered ! He found a way to load the standard S550 suspension program on the S63.
He applied the change last night and I went for a ride. The difference is immediately noticeable. It's like the difference between Comfort and Sport, only the other way. So if the factory Sport setting is let's say 20% stiffer, then this change would be about 20% softer than Comfort was. You do feel the heft of the car more now and there is more "bounce" on large pavement changes. But it also mutes the irritating chatter and impact harshness from small bumps a good deal. Going down to 19" wheels and a different tire is still in my future but this is a very good first step.
Sport mode still works and stiffens everything up in case you really want to feel the road again.
Bravo Ninja !!!
Of course - he delivered ! He found a way to load the standard S550 suspension program on the S63.
He applied the change last night and I went for a ride. The difference is immediately noticeable. It's like the difference between Comfort and Sport, only the other way. So if the factory Sport setting is let's say 20% stiffer, then this change would be about 20% softer than Comfort was. You do feel the heft of the car more now and there is more "bounce" on large pavement changes. But it also mutes the irritating chatter and impact harshness from small bumps a good deal. Going down to 19" wheels and a different tire is still in my future but this is a very good first step.
Sport mode still works and stiffens everything up in case you really want to feel the road again.
Bravo Ninja !!!
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Joined: Jun 2009
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2005 C55, 2008 CLK63 AMG Black Series
I always said my 16 S63 needed a Comfort+ mode for cruising. How does the car handle compared to the previous Comfort? Are we talking Lincoln Town Car floaty or just floaty by comparison? I almost never put mine in Sport mode for the suspension since the OEM Comfort has enough body control, but is just a bit harsh. Is it now all over the place with how soft it is or does it still handle well and load up the suspension soundly? Thanks!
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 474
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2014 S63 2010 ML350 Bluetec 2009 SL550
You raise some good question here. Since my folks have a 2006 Town Car and I also own a 2012 Lexus LS460 I can provide some comparison. Firstly its no Town Car - not in any way shape or form. It's closer to the Lexus now in that you feel the weight of the car a little more as it is allowed to rise and fall more than it was. There's a little more roll in turns and more "up and down" on pavement undulations. If the LS460 had 20" wheels and 30/35 series tires I would imagine it riding a lot like the S63 does now, if a bit softer.
It's not a huge night and day difference as the short sidewalls are still making every impact known. It has added a layer of better compliance though and reduced the small noises that the interior makes when the car takes a hit on bumps. Our roads suck and I am trying to insure that this car doesn't turn into a rattle trap down the road (like many of my cars have that I put harder shocks and crazy wheels/tires on. Lesson learned).
It's been my opinion that AMG overreached on this car in terms of suspension tuning. It's simply too hard for less than perfect roads and there was no "soft" button (until now) to address that. I don't want this car to emulate the ride of a 1987 Z51 Vette, but that's pretty much what it did before yesterday.
I'd encourage others to contact the Ninja and give it a try if you live in the "rust belt". It might be the fix you've been hoping for....
It's not a huge night and day difference as the short sidewalls are still making every impact known. It has added a layer of better compliance though and reduced the small noises that the interior makes when the car takes a hit on bumps. Our roads suck and I am trying to insure that this car doesn't turn into a rattle trap down the road (like many of my cars have that I put harder shocks and crazy wheels/tires on. Lesson learned).
It's been my opinion that AMG overreached on this car in terms of suspension tuning. It's simply too hard for less than perfect roads and there was no "soft" button (until now) to address that. I don't want this car to emulate the ride of a 1987 Z51 Vette, but that's pretty much what it did before yesterday.
I'd encourage others to contact the Ninja and give it a try if you live in the "rust belt". It might be the fix you've been hoping for....
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 7
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2005 C55, 2008 CLK63 AMG Black Series
I do live in the rust belt with crap roads. Sounds like it'll ride pretty similar to my folks 18 LS500 then. I just don't want to go too far to the land yacht side of handling but I have considered going to 19s to increase the sidewall. I love how cushy my mother's 02 S430 is, like a cloud, but you can feel the heft of the car if you try to be even a bit more aggressive with it in comfort and not the sport modes. The S63 as is, is already way more cushy and refined than my W204 C300 6spd manual. But it sounds like with this tune, I can have my cake and eat it too!
TripleDown has great ideas always, and exiting to create
thank you !
thank you !
