W212 E Class ride

[jcblincs]

Hello. New to the forum and new to MB ownership. Just bought a 2013 E220CDi SE (pre latest face lift) We test drove a 2009 car extensively, had it for the day in fact, and then bought a 2013 model as we wanted the 7 speed box and the revised engine.

My question is regarding the subtle changes that went on around 2011/12 when the 220 got the 7G box (plus upgraded display, USB in the arm rest, LED running lightsI am wondering if anyone out there knows if there were any changes made to suspension (springs and / or dampers) or anti roll bar or bushes. The reason i ask is that our car seams to ride less comfortably than the one we had for the day but we cant understand why...maybe its just in our heads !

I have done extensive searching on the web on nowhere seams to acknowledge that any changes were made to the E during its life cycle...the only stuff i can find is regarding the latest facelift which is actually way more than that as there are lots of changes.

We are wondering if we have made a mistake as the car we drove rode better on the bumpy rural roads we have round here. We were convinced the only changes were to the gearbox plus the other small changes mentioned but we are beginning to wonder. The onky thing i did notice is that the 2009 model is quoted as having "agility control suspension" whereas an archive brochure of the 2011 model states "dynamic control suspension". This may have just been the mqrketing men at work with a name change - the explanation in the brocuhure of how this fewtures works seams the same but now I am beginning to wonder !

Grateful for your opinions. Cheers. Jonathan.

 

[johnnyb]

Unlikely as I'm sure you would have noticed but does your car have larger wheels with lower profile tyres than the car you test drove? Or is it fitted with run flat tyres?

 

[jcblincs]

Sorry...should have said. Its fitted with the same tyres...225/55/16 95W michelin tyres. Both cars in question are standard "off the shelf" SE models.

 

[Doodle]

Age and mileage leading to squishier suspension?

 

[st13phil]

AFAIK, the SE suspension didn't change throughout the (pre-facelift) run and was always described as "Direct Control - comfort suspension". This was an option on the slightly stiffer Avantgarde, but not the other way around.

I know it sounds daft, but have you checked the tyre pressures? You can reduce them from the recommended settings quite significantly if you want improved ride comfort (at the expense of slightly higher fuel consumption).

 

[jcblincs]

Thanks. Already done that. Lowered them to 32psi. Not ammassive difference to be honest. Maybe it is just a bit taughter due to the age. Saying that the older one only had 35k on it so not exactly massive mileage and this has 14k on it. Maybe my memory of the test drive is not clear as test drove lots of cars over the space of several weeks

 

[Ian Donkin]

On 16" rims it should be very forgiving - I didn't like the steel sprung 212 sport ride at all, but airmatic suspension makes a big improvement.

 

[gIzzE]

They completely revised the suspension but not until the facelift.

I took a facelift saloon out the other day and the difference between that and my 2010 Avantgarde was huge, a lot more compliant when you get onto some poorer surfaces, I was very impressed.

 

[cp3377]

You could ask the dealer to check that all of the transit materials have been removed from the suspension. I drove a brand new S-Class with a friend once and the ride was really poor. We commented on it and the salesman contacted my friend a couple of hours later to say that the transit blocks weren't removed. It's properly unlikely but worth asking.

 

[V12]

Age and mileage leading to squishier suspension?

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