Very stiff suspensions

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Oct 31, 2017 | 12:12 AM
  #1  
Hi Guys,

I have had the car for 4 days now, driving in comfort all times, the suspensions are extremely stiff. I can feel every bump the road has and it is a strong feeling

I read somewhere in delivery thread that a guy felt the same thing.

Anyone experiencing this? Is it normal? Would it change after few miles?
Reply 0
Oct 31, 2017 | 08:18 AM
  #2  
check your tire pressure first. If it is in the high 40's, you may want to do some trial & error and lower it to your own preference. In the event you are tracking the car, then just raise it back up to what MB has suggested.
Reply 0
Oct 31, 2017 | 12:29 PM
  #3  
As bobblehead suggested, definitely check your tire pressure. I had 42/43 in my tires when I picked it up from the dealership. I lowered it down to 38 when the tires were cold and the ride got better. While the suspension in comfort is somewhat stiff, the tire pressure with 20" rims makes a world of difference on roads that are not the best IMO.
Reply 0
Oct 31, 2017 | 10:54 PM
  #4  
No amount of decreasing the tire pressure will make a huge difference ... this car seems to be tightly sprung
Reply 0
Oct 31, 2017 | 11:49 PM
  #5  
Suspension being stiffer and I think the performance seats are much harder on the rear end making you feel every bump in the road. The non-performance seats will be a bit more forgiving.
Reply 0
Nov 1, 2017 | 12:00 AM
  #6  
I have performance seats and front pressure at 40 and rear at 37. In comfort the ride is pretty dang nice. I had a 2015 M3 prior and that was way stiffer and unforgiving. This is luxurious compared to that!
Reply 0
Nov 1, 2017 | 12:12 PM
  #7  
I would not suggest this car for someone who lives with bumpy roads. In Florida my car is great but up in New England it’s misery. If you’ve got really bumpy roads a s class is the best bet.
Reply 0
Nov 1, 2017 | 01:36 PM
  #8  
I agree with the tire pressure check as my C63S had 48 psi when I got it and it was a tough drive home. But the truth is the new air suspension is very very taut. My test drive in Sport Plus over some not so perfect roads yielded some interesting feedback. I personally like road feedback to a certain extent but not to a level of annoyance or discomfort.
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Nov 1, 2017 | 01:49 PM
  #9  
Quote: I agree with the tire pressure check as my C63S had 48 psi when I got it and it was a tough drive home. But the truth is the new air suspension is very very taut. My test drive in Sport Plus over some not so perfect roads yielded some interesting feedback. I personally like road feedback to a certain extent but not to a level of annoyance or discomfort.
So, what is your preferred (comfortable) tire pressure setting now on your MB ? For my past cars, I seldom go with what the manuf. suggests and I prefer to set mine in the mid 30's psi (front & rear), whether they are air suspension or on regular steel springs
Reply 0
Nov 1, 2017 | 01:52 PM
  #10  
Quote: So, what is your preferred (comfortable) tire pressure setting now on your MB ?
I run a low level on the C63S (which also has complaints of being too stiff) of 32/32. Per the gas cap door, this is fine for limited passenger weight and speeds under 155. I run sport setting for the dampers (one light).

Disclaimer: Im lowered on KW HAS which, to me, actually made the car more compliant under undulations and uneven pavement because of the spring rate set up. The OEM springs are stupid stiff; and the E has air so we are stuck there but once I get my car Ill still lower it and report back.
Reply 2
Nov 1, 2017 | 08:57 PM
  #11  
Even on rough grainy pavement the car is very noisy and you feel every crack in the road even in comfort setting. I've experience both good roads and bad roads the first week of ownership with this car from being up in the Northeast and now in Florida. Once I got to the south, the car was perfect but anywhere there was not so good pavement the car did not like it nor did I. I have the Michelin SS tires and I can imagine with the Pirelli tires there is even more road noise. I'm running 41 psi up front and 39 psi cold in the rear. You gotta be careful about going much below 40 psi cold with rough roads because your more likely to bend a rim with lower pressures if you hit a pot hole. I bent a few rims on my 2012 212 wagon, I would say that car rode a little better over rough roads than the 213, the 213 is definitely more firm. The handling of the 213 is just incredible though, it feels like it's on rails on the curvy roads.
Reply 1
Nov 1, 2017 | 10:04 PM
  #12  
Quick question: Can anyone here compare the suspension firmness in comfort mode to a 991 Porsche 911 with non-Sport PASM? Or to an Audi S6 in comfort & dynamic modes?
Reply 0
Nov 2, 2017 | 12:07 AM
  #13  
Quote: I have performance seats and front pressure at 40 and rear at 37. In comfort the ride is pretty dang nice. I had a 2015 M3 prior and that was way stiffer and unforgiving. This is luxurious compared to that!
I have 40/37 also with performance seat. Not sure how you say it is nice haha. I can feel the road like if i was dragging my *** on the floor lol.
Reply 1
Nov 2, 2017 | 12:43 AM
  #14  
Quote: I have 40/37 also with performance seat. Not sure how you say it is nice haha. I can feel the road like if i was dragging my *** on the floor lol.
trade it in for an S class
Reply 0
Nov 2, 2017 | 12:45 AM
  #15  
Quote: I have 40/37 also with performance seat. Not sure how you say it is nice haha. I can feel the road like if i was dragging my *** on the floor lol.
Again, it all depends on the roads, on these Florida roads I have no problem with the way car rides, if I were to strictly have the car up north where the roads take a beating from the frost during the winters, I don't think I could live with this car.
Reply 1
Nov 2, 2017 | 06:57 AM
  #16  
Agreed it’s pretty stiff.
Quote: I run a low level on the C63S (which also has complaints of being too stiff) of 32/32. Per the gas cap door, this is fine for limited passenger weight and speeds under 155. I run sport setting for the dampers (one light).

