S213 Air Suspension Collapse

[FlyBoyRez]

A question for the hive mind… my 2017 S213 220d Premium Plus has a problem with the rear air suspension.

January 2023 a taxi rear ended me. When it was time for the car to be collected for the insurance work the air suspension had collapsed… like right to the bump stops. This had never happened before the rear end shunt. I told the insurance company and they said they would sort it. The car was returned with the tail end damage sorted and the suspension was back to normal… or so I thought.

In the summer I noticed the rear suspension would occasionally go down. This could be overnight and on some nights, not all. Or it could be with the engine off and the tailgate open and someone sitting in the load area. Always the car would rise as soon as the engine was started and it drove normally.

I’ve had it into my local garage a few times to get it looked at but of course when it’s there it never happens… typical!

Last week however it took a turn for the worse… doing the school run I got the attached error message. I got the car booked in and did some checking and found the 40A fuse had blown. Got a pair of these and fitted one and this worked, the suspension rose and the car was good again… for about 4 miles when the fuse went again and the same error message came up.

Back at the garage now. They can’t find any leaks so the only thing they can try is to replace the compressor. That’s currently the only option on the table… unless someone else with experience of this issue can suggest an alternative? Strikes me the only thing in the air suspension setup capable of blowing the fuse is the compressor. I’ve read about water getting into the compressor, is this the sort of thing that would cause the 40A fuse to blow?

Update - They have reported seeing a valve just behind the NS headlamp releasing air suggesting there is a system commanding air release… currently the plan is to replace this valve and the compressor (as the source of the blown fuses). I had been led to believe this valve was by the rear bumper but surprised my guys says it’s behind the headlamp

TIA

 

[FlyBoyRez]

Update for anyone interested…. Compressor and valve body have been replaced and…. It still collapses.
Now booked in with Mercedes Derby for them to diagnose the issue and give me a final fix.

 

[GeorgeR]

This is an air spring body aging, leaking. Very normal after 5 years.
1 hour job to replace. MB will charge you apx 1k, an Indy w MB parts 600. The non MB parts are same or better quality than MB at this particular point, so you may want to buy (a pair of) Arnott for (2x) 250 and have it installed for 200.

 

[FlyBoyRez]

Update - Taking it to Mercedes dealer proved fruitless. First attempt they charged a £140 diagnostic fee, reported that the 'Software' had been updated to resolve the air suspension issue as well as the issue I have with the default units always reverting to Km. Was assured both issues were definitely fixed with the software update. I drove the car away skeptical, stopped for 5 minutes at a shop, came back to find suspension collapsed. Also the units continue to default to Km.

Wrote to the service manager and he agreed to have the car back in for further diagnostics for both issues at no further charge. Their new diagnosis is that the cause of the suspension dropping is in fact the newly purchased and fitted air compressor. I challenged why this would be the cause when the car exhibited this same behaviour when the car was fitted with the original factory fitted compressor and their best response was that it was because it was not a Mercedes dealer part. I declined the offer to spend close to £1k for replacing the perfectly good (and new!) compressor. If this was indeed the faulty unit would it not struggle to raise the car on startup? Seemingly not. On top of this they have identified that to correct the default units issue would now require a software update for £140.
Me - The same software update you have already applied and which didn't fix it?
Mercedes - Oh no sir, that was a software update for the suspension issue....
Me - The software update that didn't fix the suspension issue and which was also claimed to have resolved the default units issue... but didn't?
Mercedes - Oh no sir, this is a different software update and it will be £140 sir.

I declined their kind offer and elected to collect the car. On a plus note they are always ever so courteous and I came out to find the car had been thoroughly washed and the tyres had the shiny stuff applied to them... and then I opened the door and the metal sill plate clattered to the floor. Seems they used a pressure washer rather too aggressively on the sill and stripped all the adhesive off.

Genuinely feels like they haven't a clue how to actually systematically diagnose a problem to lead to root cause of failure, instead relying on the fact that most of their customers are corporations who just want a problem to be fixed ASAP and don't particularly care how many parts are swapped out at random to get to the fix.

So now looking for an independent Mercedes specialist in the East Midlands area... Anyone got experience of MB Centre in Nottingham?

 

[Smart320]

Try Mercland in Nuneaton, they are excellent and Forum sponsors

 

[BfgSLKMan]

Update - Taking it to Mercedes dealer proved fruitless. First attempt they charged a £140 diagnostic fee, reported that the 'Software' had been updated to resolve the air suspension issue as well as the issue I have with the default units always reverting to Km. Was assured both issues were definitely fixed with the software update. I drove the car away skeptical, stopped for 5 minutes at a shop, came back to find suspension collapsed. Also the units continue to default to Km.

