Airmatic problem. Need help!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From: Dubai
2004 E55 and Audi TT 3.2
Airmatic problem. Need help!
Well things were looking good, changed heat exchanger(PLM), Bosch pump and S/C bearing, couldn't be happier. Then while bleeding the coolant, heard a loud "whoosh" from driver side airmatic and it dropped. Now initially on the dash it was giving me a too low warning, I pressed the button to raise the car and it did slightly and message went away, you can see it tries too raise the corner, it raises slightly and then drops. Never had a problem with the shocks and they were holding pressure really well. I have been trying to read up on what it can be, but would appreciate some help at what to tackle first.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 339
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e55 amg
If the car tries to raise, and it instantly drops, its a bad strut. I also doubt changing out the pump, bearing, or H/C that you snagged a line. Mine did this. Once you try to raise the car, the strut can't hold the pressure. If it was a bad regulator, other parts of the car would drop as well. Not just 1 specific side.
Is your compressor loud at all when filling up the bags? If not, its more than likely a strut. Very easy to change, and if you take the Arnott route its about $550 after you send your strut to them if you want for a rebate.
Is your compressor loud at all when filling up the bags? If not, its more than likely a strut. Very easy to change, and if you take the Arnott route its about $550 after you send your strut to them if you want for a rebate.
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Joined: Dec 2014
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From: Indianapolis
2004 E55.98 SS Camaro.Jetta TDI. Expedition
Also the airlines for the front are at the top the the tower braces. It's possible you leaned against one or hit it with tools and it came loose. Unlikely but possible
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 33
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From: Dubai
2004 E55 and Audi TT 3.2
I didn't mention that I spilled quite a lot of coolant down in the tray
I was really hoping to hear something else, but thats what I expected. I was subconsciously hoping for a quick fix. Ill get it lifted to my local Indy. Thanks for the help guys, Ill post back when its done.
I was really hoping to hear something else, but thats what I expected. I was subconsciously hoping for a quick fix. Ill get it lifted to my local Indy. Thanks for the help guys, Ill post back when its done.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 33
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From: Dubai
2004 E55 and Audi TT 3.2
I think I am going to have the same problem, can't get the tow truck into underground parking and when I turn the steering wheel it rubs the fender. The shop that has the shock won't sell it to me, they want to do the service, so it's going to be very interesting trying to get the car onto the lift, I hope I don't do much or any damage.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 33
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From: Dubai
2004 E55 and Audi TT 3.2
Finally ended up getting a Bilstein Airmatic and had it installed, but with some issues, will get to that later. Want to thank everyone for there help, at least I had an idea what to look for. Getting the car onto the lift was uneventful, but fuel started leaking down behind the rear left wheel, had that fixed while it was at the garage.
After the shock was installed the car was leaning over towards the new shock, they tried to tell me it would level after driving for a few miles. Did that and went back and told them this unacceptable, here's the good part, they then told me that there were no adjustments on the W211, I could not believe they did not how to do this with Star. Thanks to everyone here, I whipped out my IPad and pulled up the sticky on how to do this, 5 minutes and I was out of the garage with a smile on my face. They even wrote down the procedure, LOL.
Now on to changing my S/C bearing
After the shock was installed the car was leaning over towards the new shock, they tried to tell me it would level after driving for a few miles. Did that and went back and told them this unacceptable, here's the good part, they then told me that there were no adjustments on the W211, I could not believe they did not how to do this with Star. Thanks to everyone here, I whipped out my IPad and pulled up the sticky on how to do this, 5 minutes and I was out of the garage with a smile on my face. They even wrote down the procedure, LOL.
Now on to changing my S/C bearing
Last edited by MZE55; Nov 22, 2015 at 09:07 AM.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From: Dubai
2004 E55 and Audi TT 3.2
I ended paying $900 for the Bilstein. Finally was able to take a long drive, surprisingly my steering wheel stopped shaking at highway speed, originally thought I had a wheel balance issue, turned out it was the shock, I was so happy I drove for an extra hour on the highway, LOL.
