E55 AMG- Airmatic suspension ride heights

[simon1966]

Hi All

Could anyone shed a little light on the ride heights on an E55 AMG?

Mine is a 2004 estate which I always tend to drive in standard COMFORT ride mode and occasionally use the RAISED setting for speed bumps and rough track roads etc. But I also thought that if the SPORT mode was selected the car should lower a little when compared with standard comfort mode. Therefore I understood it would have 3 different ride height - is that correct?

When I select either of the sport modes, the display on the instrument panel changes to say what setting I'm in, but my car just remains at the standard comfort height. I also have to say I can't really notice much, if any, difference in the ride between comfort and sport, but then to be fair I haven't exactly gone out tearing about round corners etc. The owners manual seems to suggest it should lower by about 15mm, but then the owners manual is not AMG specific. Is it that maybe an AMG sits at the lower height all the time? OR MAYBE I'M JUST BEING A BIT THICK??

Any help much appreciated.

 

[Alps]

you will find in sport modes the car will stiffen up the suspension , takes a little time but will adjust the ride height, esp when driving it dips lower after a certain speed.

 

[prprandall51]

I only have a 211 diesel estate with airmatic...

When I select a suspension setting, I have three programmes to choose from, each press of the button cycles through the selections. I have Comfort, Sport I, Sport II.

Only Sport II lowers the car (by 15mm - it is quite clear that the car is lowering when you watch it from the outside). Sport I doesn't lower the suspension or change the spring rate. Sport II halves the spring rate.

I find Comfort and Sport I very similar; Sport II is very hard suspension with tight damping - it's great.

I am sure that I rmember reading that AMG recalibrated the airmatic for the E55 so I don't know what you should be expecting in terms of programmes.

 

[C240Sport97]

I thought that Sport I drops the suspension by 1cm. Sport II level is the same as Sport I.

 

[prprandall51]

I thought that Sport I drops the suspension by 1cm. Sport II level is the same as Sport I.

No drop in Sport 1, 15mm drop in Sport II - and also at any speed over 75mph-ish. I am only talking about standard Airmatic, though.

 

[simon1966]

I only have a 211 diesel estate with airmatic...

When I select a suspension setting, I have three programmes to choose from, each press of the button cycles through the selections. I have Comfort, Sport I, Sport II.

Only Sport II lowers the car (by 15mm - it is quite clear that the car is lowering when you watch it from the outside). Sport I doesn't lower the suspension or change the spring rate. Sport II halves the spring rate.

I find Comfort and Sport I very similar; Sport II is very hard suspension with tight damping - it's great.

I am sure that I rmember reading that AMG recalibrated the airmatic for the E55 so I don't know what you should be expecting in terms of programmes.

The supsension on mine definitely doesn't lower at all when either 'Sport 1' or 'Sport 2' is selected, just remains at the 'Comfort height'. Maybe something wrong with it, which is why I was asking for some idea before I make a 'muppet' of myself and take it into MB

 

[simon1966]

you will find in sport modes the car will stiffen up the suspension , takes a little time but will adjust the ride height, esp when driving it dips lower after a certain speed.

Thanks Alps

Mine definitely doesn't adjust to a lower setting when the sport modes are selected. I measured the height after an extended period of driving and it was exactly the same as the Comfort mode height. Hard to tell if it dips lower at speed from behind the wheel though.

 

[BQF]

It should definitely lower in Sport 2 - tried it on mine and it's visibly lower than the other 2 settings.

 

[simon1966]

It should definitely lower in Sport 2 - tried it on mine and it's visibly lower than the other 2 settings.

Cheers - I will pay a visit to MB to get it looked at then, hopefully just a programming thing as it rises ok for the raised setting.

 

[steve333]

No drop in Sport 1, 15mm drop in Sport II - and also at any speed over 75mph-ish. I am only talking about standard Airmatic, though.