Wrote to the service manager and he agreed to have the car back in for further diagnostics for both issues at no further charge. Their new diagnosis is that the cause of the suspension dropping is in fact the newly purchased and fitted air compressor. I challenged why this would be the cause when the car exhibited this same behaviour when the car was fitted with the original factory fitted compressor and their best response was that it was because it was not a Mercedes dealer part. I declined the offer to spend close to £1k for replacing the perfectly good (and new!) compressor. If this was indeed the faulty unit would it not struggle to raise the car on startup? Seemingly not. On top of this they have identified that to correct the default units issue would now require a software update for £140.
Me - The same software update you have already applied and which didn't fix it?
Mercedes - Oh no sir, that was a software update for the suspension issue....
Me - The software update that didn't fix the suspension issue and which was also claimed to have resolved the default units issue... but didn't?
Mercedes - Oh no sir, this is a different software update and it will be £140 sir.

I declined their kind offer and elected to collect the car. On a plus note they are always ever so courteous and I came out to find the car had been thoroughly washed and the tyres had the shiny stuff applied to them... and then I opened the door and the metal sill plate clattered to the floor. Seems they used a pressure washer rather too aggressively on the sill and stripped all the adhesive off.

Genuinely feels like they haven't a clue how to actually systematically diagnose a problem to lead to root cause of failure, instead relying on the fact that most of their customers are corporations who just want a problem to be fixed ASAP and don't particularly care how many parts are swapped out at random to get to the fix.

So now looking for an independent Mercedes specialist in the East Midlands area... Anyone got experience of MB Centre in Nottingham?

MB Centre in Nottingham made a very good impression on me a few years back - although I declined the "car wash" offer with power washer and filthy wash mits as I didn't want my car to be fully swirll marked on return!

 

[GeorgeR]

Update - Taking it to Mercedes dealer proved fruitless. First attempt they charged a £140 diagnostic fee, reported that the 'Software' had been updated to resolve the air suspension issue as well as the issue I have with the default units always reverting to Km. Was assured both issues were definitely fixed with the software update. I drove the car away skeptical, stopped for 5 minutes at a shop, came back to find suspension collapsed. Also the units continue to default to Km.

Wrote to the service manager and he agreed to have the car back in for further diagnostics for both issues at no further charge. Their new diagnosis is that the cause of the suspension dropping is in fact the newly purchased and fitted air compressor. I challenged why this would be the cause when the car exhibited this same behaviour when the car was fitted with the original factory fitted compressor and their best response was that it was because it was not a Mercedes dealer part. I declined the offer to spend close to £1k for replacing the perfectly good (and new!) compressor. If this was indeed the faulty unit would it not struggle to raise the car on startup? Seemingly not. On top of this they have identified that to correct the default units issue would now require a software update for £140.
Me - The same software update you have already applied and which didn't fix it?
Mercedes - Oh no sir, that was a software update for the suspension issue....
Me - The software update that didn't fix the suspension issue and which was also claimed to have resolved the default units issue... but didn't?
Mercedes - Oh no sir, this is a different software update and it will be £140 sir.

I declined their kind offer and elected to collect the car. On a plus note they are always ever so courteous and I came out to find the car had been thoroughly washed and the tyres had the shiny stuff applied to them... and then I opened the door and the metal sill plate clattered to the floor. Seems they used a pressure washer rather too aggressively on the sill and stripped all the adhesive off.

Genuinely feels like they haven't a clue how to actually systematically diagnose a problem to lead to root cause of failure, instead relying on the fact that most of their customers are corporations who just want a problem to be fixed ASAP and don't particularly care how many parts are swapped out at random to get to the fix.

So now looking for an independent Mercedes specialist in the East Midlands area... Anyone got experience of MB Centre in Nottingham?

If your spring collapses in less than an hour than you have very little time left to fix it. (The leaking hole gets bigger and bigger to the point where the compressor will not be able to inflate it properly and the car will be less driveable)
So you really need to think of taking (both) springs out, checked them with some soapy water and get them replaced upon they are leaking. Remember they leak UNDER the plastic boot (the rubber looses its air tightness)
You can buy Arnott which will do the same mileage or much more and may come with longer warranty then MB.

 

[pembssurf]

this can be one of only two things. Leaking air bag spring or a connecting pipe from the compressor. It's really that simple and doesn't need an OBD diagnose to turn off the ignition and fall to the floor in 5 minutes

 

[GeorgeR]

this can be one of only two things. Leaking air bag spring or a connecting pipe from the compressor. It's really that simple and doesn't need an OBD diagnose to turn off the ignition and fall to the floor in 5 minutes

(After 3 airbag changes I had the experience that) sinking on one side or unevenly = 1 airbag is faulty
sinking on both sides evenly = valve or hoses.

