What would it take to do this to get rid of the airmatic? Would it throw up a warning light that could be overridden? This would have to greatly enhance the handeling of these cars.

 

Not only that but coilovers would be much more cost efficient and reliable. I am subscribed.

 

I cant imagine a good set would cost much over $3000 and at an airmatic shock at $1200 a piece and then a pump for $2500, I am thinking coilovers are the way to go. This may be something SW gets done to his new beast.

 

A TON$$$$$ of fabrication work....

 

thats what warranties are for

 

The main question is the airmatic and normal shocks on the W211 interchangeable? If they are then I don't think it'll be that much. Because there are aftermarket coilovers for the non-airmatic W211. Just adapt those to the E55 and golden. That'll also save a ton of weight too.

 

After installing coilovers, connect the car to STAR and select steel suspension. By doing this you will get no errors and warning lights.

 

The KWs cost about 1600. In the future I am also inclined to do this.

 

Good luck,

 

So you are telling me to switch out to coilovers it is roughly $1600. For better handeling, more reliable, and lighter suspension, that seems like a no brainer.

 

I'm sure this is possible, but I feel like it can't be very easy or someone would've done it by now since everyone *****es about Airmatic (I personally hate it too). It'd be sweet if it's just that easy though...

 

Looks like the parts are out there. Might have to grab stock parts from a non-airmatic car and something like this.

http://thmotorsports.com/kw_suspensi...025005-06-2006



https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...-w211-55s.html

 

How nice would it be to finally get the car to handle like an M5 instead of a tug boat!

 

Interesting thread and good find! Well I was planning on doing it to my old car (hotrods) no I have to find an E55 to get working on.

 

Just try it on the CLS... I would love to have coilovers on my car if I didn't have a Pano piggy roof...that flexy piece of glass will always hold my car back...

 

 

Yeah, make that happen ASAP!! I want to know if this works!!!!!!!

 

i think the problem is finding a shop to be the first to do so?? and someone has to be the guinea pig for them to work on it? But its a route i would go should my airmatic leaks and not under warranty anymore.

 

It is not a plug and play.
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...uspension.html
Years ago I thought it would make the car handle better, now that I have done some work on the AirMatic I am not so sure. We need a skid pad and a e350 w air matic and a E350 w steel suspension a G meeter. Can a 4100 lb 4 door car handle? My answer no but that comes from a 1800 lb. mid-engine point of view. I like the comfort for long trips my fatigue level is greatly reduced.
The only real advantage might be reliability, the rebuilt struts now cost the same as a KW coilover so cost is not much of a factor.

 

I'm afraid that even if you can increase the outright grip the rest of the suspension dynamics might be off. I prefer a neutral handling car with lower grip to one with snap oversteer or an unhealthy amount of understeer but has more overall grip. Give me an RX-8 any day to thrash around a track and I'll be satisfied. I love that chassis. I don't think there is any easy solution to making an E handle like an M5. But I'm easily wrong, I hope someone find's a $1000 kit that is amazing and kills two birds with one stone.

 

I honestly am not so much concerned with the handling improvements that might occur with coil-overs, as I am with the reliability. Too many areas of the airmatic suspension that can fail.

 

This is extremely common in the Audi RS6 community.
They have had it way worse in regards to air suspension problems. Their most common and cost effective solution was to throw CO's on and ditch the DRC system.

I for one appreciate the smoothness of the air suspension, especially now that I have lowered it slightly with an ELM. I have had my share of cars with tight suspensions and am really enjoying the change. Charging the twisties occurs a lot less in my daily commute than I prefer...lol.

 

MB engineered these cars as highway missiles, with a lot of comfort. I would not think of running the Tail of The Dragon in the E55, nor would I want to drive an Elise cross country.

As for reliability, I too would love to have a CO suspension vs. airmatic. Maybe when my warranty is up in 5 years, there will be a well tested solution available. SW certainly has the resources to explore this, and I wish him god speed, as we will all benefit from his research.

 

Gentlemen,

I just talked to my Shop Foreman at American Service Center in Arlington, VA. He said that the airmatic suspension can be replaced with the stock or coilover setup. The bolt holes are the same for either setup. You will need to use the Star to disable the airmatic functions though. So you now have a green light to start modifications, please post pictures.

 

Hmm. It sounds too simple. the question in my mind is then why no Big name companies offer the after market coilover kits for e55/63?