Disclaimer: Im lowered on KW HAS which, to me, actually made the car more compliant under undulations and uneven pavement because of the spring rate set up. The OEM springs are stupid stiff; and the E has air so we are stuck there but once I get my car Ill still lower it and report back.
Vic. How are you planning to lower it?
Reply 0
Nov 2, 2017 | 07:56 AM
  #17  
Quote: Quick question: Can anyone here compare the suspension firmness in comfort mode to a 991 Porsche 911 with non-Sport PASM? Or to an Audi S6 in comfort & dynamic modes?
I have s6. s6 is 50x times softer and smoother than e63s AMG I tested.
Doesn't matter in what mode S6.

E63 AMG ride is even harder and more 'bumpier' than 911. But my tester had tires pumped up to 50 so would be good to try again with much lower tire pressure.

From my point of view S6 is too soft, E63 AMG is toooo stiff.

Idel for me is 911 and E92 M3. Just my taste.
Reply 0
Nov 2, 2017 | 10:26 AM
  #18  
Quote: I have s6. s6 is 50x times softer and smoother than e63s AMG I tested.
Doesn't matter in what mode S6.

E63 AMG ride is even harder and more 'bumpier' than 911. But my tester had tires pumped up to 50 so would be good to try again with much lower tire pressure.

From my point of view S6 is too soft, E63 AMG is toooo stiff.

Idel for me is 911 and E92 M3. Just my taste.
I lowered the tire pressure on the Pirelli tires to 37 front and 33 rear cold and the ride is much better. I have a targa and also a convertible 991.2 GTS 4s and the E63 rides better now in comfort mode than either of those cars.
It also rides much better than my E92 M3 IMO ( no comp package)

The tire noise is much louder in the E63 for some reason though.
However if you put the E63s in sport + mode and the car becomes as stiff as a GT3 RS. Literally not driveable on the road. That is track only suspension setting right there!
Reply 0
Nov 2, 2017 | 10:31 AM
  #19  
Quote: Quick question: Can anyone here compare the suspension firmness in comfort mode to a 991 Porsche 911 with non-Sport PASM? Or to an Audi S6 in comfort & dynamic modes?
I swapped out of a 996 GT3 and find the Comfort Mode fantastic for noise and ride quality, everything I had hoped it would be. I had Toyo R888's and JIC coilovers on the 996 so it was more track than street. Sport+ mode is stiff but not bad on good roads and overpasses but not something I'd enjoy fulltime on Houston pavement.

I absolutely love this E63s for a daily driver.
Reply 0
Nov 2, 2017 | 11:40 AM
  #20  
Quote: Vic. How are you planning to lower it?
Just like Ive lowered my other airmatic and ABC cars, via sensors that push car down much like an ELM but at a fraction of the cost. My tech in Orange County has done all my rides and he will do this one as well.

I dont think the car needs a big drop but I hate unsightly gaps and will probably use some spacers to push the wheels out to the fenders too.
Reply 0
Nov 2, 2017 | 03:00 PM
  #21  
I bought all my AMGs 1-2 years old and then put a lot of miles on them. I maintain well so they’re mechanically sound throughout ownership. Both my W211s were solid, even well into the mid 100k mile range. My W212 is becoming an annoying rattle trap with half the miles of my E55s. Hearing this gives me further reason to possibly avoid the W213, at least as a long relationship vehicle.
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Nov 2, 2017 | 07:06 PM
  #22  
Quote: I bought all my AMGs 1-2 years old and then put a lot of miles on them. I maintain well so they’re mechanically sound throughout ownership. Both my W211s were solid, even well into the mid 100k mile range. My W212 is becoming an annoying rattle trap with half the miles of my E55s. Hearing this gives me further reason to possibly avoid the W213, at least as a long relationship vehicle.
Yeah mine too! Seems to be coming from the speaker grills both front and rear.

I have 2 E300s for a week at a time. Both had speaker grill rattles from the front....hopefully if that is all that rattles, the corresponding E63 will be easy to fix (hoping)
Reply 0
Nov 2, 2017 | 07:42 PM
  #23  
Quote: Yeah mine too! Seems to be coming from the speaker grills both front and rear.

I have 2 E300s for a week at a time. Both had speaker grill rattles from the front....hopefully if that is all that rattles, the corresponding E63 will be easy to fix (hoping)
I’m sure that’s part of the problem but mine has more than just that. The sad part is that we actually have pretty good roads here in AZ.
Reply 0
Nov 2, 2017 | 11:41 PM
  #24  
I took delivery of my E63 last week and then drove it 2000 miles to Arizona. I found the ride to be uncomfortably stiff. I thought that once I got to Arizona the ride would be a little softer just due to the better roads. This car is still too stiff. I reduced the tire pressures to 42/40 front/rear and that helped a little. I have driven many vehicles to and from Arizona and this car was the worst in terms of ride and seat comfort (regular seats). It was a very uncomfortable long distance car. I also had some electrical gremlins come and go (distronic cutting out for no reason/keyless entry not working). If I cant find a way to soften the ride by either changing the tires or finding some way to soften the suspension, I am going to have to change cars. I am coming from a Panamera GTS which I must now say is a superior car in most areas, particularly the transmission. Too bad as I was hoping this car would have been better all around.
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Nov 3, 2017 | 08:05 AM
  #25  
want to hear for those (maybe in Europe) who have chosen the 19" wheel setup and get their take with the overall ride comfort.

When I get my car, it does come in 20"setup but will pretty well switch over to 19" for winter setup .. going with 255/40/19 ... that taller sidewall may lessen the harshness ... have to see.
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