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As indicated in the thread below, an often overlooked maintenance item is the air filter for the Airmatic suspension system. I would recommend changing this filter every five years. It is located behind the front bumper on the driver's side of left-hand-drive cars, just under the Airmatic pump.
Often times, when you get in there to replace the filter, you will find that the black rubber "boot" that holds and encases most of the filter, is in a badly degraded condition. This is largely because of age, as well as exposure to the hot air of the engine compartment and ambient air flowing through and under the engine compartment. So, it is an EXCELLENT idea to order a replacement boot at the time you replace the filter, and if you are not replacing the entire filter/hose assembly (see last posts in the linked thread above), you order this boot and just replace it out of hand. It's very very cheap.
Here are some views of the replacement process for the boot.
View of the Airmatic pump assembly showing the adjacent air filter. Close-up view of the Airmatic air pump area, showing the air filter and attached hose at the bottom. Packaging of the new boot, including MB part number. Close-up of part number for the Airmatic air filter boot. Hose attached to the bottom of the Airmatic air filter with silver spring clamp. You can see black boot surrounding and holding filter in place. Another view of the boot holding the top part of the Airmatic air filter. Removing the spring clamp from the hose attached to the bottom of the filter, using long needle-nose pliers. Moving the clamp down the hose and out of the way. Close-up of the removed clamp on the filter hose. Gently pulling the hose off of the nipple on the bottom of the Airmatic air filter. Exposing the silver spring clamp at the TOP of the rubber boot, for removal.
[img alt="Using the long needle-nose pliers to compress the spring clamp to release the hose attached to the top of the Airmatic air filter.
Directly above the tip of the needle-nose plier, you can see the thin metal bar onto which the air filter boot is slid onto to hold it in place and away from adjacent parts and the air pump."]https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbworld.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_5329_03696214cee201b4ad8f8a8ee2c5ecc621747621. jpg[/img] Using the long needle-nose pliers to compress the spring clamp to release the hose attached to the top of the Airmatic air filter. Directly above the tip of the needle-nose plier, you can see the thin metal bar onto which the air filter boot is slid onto to hold it in place and away from adjacent parts and the air pump. Top spring clamp loosened and moved off of the Airmatic air filter nipple. Hose removed from the upper nipple of the Airmatic air filter. Air filter and boot removed from the car. Shows the MB part number for the boot. Removing the boot from the Airmatic air filter. New and old boots, side by side. Note the rough condition of the rubber boot, including a ripped slot where it is held behind the bumper. This is on a car with only 28,000 miles on the odometer. More about the rough condition of the air filter boot. This is on a car with only 28,000 miles on the odometer. More about the rough condition of the air filter boot. This is on a car with only 28,000 miles on the odometer. More about the rough condition of the air filter boot. This is on a car with only 28,000 miles on the odometer. More about the rough condition of the air filter boot. This is on a car with only 28,000 miles on the odometer.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
