sack5000

The owners manual says never to change the settings when the vehicle is in motion. Does it really matter? I have routinely done this without any issue. Any thoughts on this?

way2evil

I do it all the time. Dont worry about it.

cahiil55k

I normally do this or raise or drop the car when stationary. It's just for my peace of mind but whether switching in motion will damage anything is beyond me. The car does automatically lower itself when you hit 70mph which is probably worse than someone changing the ride settings at lower speeds.

Edit: Never mind the above, I was thinking about ride settings and not shift modes. I have switched shift modes on the fly but not often.

Jon2007E63P30

No worries on the tranny settings. No problem.

citylightva

Ha, I didn't even know it said that...But like everyone else I do it on the fly since I'm usually in M and swap to C in traffic....

harjothundal

I've swapped both suspension setting AND airmatic settings while driving... Is it not ok to do for airmatic?

W211 BEAST

78MPH...

harjothundal

I could have sworn it said 69 mph in the manual?

i_am_amused

Interesting. I am usually in S but I switch to M for traffic. C is used almost exclusively in rain or snow.

cahiil55k

You're right, I just watched one of my drag race videos and the raised mode cancellation message came on at around 78mph.

W211 BEAST

Maybe, but I've actually been bored enough to use the cruise control and slowly go up from 70MPH to 78MPH to see when it drops, and it's at 78MPH.

The 500s on the other hand, I think those drop at 69MPH (my brother's CLS500 does).

I get bored, leave me alone! lol

220S

^^^
fwiw, the manual says:

"At a speed exceeding approximately 68 mph with normal level set or exceeding 75 mph with raised level set, the ride height is reduced automatically. With decreasing speed the ride height is again raised to the normal level. These height adjustments are so small that you may not notice any change."

So you're both right

p.s., there's no issues whatsoever with changing either the Airmatic or the tranny modes on the fly. Airmatic ADS (C, SI and SII) simply changes the air volume via the valve on the strut to stiffen or soften the ride. The level control (raising the vehicle) will automatically lower at high speeds or you do it yourself before you reach that speed (over 75 mph.) And I don't think anybody here drives around with the car raised all the time

The tranny doesn't care and the manual only says that you should put the car in park first. There's no warning not to do it on the fly. If it was bad they'd have a warning in bold type. They just don't want people doing it on the fly and forgetting they're in C, S, or M, etc.. Just a typical "safety" thing for brain-dead drivers.

sack5000

Thanks for all the replies guys. One additional question: If you move from S to C when the vehicle is barely moving, do you feel a slight jerk at each press of the button? This just feels like the vehicle jumps slightly when making each change.

W211 BEAST

These cars, with all their computerized mumbo-jumbo, are turning us all into brain dead drivers. That's why I just got a '91 Miata, it's keeping me human.

220S

Yeah, I hear you. There's nothing like driving instead of being driven. Old school, ftw.

way2evil

If you are in S when the vehicle is just starting to accelerate from 0 it is in 1st. If you change it to C it shifts up to 2nd. C starts in 2nd. Thats your feeling.

Jon2007E63P30

From a 2007 Manual