e55 airmatic problem - help!

[nickjonesn4]

All,

I had a red light come on a couple of weeks ago saying "car too low". After about 20 seconds this went away and the car driving normally. Over the last couple of weeks its very obvious that the car is sagging at the back noticeably when parked for any length of time. It still rights itself after 20-30 seconds but there is now a noticeable creaking from the rear suspension over speed bumps etc.

I took the car to a local "specialist" and they eventually told me that they didn;t have the correct software to check the suspensions settings. I then took the car to Automerc in Wood Green who were great but said that nothing came up on the diagnostics to suggest that it was a common fault like a leak in the air bladder(s). They have said that it appears that the correct rear suspension setting have been "lost" and the car needs to be reset on a specialist rig at a Merc dealer. I'm booked into MB Edgware Road on Monday and hopefully they will sort.

Questions -

Has this happened to anyone else?
If so does anyone know how it could be caused?
Does the fix suggested to me sound right?

Any thoughts, help much appreciated.

Nick

 

[AndyPCD]

Nick

There is several things it could be on the car.

It could be a leaky strut,valve block etc.

You would need the star diagnostic machine to reset the ride heights on the car. But im not too sure how it would of lost its settings just like that.

We could have a look at the car if you wanted us to

 

[Andrew W]

Hi nick , I've just had the same problem
You will probably have a leeks on one of the
Rear reservoir tanks , they are tucked up under the car ,made from alloy they corrode under the
air pipe , I have a spare good driver side one if it
is this , you can remove the tank and fix the
holes caused by corrosion if this is the case
as I did , PM me if you need my number fir a
chat

 

[Terry_]

I do these all the time.
It probably just has air leaks that a bottle of soapy water will find. As above the reservoirs are common.

 

[nickjonesn4]

Andy thanks for that. I did try and call Paul the other day but no joy. Know you guys are always super busy. I'm booked in for Monday with MB so I will see what they say and then come back to you. Is PMing you on here a good way to get hold of you?

 

[nickjonesn4]

Hi nick , I've just had the same problem
You will probably have a leeks on one of the
Rear reservoir tanks , they are tucked up under the car ,made from alloy they corrode under the
air pipe , I have a spare good driver side one if it
is this , you can remove the tank and fix the
holes caused by corrosion if this is the case
as I did , PM me if you need my number fir a
chat

Thanks Andrew I will let you know

 

[Andrew W]

No problem , btw I let MB look at mine , they charged me £95 for pushing the pipe on further and tightening a jubilee clip (literally) it lasted 4 days , ended up doing it myself
MB will just want to replace parts !!!

 

[nickjonesn4]

No problem , btw I let MB look at mine , they charged me £95 for pushing the pipe on further and tightening a jubilee clip (literally) it lasted 4 days , ended up doing it myself
MB will just want to replace parts !!!

Yep fair enough - its just this loss of the Star settings that is confusing so I want them to check that out at least and do a reset on Star (which I can't do obviously!). I've got it under 3rd party warranty and they have confirmed they will cover any parts and labour after the diagnostic.

 

[Starky]

I wouldn't take my car to mb. Terry is a good shout.

 

[nickjonesn4]

I hear you on the main dealer thing but I had it at a decent specialist with the right diagnostic gear Automerc | Home and there is something funny going on with the suspension settings and their view was that it needed the suspension settings reloaded and the geometry reset which needs specialist kit. They have the rig for this at Collindale apparently. Guess I will found out next week.

Glad to have found Terry's details for future reference though and will go to him it is as simple as getting leaks sorted in the rear rservoirs.

 

[AndyPCD]

Yeah pm me is a good way of getting hold of us.

Also do you have my email address and mobile number.

 

[nickjonesn4]

No mate only Paul's - PM me please

 

[Amo]

I had same issue with mine, gave Terry at Wayne gates 3 days with car and plenty of time and all was sorted.

Give Terry a call if you are local in london.

 

[ChrisCLS55]

I took my CLS55 out 2 weeks back for a drive and on the return home I went over a bump and it felt harder than normal, within a minute or so a malfunction sign appeared with an arrow pointing up with the car icon behind it.

I got home and parked up and noticed when I got out the front wheels were practically rubbing the wheel arches and the back end of the car was jacked up as if it were a hot rod.

So I messed about with the airmatic and it did nothing. I slowly drove it to my mechanic a few days later and on the trip there it said stop car, car too low.

All manner of thoughts were running around my head, I already had the break pump repaired not long after I bought it almost 2 years ago now, which MB paid for thankfully.

Luckily it appeared something from the OSF suspension had snapped (suspension rod). £72 pounds and a few hours later and it was fixed, much to my relief.

 

[Andrew W]

Jesus I bit that gave you a fright , these cars are
great till something out of the ordinary pops up .

 

[ChrisCLS55]

Jesus I bit that gave you a fright , these cars are
great till something out of the ordinary pops up .

It did, reading up on what could be the problem (or not) online doesn't help mind. Its like becoming ill and looking online to find out what is wrong with you. You either have a headache or you're dying.

Its driving like a dream at the moment thankfully.

 

[nickjonesn4]

Thanks to everyone for the advice on this. Turns out it was corrosion to the rear air bladders and Terry Wayne Gates is welding on Friday so fingers crossed that will be it sorted.

 

[Andrew W]

Thanks to everyone for the advice on this. Turns out it was corrosion to the rear air bladders and Terry Wayne Gates is welding on Friday so fingers crossed that will be it sorted.

Glad it's sorted and easy fix ,this is something
MB wouldn't bother sorting ;(

 

[Amo]

Thanks to everyone for the advice on this. Turns out it was corrosion to the rear air bladders and Terry Wayne Gates is welding on Friday so fingers crossed that will be it sorted.

you are in good hands with Terry. good luck

 

[nickjonesn4]

Going to get trasnmission flush and refill fluid whilst car is there.

Any other jobs pre-emptive I should think about getting done whilst there?

3k miles til service I should add