Airmatic Failure AGAIN!!!!
#1
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Mercedes
Airmatic Failure AGAIN!!!!
So I am driving back in the city tonight and all of a sudden i get the error message....stop, car too low.....so I pull over and I am thinking "oh no not again" I get outside the car and it is sitting on top of the tire!! This is now the second time that this has happened!!! The first time was on he left side and now it was on the right!!! I am taking the car to service tomorrow, but has anyone else has this problem. My first problem happened at 28000 miles and I took the car in for service and they changed out the entire suspension assembly on the left side. It was covered by warranty but took a week to do!! Now I have to take the car back again for the same problem on a different side....WTF very annoying. Has anyone else had this kind of problem with their cars...just wondering
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#2
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I've had this problem before too man I though it was the pump but I was wrong it was the strut it self. Here's my thread on this issue (on a w220)
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w220/248261-finally-happenedoairmatic-collapsed.html
They replaced it under warranty.. it's a 3000$ job (Canadian) and took about 3 days
https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w220/248261-finally-happenedoairmatic-collapsed.html
They replaced it under warranty.. it's a 3000$ job (Canadian) and took about 3 days
Last edited by benz_addict; 07-01-2008 at 02:35 AM.
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#8
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#11
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I've said it a MILLION times... mechanially lowering your car with washers and by other cheap and corner-cutting means has shown to cause failure! Pay $250 and have a tech lower it through the STAR system. I don't understand why people pay so much for these cars and don't lower them properly!!!
Alexandar, when you get your car back, throw the washers in the garbage, call CPT, and have Al lower the car for you the right way. You will be much happier.
-m
Alexandar, when you get your car back, throw the washers in the garbage, call CPT, and have Al lower the car for you the right way. You will be much happier.
-m
#12
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Mercedes
I've said it a MILLION times... mechanially lowering your car with washers and by other cheap and corner-cutting means has shown to cause failure! Pay $250 and have a tech lower it through the STAR system. I don't understand why people pay so much for these cars and don't lower them properly!!!
Alexandar, when you get your car back, throw the washers in the garbage, call CPT, and have Al lower the car for you the right way. You will be much happier.
-m
Alexandar, when you get your car back, throw the washers in the garbage, call CPT, and have Al lower the car for you the right way. You will be much happier.
-m
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#13
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I've said it a MILLION times... mechanially lowering your car with washers and by other cheap and corner-cutting means has shown to cause failure! Pay $250 and have a tech lower it through the STAR system. I don't understand why people pay so much for these cars and don't lower them properly!!!
-m
-m
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#14
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2003-E55 2011-C63 2016-C63S
This has happened to me once before. I stopped for a while, re started the car and problem gone. Has not happened since. I often get the "vehicle rising" malfunction warning. not sure if thats related.
#15
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e55 w/LET TUNE Drinks: vodka STRAIGHT Wheels: 19" HRE 547r Mods:FF headers ASP Pulley
well when lowering a car ANYWAY. you should replace the shocks
i dont think the washers have anymore to do with it then then doing it with star
i dont think the washers have anymore to do with it then then doing it with star
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I've used all the methods. In fact, i still have my set of front links that were modified from way before aftermarket ones were available. BUT, the ELM and STAR lowerings are different in how the car responds to the lower. The washers simply fool the computer, whereas the ELM (RT's) and STAR do not. They both change the target that the computer is looking for. In the end, yes they both lower. But, the ride is a big difference.
#18
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The beauty of lowering through star is that you are actually keeping the height within specification of the original suspension - which typically allows for up to 1" of lowering. Unlike doing springs and not changing shocks on your traditional setup, this is all within factory specs. The washer method is the equivalent of springs without shocks. I understand it is tempting, but people need to be advised of the real risks that are presented! The washers allow the car to go out of spec and change the suspension dynamics tremendously and has been well documented in multiple platforms to cause failure.
-m
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e55 w/LET TUNE Drinks: vodka STRAIGHT Wheels: 19" HRE 547r Mods:FF headers ASP Pulley
eddie,
The beauty of lowering through star is that you are actually keeping the height within specification of the original suspension - which typically allows for up to 1" of lowering. Unlike doing springs and not changing shocks on your traditional setup, this is all within factory specs. The washer method is the equivalent of springs without shocks. I understand it is tempting, but people need to be advised of the real risks that are presented! The washers allow the car to go out of spec and change the suspension dynamics tremendously and has been well documented in multiple platforms to cause failure.
-m
The beauty of lowering through star is that you are actually keeping the height within specification of the original suspension - which typically allows for up to 1" of lowering. Unlike doing springs and not changing shocks on your traditional setup, this is all within factory specs. The washer method is the equivalent of springs without shocks. I understand it is tempting, but people need to be advised of the real risks that are presented! The washers allow the car to go out of spec and change the suspension dynamics tremendously and has been well documented in multiple platforms to cause failure.
-m
im starting to agree. i forget the car moves as we drive and it may move even further down with washers then when driving with star.
#20
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When adjusting the ECU through STAR, you can simply change the voltage values in the ECU to ranges that are still acceptable and values that are actually TRUE. You may not be able to SLAM the car, but 1" of lowering is more than adequate for most drivers out there and still looks great.
-m
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V12-Biturbo
You've got it! Do not forget that with the washers the ECU thinks your height is at a certain level, when in fact it is not. So whatever adjustments on the fly it is making it is doing so with the wrong information - not limited to lowering the car when it is already too low and not raising the car enough when it has to. This will almost inevitably lead to failure with the Airmatic system.
When adjusting the ECU through STAR, you can simply change the voltage values in the ECU to ranges that are still acceptable and values that are actually TRUE. You may not be able to SLAM the car, but 1" of lowering is more than adequate for most drivers out there and still looks great.
-m
When adjusting the ECU through STAR, you can simply change the voltage values in the ECU to ranges that are still acceptable and values that are actually TRUE. You may not be able to SLAM the car, but 1" of lowering is more than adequate for most drivers out there and still looks great.
-m
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