 

[Continental]

Update - Taking it to Mercedes dealer proved fruitless. First attempt they charged a £140 diagnostic fee, reported that the 'Software' had been updated to resolve the air suspension issue as well as the issue I have with the default units always reverting to Km. Was assured both issues were definitely fixed with the software update. I drove the car away skeptical, stopped for 5 minutes at a shop, came back to find suspension collapsed. Also the units continue to default to Km.

Wrote to the service manager and he agreed to have the car back in for further diagnostics for both issues at no further charge. Their new diagnosis is that the cause of the suspension dropping is in fact the newly purchased and fitted air compressor. I challenged why this would be the cause when the car exhibited this same behaviour when the car was fitted with the original factory fitted compressor and their best response was that it was because it was not a Mercedes dealer part. I declined the offer to spend close to £1k for replacing the perfectly good (and new!) compressor. If this was indeed the faulty unit would it not struggle to raise the car on startup? Seemingly not. On top of this they have identified that to correct the default units issue would now require a software update for £140.
Me - The same software update you have already applied and which didn't fix it?
Mercedes - Oh no sir, that was a software update for the suspension issue....
Me - The software update that didn't fix the suspension issue and which was also claimed to have resolved the default units issue... but didn't?
Mercedes - Oh no sir, this is a different software update and it will be £140 sir.

I declined their kind offer and elected to collect the car. On a plus note they are always ever so courteous and I came out to find the car had been thoroughly washed and the tyres had the shiny stuff applied to them... and then I opened the door and the metal sill plate clattered to the floor. Seems they used a pressure washer rather too aggressively on the sill and stripped all the adhesive off.

Genuinely feels like they haven't a clue how to actually systematically diagnose a problem to lead to root cause of failure, instead relying on the fact that most of their customers are corporations who just want a problem to be fixed ASAP and don't particularly care how many parts are swapped out at random to get to the fix.

So now looking for an independent Mercedes specialist in the East Midlands area... Anyone got experience of MB Centre in Nottingham?

MB Automotive Loughborough

 

[PR1]

To the best of my knowledge, and with the caveat that I know more of the s211 than the ss213. The airlines and compressor do not hold pressure apart from when inflating. The air springs and the solenoids attached to the springs do, so are most likely at fault

 

[Mercman62]

Update - Taking it to Mercedes dealer proved fruitless. First attempt they charged a £140 diagnostic fee, reported that the 'Software' had been updated to resolve the air suspension issue as well as the issue I have with the default units always reverting to Km. Was assured both issues were definitely fixed with the software update. I drove the car away skeptical, stopped for 5 minutes at a shop, came back to find suspension collapsed. Also the units continue to default to Km.

Wrote to the service manager and he agreed to have the car back in for further diagnostics for both issues at no further charge. Their new diagnosis is that the cause of the suspension dropping is in fact the newly purchased and fitted air compressor. I challenged why this would be the cause when the car exhibited this same behaviour when the car was fitted with the original factory fitted compressor and their best response was that it was because it was not a Mercedes dealer part. I declined the offer to spend close to £1k for replacing the perfectly good (and new!) compressor. If this was indeed the faulty unit would it not struggle to raise the car on startup? Seemingly not. On top of this they have identified that to correct the default units issue would now require a software update for £140.
Me - The same software update you have already applied and which didn't fix it?
Mercedes - Oh no sir, that was a software update for the suspension issue....
Me - The software update that didn't fix the suspension issue and which was also claimed to have resolved the default units issue... but didn't?
Mercedes - Oh no sir, this is a different software update and it will be £140 sir.

I declined their kind offer and elected to collect the car. On a plus note they are always ever so courteous and I came out to find the car had been thoroughly washed and the tyres had the shiny stuff applied to them... and then I opened the door and the metal sill plate clattered to the floor. Seems they used a pressure washer rather too aggressively on the sill and stripped all the adhesive off.

Genuinely feels like they haven't a clue how to actually systematically diagnose a problem to lead to root cause of failure, instead relying on the fact that most of their customers are corporations who just want a problem to be fixed ASAP and don't particularly care how many parts are swapped out at random to get to the fix.

So now looking for an independent Mercedes specialist in the East Midlands area... Anyone got experience of MB Centre in Nottingham?

We always take our cars to Mercedes Nottingham inchape. Fabulous service nothing to much trouble we now have a2023 E Class AMG Estate premium plus night edition beautiful car brought from them. Ask to see Emily she is our services manager nothing to much trouble

 

[Mercman62]

We always use Inchcape Mercedes Nottingham. Brilliant place to take it to we have a 2023 E Class AMG Estate premium plus night edition. Ask for Emily she is our services manager. Nothing to much trouble. She is brilliant.
Psul