Ground Clearance level on 2021 A200 petrol

[Roy1G]

Hi
Sorry if this has been mentioned before or in the wrong section…..

I’m after some advice please, my father has the 2021 A Class, 1.3 Petrol SE spec, with the 16” Tyres

Very low car as it is but the ground clearance is also shocking low, going mega slow over speed breakers etc and it still hits/scrapes the ground, the undertray now also has damage.

Is there any cost effective remedy to this apart from changing the tyres to larger ones, as unfortunately this is something my father doesn’t want!

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[BTB 500]

Is there any cost effective remedy to this apart from changing the tyres to larger ones

If you fitted bigger tyres the speedometer and odometer would under-read. Both are based on counting wheel rotations with a stock circumference.

Are you 100% sure the car is standard (not fitted with lowering springs by a previous owner)? It might be possible to fit longer springs to raise it slightly. This would likely affect the handling to some small extent, and would be a modification that should really be declared for insurance.

If the square type speed bumps are the problem does your father 'straddle' them by any chance, putting the wheels either side? Better to take one side of the car over the centre instead. If however it's grounding on humps that are the full width of the road there's not much you can do about that!

 

[Roy1G]

If you fitted bigger tyres the speedometer and odometer would under-read. Both are based on counting wheel rotations with a stock circumference.

Are you 100% sure the car is standard (not fitted with lowering springs by a previous owner)? It might be possible to fit longer springs to raise it slightly. This would likely affect the handling to some small extent, and would be a modification that should really be declared for insurance.

If the square type speed bumps are the problem does your father 'straddle' them by any chance, putting the wheels either side? Better to take one side of the car over the centre instead. If however it's grounding on humps that are the full width of the road there's not much you can do about that!

Hello

Thanks for the info. I didn’t know that re changing wheel sizes, although it’s not something we’ll do it’s still handy to know.

It was purchased from a Main dealer, previous owner purchased new from this dealer and handed back after a few years to upgrade, then my father purchased it from the same dealer. I asked the same question re modifications but they assured me it was modified/lowered in any way, just said that’s how A classes are.

I’ll look into the longer springs, thanks for that advice.

My father does try to straddle over the centre of the non full size square humps, sometimes just one side over the bumps, the main issue are the full sizes ones I think you’re referring to where you go up diagonally, straight road for a bit and back down again (really sorry I don’t know the technical name of these!), when going up them and back down it scrapes, at a steady low speed.

Me and my 3 siblings all tried to convince my father to get a B Class or GLA, as he struggles to sit in and get out of this car, which we stressed to him would happen as it’s a small low car, but he chose not to take our advice. He’s had the vehicle only 5 months and wants to now change it, but as it’s only because of the height/size issues I’m trying to find a way of rectifying the issue and not make a huge loss.

 

[John N]

Hello

Thanks for the info. I didn’t know that re changing wheel sizes, although it’s not something we’ll do it’s still handy to know.

It was purchased from a Main dealer, previous owner purchased new from this dealer and handed back after a few years to upgrade, then my father purchased it from the same dealer. I asked the same question re modifications but they assured me it was modified/lowered in any way, just said that’s how A classes are.

I’ll look into the longer springs, thanks for that advice.

My father does try to straddle over the centre of the non full size square humps, sometimes just one side over the bumps, the main issue are the full sizes ones I think you’re referring to where you go up diagonally, straight road for a bit and back down again (really sorry I don’t know the technical name of these!), when going up them and back down it scrapes, at a steady low speed.

Me and my 3 siblings all tried to convince my father to get a B Class or GLA, as he struggles to sit in and get out of this car, which we stressed to him would happen as it’s a small low car, but he chose not to take our advice. He’s had the vehicle only 5 months and wants to now change it, but as it’s only because of the height/size issues I’m trying to find a way of rectifying the issue and not make a huge loss.

Is there any way could supply a Photo of the Offending Speed Bump with the Car Front Wheels approaching it, going Over it and where the Scraping is occurring?

 

[st13phil]

As an owner of one, I can say that the W177 A-Class has limited ground clearance which is one of the very few regular criticisms of the model which otherwise has much to commend it.

I doubt there's one in the country that doesn't have undertray damage from traversing "traffic calming" humps in the road. Unfortunately, the only mitigation is to take them very slowly.

 

[Roy1G]

Is there any way could supply a Photo of the Offending Speed Bump with the Car Front Wheels approaching it, going Over it and where the Scraping is occurring?

Yes I can take some when I see my father next and post on here

 

[Roy1G]

As an owner of one, I can say that the W177 A-Class has limited ground clearance which is one of the very few regular criticisms of the model which otherwise has much to commend it.

I doubt there's one in the country that doesn't have undertray damage from traversing "traffic calming" humps in the road. Unfortunately, the only mitigation is to take them very slowly.

Thanks, it does seem that way, but yes I agree apart from the limited ground clearance issue it’s a good fun car overall

 

[John N]

As an owner of one, I can say that the W177 A-Class has limited ground clearance which is one of the very few regular criticisms of the model which otherwise has much to commend it.

I doubt there's one in the country that doesn't have undertray damage from traversing "traffic calming" humps in the road. Unfortunately, the only mitigation is to take them very slowly.

I ran my A Class 220D AMG Line for 3 Years and never had any Ground Clearance Problems!

 

[st13phil]

I ran my A Class 220D AMG Line for 3 Years and never had any Ground Clearance Problems!

W176 or W177?

The former had significantly more ground clearance than the current W177 does.

 

[John N]

W177

W177 Oct 2014 till Oct 2017!

 

[st13phil]

W177 Oct 2014 till Oct 2017!

Nope that would have been a W176.

The W177 model is the 4th and current generation of the A-Class and launched in 2018.

 

[John N]

Nope that would have been a W176.

The W177 model is the 4th and current generation of the A-Class and launched in 2018.

Shows how much Attention I have been Paying! Did the W177 Shrink in Height then?

 

[st13phil]

Shows how much Attention I have been Paying! Did the W177 Shrink in Height then?

Basically, yes.

It’s pretty low on the front to start with and the suspension is quite compliant so as you hit a speed bump…

 

[John N]

Basically, yes.

It’s pretty low on the front to start with and the suspension is quite compliant so as you hit a speed bump…

The Suspension should have been designed in order to lift the Car Chassis OVER the Speed Bump at the Front, ensuring that nothing gets close to the Underside, then lower it down still clearing the Bump, then the Rear wheels do the same!

If the W177 has been Reconfigured in such a Drastic Way so that it will not Clear Normal Road Obstacles in the UK, then it must be time to Return the the Design Drawing Board!

I would suggest that the Chassis of the W177 is the same as the W176, with "Facelift Cosmetic Add On"

I would still like to see a Picture of the Speed bumps in Question with the Car Approaching and Passing over it!

 

[st13phil]

I would suggest that the Chassis of the W177 is the same as the W176, with "Facelift Cosmetic Add On"

It’s not. It’s a completely new design on the MFA2 platform.

Sorry to have to point this out, but your (or anyone else's) experience with the W176 platform is utterly irrelevant to the OP.