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2021 facelift suspension differences?

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Old Mar 16, 2021 | 11:28 PM
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2020 E63S Wagon (waiting on it now), 2014 Porsche C2S, 2019 Audi e-Tron
2021 facelift suspension differences?

I have a 2020 e63 wagon and I hear the 2021 suspension is much smoother. Anyone know what the actual difference is? Can it be done/applied to a 2020?
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Old Mar 17, 2021 | 09:26 AM
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As I understand it, there are both S/W and hardware differences that make the '21 ride smoother in Comfort mode. I also understand that SOME of the same benefits are being applied via S/W updates to earlier years, but only outside the US. Not sure why North America is being delayed or not included at all.
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Old Apr 1, 2021 | 07:06 PM
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Any other owners care to comment?
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Old Apr 1, 2021 | 08:53 PM
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Front/Rear struts and dampening were revised so it rides softer in C.
Not sure if there were differences made to S, S+ and Race mode.

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Old Apr 1, 2021 | 08:57 PM
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Really noticeably softer?
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Old Apr 2, 2021 | 10:10 AM
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Originally Posted by anthony
Really noticeably softer?
Not an owner but I have driven the pre-face lift and 2021 facelift e63s. The new facelift is noticeably softer. It was the first thing I looked for when driving the 2021. It doesn't have that little bit of harshness/tightness that you had in the pre-face lift when driving normally. The 2021 over railroad tracks and over manhole covers was very soft. You could feel you were going over something but it was very slight and the feeling of you going over them was like they got absorbed by pillows, there was no suspension bounce or harshness. Overall on the road, it is a much more compliant ride. If you have ever driven the F90 M5 Comp in comfort mode, I would say its pretty close to that but off by a percentage or 2.

I started driving the 2021 in comfort mode as I wanted to see if there actually was a difference, which there was. Switching to Sport + or Race made a huge difference in the tightness of the car.
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Old Apr 8, 2021 | 12:47 PM
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I test drove the 2020 E63s Wagon and the 2021 E63s Wagon. I was surprised by how different they are - it's not just the ride that's noticeably less harsh in all settings, but the 2021 steering feel and precision have taken a notable step forward. So much so, I've made the hard decision to consolidate from two cars (2019 GT3 RS and 2013 Cayenne S) into one car (I've ordered a 2021 E63s Wagon). For my family-sized needs, I think the air suspension and suspension bushing revisions have turned this wagon into the best handling, most powerful car on the market and I'm giving up having a separate hardcore sports car. I cannot wait for it to arrive.
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Old Aug 2, 2021 | 02:38 AM
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Originally Posted by rocket_wagon
I test drove the 2020 E63s Wagon and the 2021 E63s Wagon. I was surprised by how different they are - it's not just the ride that's noticeably less harsh in all settings, but the 2021 steering feel and precision have taken a notable step forward. So much so, I've made the hard decision to consolidate from two cars (2019 GT3 RS and 2013 Cayenne S) into one car (I've ordered a 2021 E63s Wagon). For my family-sized needs, I think the air suspension and suspension bushing revisions have turned this wagon into the best handling, most powerful car on the market and I'm giving up having a separate hardcore sports car. I cannot wait for it to arrive.
I wonder how they did it, perhaps it's all in the software. The shock absorbers, arms, and bushings all look to be the same parts numbers for 2021 as the earlier cars.
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Old Aug 2, 2021 | 04:51 AM
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Originally Posted by TModelle
I wonder how they did it, perhaps it's all in the software. The shock absorbers, arms, and bushings all look to be the same parts numbers for 2021 as the earlier cars.
for the air suspension, my understanding is it was all software. I read in a magazine review that the bushings changed too
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Old Aug 2, 2021 | 05:39 AM
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Originally Posted by rocket_wagon
for the air suspension, my understanding is it was all software. I read in a magazine review that the bushings changed too
From what I can see, of the front 3 pairs of arms only one pair - the lower tension strut - is different for the 2021 model. In the rear, the subframe has different bushings. That's what I can see so far in terms of hardware differences.
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Old Aug 2, 2021 | 09:28 AM
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Originally Posted by TModelle
From what I can see, of the front 3 pairs of arms only one pair - the lower tension strut - is different for the 2021 model. In the rear, the subframe has different bushings. That's what I can see so far in terms of hardware differences.
Some interesting notes about the rear subframe bushings - for 2021 E63S AMG chose to replace them with W205 C43 bushings - and as for the rear lower arm to subframe they are now from W204 C180. So, yes, I'd reckon they are softer than the pre-facelift E63S.
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Old Aug 2, 2021 | 05:17 PM
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I understand that pre-facelift E63s in Europe/Middle East and perhaps elsewhere have undergone a software update to soften the suspension in Comfort mode somewhat, at least as much as they can without parallel hardware changes. However, this update is not yet available in the US...not sure why....
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Old Aug 2, 2021 | 05:27 PM
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Originally Posted by E63Wagen
I understand that pre-facelift E63s in Europe/Middle East and perhaps elsewhere have undergone a software update to soften the suspension in Comfort mode somewhat, at least as much as they can without parallel hardware changes. However, this update is not yet available in the US...not sure why....
MB would have to recertify the car with California and the DOT. Probably not worth their time and money for a limited production vehicle.
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Old Aug 2, 2021 | 05:31 PM
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^ For suspension calibration? Never heard of that.
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Old Aug 2, 2021 | 05:48 PM
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Originally Posted by HBerman
MB would have to recertify the car with California and the DOT. Probably not worth their time and money for a limited production vehicle.
Not sure if that's the case for a non-emissions or non-safety related change.
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Old Aug 5, 2021 | 10:34 AM
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Would instant buy an aftermarket kit with these modifications for pre-facelift cars.

Rough ride in comfort mode is the only downside to this car.
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Old Aug 6, 2021 | 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Jphouston
I have a 2020 e63 wagon and I hear the 2021 suspension is much smoother. Anyone know what the actual difference is? Can it be done/applied to a 2020?
Yes very noticeably softer in Comfort and Sport modes. Sport plus feels the same to me as preface lift with fewer suspension crashing feel on road irregularities.
I drove an Edition one extensively and the difference between that and my 2021 was quite a lot.
I daily my 2021 in sport suspension mode because it really is that much more comfortable than the prefacelift.
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