ItalianTuneUp
MB Enthusiast
2005 W220 S320CDI
After seeing car lowered in the mornings, I did some reading and then inspected the front strut seals. They were cracked.
Rather than buy new front struts, I bought 2 repair kits, one each for left and right. I also had the airmatic relay replaced.
MB fitted these, and I assumed all was well. However, the front is still low in the mornings, so it seems as though the repair has not worked. The car now seems to lower itself more quickly since the repair. Also, a new clunking sound has appeared.
I took some photos which I can post here, and it seems to me that the seals have not been made airtight, which would explain the low body.
The new clunking sound appears at low speeds on roads with bumps and uneven surfaces, and seems to coincide with the bumps in the road surface. On motorways the clunking sound seems to disappear, perhaps due to smoother road surface.
Any ideas?
Related to this airmatic issue, a few weeks back I had a very low speed impact to the rear whilst reversing. The effect of this seems to be that the next morning the rear was raised for the first time.
I suspect that the rear impact may have knocked a rear airmatic level sensor. In the morning sometimes the rear is raised, and sometimes lowered, just like the front.
I intend to take the car back to the MB dealership to see what they intend to do about the unsuccessful front strut seal repair, but any advice gratefully received.
I will post photos of the 'repaired' front strut seals tomorrow.
Once the door is opened and ignition started, the car self-levels, so it seems that the pump is ok. On motorways the ride seems ok, but may be not quite as smooth, but this might just be my perception. I also have the impression that the steering is more spongy since the front strut seal repair, requiring more correction than before the repair, and there seems to be more steering play.
Interestingly, as the visit to the MB workshop was the first one during my ownership, they did some kind of health check and I wonder if they were a little aggressive in testing things? I have a list of work items that they recommended, if it helps, and I can post this along with the strut seal photos.
After seeing car lowered in the mornings, I did some reading and then inspected the front strut seals. They were cracked.
Rather than buy new front struts, I bought 2 repair kits, one each for left and right. I also had the airmatic relay replaced.
MB fitted these, and I assumed all was well. However, the front is still low in the mornings, so it seems as though the repair has not worked. The car now seems to lower itself more quickly since the repair. Also, a new clunking sound has appeared.
I took some photos which I can post here, and it seems to me that the seals have not been made airtight, which would explain the low body.
The new clunking sound appears at low speeds on roads with bumps and uneven surfaces, and seems to coincide with the bumps in the road surface. On motorways the clunking sound seems to disappear, perhaps due to smoother road surface.
Any ideas?
Related to this airmatic issue, a few weeks back I had a very low speed impact to the rear whilst reversing. The effect of this seems to be that the next morning the rear was raised for the first time.
I suspect that the rear impact may have knocked a rear airmatic level sensor. In the morning sometimes the rear is raised, and sometimes lowered, just like the front.
I intend to take the car back to the MB dealership to see what they intend to do about the unsuccessful front strut seal repair, but any advice gratefully received.
I will post photos of the 'repaired' front strut seals tomorrow.
Once the door is opened and ignition started, the car self-levels, so it seems that the pump is ok. On motorways the ride seems ok, but may be not quite as smooth, but this might just be my perception. I also have the impression that the steering is more spongy since the front strut seal repair, requiring more correction than before the repair, and there seems to be more steering play.
Interestingly, as the visit to the MB workshop was the first one during my ownership, they did some kind of health check and I wonder if they were a little aggressive in testing things? I have a list of work items that they recommended, if it helps, and I can post this along with the strut seal photos.
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