20" rims and lowered - new airmatic fails :(
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: England
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2012 CLS
20" rims and lowered - new airmatic fails :(
Last month I had the car lowered and new Monarch 20" alloys fitted:
Link
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...ls-fitted.html
Today the car had to be recovered as the airmatic strut (front driver side) failed, slamming the car and making it virtually undrivable. The wheel touches the wing (fender?) when turning.
I had 2 new front struts fitted in February at a cost of over $3,700.
I am concerned that the dealer is going to blame the lowering links and 20" alloys, rather honour any warranty on new AMG sourced and fittred parts.
What are your thoughts guys? Should I expect for new struts to fail because the front is lowered 20mm (I always drive on comfort anyways, and not sport I or II).
Advice welcome, as on Monday I will have to speak to the dealer in London where the car has been recovered.
Marc
Link
https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...ls-fitted.html
Today the car had to be recovered as the airmatic strut (front driver side) failed, slamming the car and making it virtually undrivable. The wheel touches the wing (fender?) when turning.
I had 2 new front struts fitted in February at a cost of over $3,700.
I am concerned that the dealer is going to blame the lowering links and 20" alloys, rather honour any warranty on new AMG sourced and fittred parts.
What are your thoughts guys? Should I expect for new struts to fail because the front is lowered 20mm (I always drive on comfort anyways, and not sport I or II).
Advice welcome, as on Monday I will have to speak to the dealer in London where the car has been recovered.
Marc
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
It really depends on if you have a mod-friendly service advisor. If you want to be on the safe side, swap back in your stock links before you go to the dealer.
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 0
Received 22 Likes
on
14 Posts
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
If lowered with links or washers, the chance of airmatic failure would rise, I would think. Using that method of lowering, the airmatic computer does not adjust for damping since it believes the car is riding at stock height, causing longer suspension travel than what's truly available. However, when lowering with SDS or a lowering module, the computer is 'height aware' and adjust damping accordingly.
Remove those links ASAP. I would bet they will try to deny the claim unless you have a good working relationship with them.
Remove those links ASAP. I would bet they will try to deny the claim unless you have a good working relationship with them.
#7
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 2,048
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
02 S500 Sport
Well his strut leaked, I wonder how, prob defective from the get go.
Im in a similiar situation right now but my relay malfunctioned and burned my pump out. Im slammed 2" from the ground. Looks kinda good lol, pics in the W220 section titled" Pump Crapped Out"
Im in a similiar situation right now but my relay malfunctioned and burned my pump out. Im slammed 2" from the ground. Looks kinda good lol, pics in the W220 section titled" Pump Crapped Out"
Trending Topics
#9
I must be very lucky, I've had lowering links on my car for over four years and never had a problem with the airmatic system. But I don't drive my car to much. But I would take them off if I had a problem with the system, and I was going to take it to the dealer.
#10
Super Member
sry to see that marc, id get those links back to standard if you can! to be on the safe side, no doubt they will blame them.
#12
MBWorld Fanatic!
I think if you moderately lower your car via star or end links, that you should be okay. But if you dramtically drop it (slam), that's when problems occur, IMHO. Because the strut can not absorb the bumps at that level. So the impact to the strut is more pronounced.
#13
MBWorld Fanatic!
def remove the lowering links before taking to dealership. Heck i removed my 19s and turned off my ELM when i took my car in for Visit workshop suspension icon. It ended up being a bad wire for the relay DS which was replaced under CPO warranty. Luckily i took it in 2 days after the warning came on.
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: England
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2012 CLS
Very relieved, it would seem that the lowering link had sinmply become detached. Dealership refitted and put on Star and set levels and no questions asked about the (obviously) very new non standard links. Ł180 sterling. Sorted and happy.
Thanks for your sympathy Alps. As you can appreciate I did not post on UK site as a) very few would know about lowering (there are some but not many) b) its not everyone's cup of tea and i did not want the "I told you so" replies and c) I may have decided to advertise the car ....!
For what its worth I had a new shape E220 cdi - what an completely unispiring car. Poor visibility; poor style; cheap interior; slow to engage gear when turning; gutless (of course) generally felt cheap ............................
Cheer to all for the feedback
Marc - back onb the road
Thanks for your sympathy Alps. As you can appreciate I did not post on UK site as a) very few would know about lowering (there are some but not many) b) its not everyone's cup of tea and i did not want the "I told you so" replies and c) I may have decided to advertise the car ....!
For what its worth I had a new shape E220 cdi - what an completely unispiring car. Poor visibility; poor style; cheap interior; slow to engage gear when turning; gutless (of course) generally felt cheap ............................
Cheer to all for the feedback
Marc - back onb the road
#15
Good to here you here that you managed to solve the problem Marc!
I would also be worried about having to spend close to 3k on the car just like that.
I can imagine some of the responses you would get if you posted on the Uk forum!
(MbClub.co.uk E55)
I would also be worried about having to spend close to 3k on the car just like that.
I can imagine some of the responses you would get if you posted on the Uk forum!
(MbClub.co.uk E55)
#16
Super Member
good stuff marc, glad it was something reletively simple!
totally appeciate why you didnt post this on the UK site, car looks the nuts tho!
whats next on the mods list for you?
totally appeciate why you didnt post this on the UK site, car looks the nuts tho!
whats next on the mods list for you?
#20
MBWorld Fanatic!