As above on my cls's airmatic,i tend to switch between all 3 settings from time to time just to keep the system working,find sport 1 to be my 1st choice,comfort a little spongy & sport 2 on the firm side

 

[Alps]

nothing to worry about, each setting can be changed on STAR to adjust height etc, it may have been calibrated slightly different at factory, up to you but the dealer will just sting you for cash without knowing what to do!

 

[simon1966]

nothing to worry about, each setting can be changed on STAR to adjust height etc, it may have been calibrated slightly different at factory, up to you but the dealer will just sting you for cash without knowing what to do!

I've got Tier 1 warranty - so hopefully that would cover MB sorting it out. I assume STAR is the computer system they would plug it in to?

 

[Alps]

uhmm, not if there is nothing wrong! a re-calibration wouldnt really be covered under tier1 unless they found a problem the stealers will charge you diagnostics time.

 

[simon1966]

uhmm, not if there is nothing wrong! a re-calibration wouldnt really be covered under tier1 unless they found a problem the stealers will charge you diagnostics time.

You are probably right!! But then I was thinking that it wouldn't just be a recalibration thing, more that it is not doing anything when the sport modes are selected. Therefore something either turned off or not working. Like I said it only seems to have 2 settings, either raised or comfort? Almost as though sport doesn't exist other than showing up on the display on the dash.

 

[Diesel Benz]

You are probably right!! But then I was thinking that it wouldn't just be a recalibration thing, more that it is not doing anything when the sport modes are selected. Therefore something either turned off or not working. Like I said it only seems to have 2 settings, either raised or comfort? Almost as though sport doesn't exist other than showing up on the display on the dash.

This is unlikely a car imported from the US but could it have US settings coded? US W211 cars do not lower when stead from Sport 1 or Sport 2 setting but only lower once the car gains enough speed.

http://www.mercedestechstore.com/pdfs/W211_advisor/219 HO SAS (ACB-ICC) 07-31-02.pdf

I think mine lowered from Sport 1 already (when stationary). I have not looked at AMG models but standard models have only a single calibration level. The raised setting and the lowered settings are fixed offsets from this calibrated level.

 

[simon1966]

This is unlikely a car imported from the US but could it have US settings coded? US W211 cars do not lower when stead from Sport 1 or Sport 2 setting but only lower once the car gains enough speed.

http://www.mercedestechstore.com/pdfs/W211_advisor/219 HO SAS (ACB-ICC) 07-31-02.pdf

I think mine lowered from Sport 1 already (when stationary). I have not looked at AMG models but standard models have only a single calibration level. The raised setting and the lowered settings are fixed offsets from this calibrated level.

Great Info Thanks.

I need to read through a little more and digest fully, but as you say, this would seem to suggest only 2 height settings when the car is stationary with the car only lowering once above 68mph. I think I will get my dealer to have a look at it, I'm in no real rush but it would be good to know for sure.

 

[Londonscottish]

The supsension on mine definitely doesn't lower at all when either 'Sport 1' or 'Sport 2' is selected, just remains at the 'Comfort height'. Maybe something wrong with it, which is why I was asking for some idea before I make a 'muppet' of myself and take it into MB

Doesn't sound right.

I tested mine the other day.

It definitely went up and down between Comfort and "extra height".

I'm pretty sure it dropped between Comfort and Sport I.

It certainly dropped down into Sport II.

 

[prprandall51]

Doesn't sound right.

I tested mine the other day.

It definitely went up and down between Comfort and "extra height".

I'm pretty sure it dropped between Comfort and Sport I.

It certainly dropped down into Sport II.

It doesn't drop in height from Comfort to Sport 1 setting on non-AMG cars - I cannot speak for the AMG cars.

 

[Londonscottish]

It doesn't drop in height from Comfort to Sport 1 setting on non-AMG cars - I cannot speak for the AMG cars.

You may well be correct - my memory is vague.

I was really just making sure all corners were going up and down - which they were.

 

[simon1966]

But am I correct in thinking there should be 3 different ride heights available even when the car is stationary?