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I swear I will never buy a car with Airmatic again!
What a convoluted, horrible system! I understand that the ride is nice... but that can also be said for every BMW, Lexus, Porsche, etc that do not have this horrid system.
Last year I spent almost $2000 replacing my front right air strut. I used Bilstein OE parts. A little over a year later... that strut is failing again!! I check the distribution block and did not see any obvious issues/melted lines. Here we go again...
It's not the easiest to deal with. Probably good as a w211 owner if you can do the work yourself. Coilovers are always a permanent option. Did you get a replacement under warranty?
I certainly understand your frustration, and I'm not trying to rub salt in your wound. But would it have been cheaper to go with Arnott re-manufactured air struts instead of Bilstein?
The other thing is when airmatic is working fine, it's a great system, smooth ride, raises up and down to clear speed humps. It's awesome, but when it's broken it's expensive.
I have arnott’s and have zero issues so far. You can always go coilovers and call it a day. I kept my airmatic because i need the adjustability of the ride height on demand. On a lowered car with a front lip and you can guess what happens then.
On a lowered car with a front lip and you can guess what happens then.
I had to replaced my CF front splitter, and I'm now more cautious than ever before about scrapping it. So having the ability to raise the car, is a great benefit to me.
When I was looking for the wagon I just bought, I made sure it had Airmatic. I love it and it's not that complicated or too expensive if you do it yourself.
I did coil-overs when I owned my 2005, added a few years to my life not worrying - car handled way better but was a tad rougher
Install was time consuming (rear) but not hard
I did BC Coil over conversion 3 years ago and no issues. Total cost include all the parts and labor about $2K.
Never have to worry about airmatic again.
It's not the cost of the Bilstein that bothers me. It's the reliability. Cars with coil springs don't have catostrophic failure that prevents driving them.... again and again. My 2007 Chevy is a MUCH more reliable car than my 2007 AMG at this point. The AMG has left me stranded twice. The Chevy, never.
It's just part of the fun unfortunately. Add performance and/or luxury and poorer reliability "often" follows to some degree. Having said that I think you are also a bit unlucky, failures don't seem at all rampant considering the number of owners and car mileage on here.
2006 E55 AMG, 2013 Porsche Carrera S, 2008 Leuxs IS350
FCP Euro lifetime replacement the only way to go with these struts IMO and DIY it. Also agree with tw2, failures seem overblown. I am at 106k and mine are all going strong.
Having said that I think you are also a bit unlucky, failures don't seem at all rampant considering the number of owners and car mileage on here.
I really hope you are right. My car has 65k miles, absolute cream puff, always garaged, driven ever couple of weeks, and over-maintained. I'm really just upset that I've now had two airmatic issues... I could deal with the one.
I bought my E55 wagon with 136k miles on it and have replaced all 4 air shocks with Arnott myself for less than $1500. Lifetime warranty on the parts. Zero issues, but that's to be expected less than a year later.
I really hope you are right. My car has 65k miles, absolute cream puff, always garaged, driven ever couple of weeks, and over-maintained. I'm really just upset that I've now had two airmatic issues... I could deal with the one.
I can understand being upset having to the replace the same strut again, but faulting the system for being poorly designed is just your frustration talking. Try an ABC system on a S class if you want to talk extreme pain in the ***, and cost $$$$. Modern Mercedes are still using air suspension for a reason. When I went shopping for my E55 a while ago, I researched common failure areas, and budgeted a few thousand, or so for anticipated repairs. Specifically the airmatic system. I ended up with a really well kept original owner 2004 E55, serviced at a Mercedes dealer it's whole life. Has 130K miles on it now, but I still have airmatic money stashed away. :-) My biggest fear is losing a front strut miles from home. I carry wooden blocks to support the strut, and at least get me off the road if that happens.
I can understand being upset having to the replace the same strut again, but faulting the system for being poorly designed is just your frustration talking. Try an ABC system on a S class if you want to talk extreme pain in the ***, and cost $$$$. Modern Mercedes are still using air suspension for a reason. When I went shopping for my E55 a while ago, I researched common failure areas, and budgeted a few thousand, or so for anticipated repairs. Specifically the airmatic system. I ended up with a really well kept original owner 2004 E55, serviced at a Mercedes dealer it's whole life. Has 130K miles on it now, but I still have airmatic money stashed away. :-) My biggest fear is losing a front strut miles from home. I carry wooden blocks to support the strut, and at least get me off the road if that happens.
Well said...
Now the wooden block thing...that's new to me but sounds like something I should know about!
Now the wooden block thing...that's new to me but sounds like something I should know about!
I think they are actually available as a Mercedes part. Fits up in the strut somewhere to keep the height of the car. You can't drive it as such but can idle the car onto a flatbed or around the garage.
I guess I'm lucky. 165k on the original airmatic hardware. Am setting some coin aside for new struts and shocks, the ride is just starting to suggest it's getting to be time.
What a convoluted, horrible system! I understand that the ride is nice... but that can also be said for every BMW, Lexus, Porsche, etc that do not have this horrid system.
Last year I spent almost $2000 replacing my front right air strut. I used Bilstein OE parts. A little over a year later... that strut is failing again!! I check the distribution block and did not see any obvious issues/melted lines. Here we go again...
Mine went out on 2006, I brought to Mercedes shop and star didn’t read any codes? Drivers side rear mostly sagging and passenger rear as well. I had car jacked up front right for 3 days because was waiting on Altenator... now this👎
Due to fact that no error codes on star, and no error codes on display! Any suggestions? I hear “hissing” after 20 min or so rear driver side? I’ve tried soap test but haven’t gotten it while hissing. Also how do u check with tire off, seems because jacked up doesn’t put pressure on that side? Put wheel under something?
Please hep experts?
While the car has been sitting for 2 days, the rear has now dropped and is not filling upon starting. Just great. How can I tell if my compressor is burned out?
While the car has been sitting for 2 days, the rear has now dropped and is not filling upon starting. Just great. How can I tell if my compressor is burned out?
Does it raise even a little? If it does then the compressor is probably working. If not then find the leak and try again. If I were needing a new one I would get the FCP warranty.
Loading her onto the flatbed, slowly and carefully... this happens... ugh. Can't blame the tow driver as he was careful but the car is 2" off the ground. I just don't see why they would design a system like this.
06-24-2019, 08:38 PM
