AIRmatic DC Drivers - What is Your Experience?

[whitenemesis]

I've read all the WIS docs on AIRmatic but am still not clear on how it all functions. Is the additional air volume required for Comfort mode always present and simply switched in and out using valves? In which case it could be pretty instant?
There are two reservoirs holding high pressure compressed air for the system, coupled with pneumatic valves it should provide for rapid response to changes. Clearly it does this for adapting to road conditions.
It is a remarkably complex system ...

 

[SavMan]

I've read all the WIS docs on AIRmatic but am still not clear on how it all functions. Is the additional air volume required for Comfort mode always present and simply switched in and out using valves? In which case it could be pretty instant?
There are two reservoirs holding high pressure compressed air for the system, coupled with pneumatic valves it should provide for rapid response to changes. Clearly it does this for adapting to road conditions.
It is a remarkably complex system ...

I'm not an expert so only what I have read in the Mercedes training manuals

You are correct for instance the front struts have two internal chambers that have a solenoid that opens and closes, when in sport mode the solenoid is closed and there is less air to compress in comfort the solenoid is open and there is more air. There are additional external chambers which have air supply but they don't seem big enough to be able to add sufficient volume.

Don't get me wrong you when you change you can feel a slight difference within a couple of seconds however get in on a straight flat section of motorway and you can feel the firmness increasing over 5 seconds or so which means it hasn't fully reached the compression needed.

 

[V12]

I've noticed that although it takes a second or two to go from comfort to sport, it seems a lot quicker going from sport to comfort...

 

[regbuser]

Perhaps it's an AMG thing (AMG do tweak the AIRmatic) 'cos I find little difference between Comfort and Sport II. There IS a difference but it's quite subtle. The main difference seems to be how quickly the suspension tightens up when pushing through the corners.

Agreed, my W218 SB has airmatic specced, and this is the case. Comfort is not loose at all, just takes any rattle out.

 

[mct_cars]

On my E500, Comfort felt too soft and Sport2 rock hard, so mostly kept it in Sport1. Sport 1 also compared to the standard avantgarde springs on my E270.

The biggest difference by far though was a brief switch to 17" wheels (from the standard 18" options from the factory). Major change in the comfort of the car on the road and far less figity, even if it didn't look as good!

 

[regbuser]

more to this, discovered the joys of the airmatic raise function as had to go down a potholed track, made a lot of difference. slow speed of course.