06E55BEAST

So I have an 06 E55 with about 49500 miles on it. Car was meticulously taken care of by the previous owner. Recently the roads around my house have been going through construction, so a lot of of bumps and steel plates on the surface. Ive gone over these bumps/steel plates a few times now, sometimes at 50-60mph...sometimes i forget these bumps/plates are there. Will this affect my suspension/alignment to the point where it can be detrimental to my car? THANKS

2000UZJ

Smashing through construction sites in any car will be a detriment. Pick a new route through town or slow down. You will probably bend/crack a rim before you bend a suspension component. I want to drag people out of their car if I see them going 60MPH in a construction zone anyways.

06E55BEAST

Yeah Ive chosen a new route for sure. Is the airmatic relatively stronger on the newer 55s than the older ones?

2000UZJ

It's hit or miss. I have had a airmatic failure. Many have, many haven't. Mine failed due to raising/lowering to get in and out of the driveway.

socalsounds

It's really quite good in comparison with early W220s. Those cars were freaking nightmares, with leaks coming from resin cracks in the top mounts, line fittings, you name it. I had a hell of a time with my 2001 S430- Thousands spent, and I did all of the work myself. The W211 uses the newer style struts, and they seem to be a bit better in comparison. Rear air bag leaks seem fairly common, as is pump replacement.

As a note to all, I had a small crack in my pump outlet line, so I replaced it. In doing so I noticed that the original filter was completely separated internally, and allowing unfiltered air into the system. $20 for the genuine MB part, and the pump runs much quieter and quicker now.

Food for thought...

SL55_Forever

Get ABC, all your problems will go away.

06E55BEAST

LOL arent the ABC equipped cars worse than the Airmatic? I just want to make sure I am not doing anything damaging to my car. I know these cars are meant to be driven hard, but still do not want to do anything outrageous..

SL55_Forever

^Yes I was trying to exaggerate subtly and I think I managed trick you :P

ABC is much less reliable than Airmatic but offers a better handling/luxurious ride nonetheless. The double-edge sword some of us live with

SnoopSER

Then he'd really be paranoid!!

SICAMG

Coil overs. Sell old factory parts,get most money back, never ever have to worry again.

55fanatic

Yup^, Ill be going coilovers myself this spring

06E55BEAST

well coil overs arent an option for me right now, car has 50k miles. Maybe down the road. But I just wanted to see how strong our airmatic suspension is, got a pretty good idea now.