Wagon/Estate E class rear suspension stuck fully exteded

[Baldbloke]

Hi All,

I am new here, and have a really nice 320 cdi Elegance estate that I have had since buying it from a friend in the Channel Islands 3 years and 30,000 miles ago.

I do the basics on brakes, oil changes and timing belts on my other cars, but am stuck on this present problem on my Merc.

The air bags raised the rear of the car while driving and now make driving it impossible as the suspension is rock hard. I am fifty miles away from Aberdeen Mercedes and fifty miles away from Inverness Mercedes. My breakdown cover I recently discovered only covers me if I'm more than three miles from home I would appreciate any information on how to either how to let some air out (in the hope that the sensor resets) or check out where to start to diagnose the problem.
The car has stayed jacked up for over a week now, so I think I can rule out any leakage.
Although OK on mechanical stuff I would never pretend to be competent on electrics.

Any advice much appreciated

 

[renault12ts]

Welcome.

 

[Baldbloke]

Cheers Renault12ts. I seem to have double posted while trying to correct a spelling mistake in the title.

 

[GordonTarling]

If the problem is that your car is currently at home, could you drive it 3 miles away and then call breakdown?

 

[gIzzE]

Pull the fuse, see what happens.

I guess there is a level sensor too somewhere? I would check that is sitting correctly.

 

[Baldbloke]

If the problem is that your car is currently at home, could you drive it 3 miles away and then call breakdown?

It is a good point but having already rung them up to collect the car and been refused as I'd driven it home I reckon they will have flagged me up already. Especially as I showed my displeasure at their service.

£90/£111 year for more than 10 years and this being my first call out.........

I'll make sure that I claim for a missing Porsche key to get this years premium back

 

[Baldbloke]

Pull the fuse, see what happens.

I guess there is a level sensor too somewhere? I would check that is sitting correctly.

Good thinking, I'll have a look after lunch. I presume this is for a reset?

I will also check around the rear axle and see if there are any link arms to a sensor seized.

I will post what I find. Thanks for the suggestions

 

[Baldbloke]

Jacked up the car (although it was hardly necessary as it's up in the air already) and saw no obvious problems, although I am not sure where the sensor is that determines ride height. I could see the air feed pipes and was tempted to let some air out. However, the connections have some corrosion around them and look a bit too delicate to muck around with so I think its going to have to be down to organising a trailer on the back of my defender with its dubious clutch.

I did pull the fuse with the ignition off and on and running. No change.

 

[Baldbloke]

I believe that I have found the problem.

Above the rear axle on the torsion bar is a clamp with a plastic arm linked to a sensor that appears to determine ride height at the rear. The cheap and nasty plastic arms have sockets which fit and actuate over steel balls. The balls had corroded so badly that the plastic arms had seized onto the balls. The plastic had broken in half so the sensor arm was hanging down and I believe giving the false signal for the car to lift.

Before disconnecting the sensor I tried to position the arm leading from the sensor in the highest and then lowest position in the false hope that the suspension would lower. No chance. It is still up in the air and no more drivable than before.

Will it be necessary to get Star onto it even if I replace the arm and/or sensor before it will operate correctly?
The message on the OBC now merely states "malfunction" rather than "Stop the Car, Car too low" as I have taken the sensor off the car.

 

[gIzzE]

I would just buy the bits you need and try it. I reckon it will be fine once the new one is fitted.

 

[Baldbloke]

I would just buy the bits you need and try it. I reckon it will be fine once the new one is fitted.

I'll do that tomorrow. Bet you cannot buy the ******* plastic without buying the whole sensor and clamp on the other end.

 

[dm250]

I had the same problem on my w212 estate yesterday , was going to work then all of a sudden the o/s rear started to raise to full height lol , anyway took the car to my mates garage after work and one of the ride height bars had snapped so for a temp repair we put a cable tie on it , he had to put it on his computer to lower the car to its original ride height

 

[Baldbloke]

I had the same problem on my w212 estate yesterday , was going to work then all of a sudden the o/s rear started to raise to full height lol , anyway took the car to my mates garage after work and one of the ride height bars had snapped so for a temp repair we put a cable tie on it , he had to put it on his computer to lower the car to its original ride height

View attachment 57044

I have ordered the plastic part and the two new balls and nuts and will collect them when they arrive at my depot(£37.00). I'm guessing that having already tried to move the sensor arm without any result that my car will still require Star to reset it.

 

[dm250]

I think it will have to go on a computer, my mate has one which has Merc software on it , so I think a garage with upto date Merc software will be able to do it for you

 

[Baldbloke]

Update

Update:

I bought the replacement parts which instead of being a weak bit of plastic has been upgraded to a steel link bar with integral ball joints, so do not waste money by bothering to order new ball joints.

I fitted the same which was a little awkward for big hand above the rear axle.

The arm off the sensor itself points upwards BTW.

The clamp on the torsion bar has a cut away so you cannot go to far wrong at that end. I would advise that you do order x2 new 8mm lock nuts for the clamp though and the x1 10mm locknut for the sensor end!

As I slowly drove the car towards a garage that said it could erase the malfunction code the cars' suspension reset itself. I stopped and turned off the ignition and back on again to see if the warning message was away.

So Gizze was correct :

I would just buy the bits you need and try it. I reckon it will be fine once the new one is fitted.

Might be worth making this a sticky for other 2007 E Class estates as I can see others having this issue where their cars see a lot of winter salt.

 

[gIzzE]

I reckon it wil be the same for all E Class estates.

Glad it worked.

 

[gIzzE]

I think we should have a more structured 'HOW TO' section on here.

Brake it down into parts, maybe...

Engine/gearbox/exhaust
Bodywork and Interior
Electronics
Infotainment/multimedia/Nav
Suspension
Wheels

Then have topic headers for each model range rather than sections..

A/B Class
C Class
E Class
S Class
SLK
SL
ML/GL

So...

E Class: Fix self levelling suspension

Every time something like this is tested it can be put in the relevant section. The reason for headers saying what model rather than sections is some things may cross over and if it is in an E Class section someone with a C Class may not see a fix for them.

 

[DJFarmo]

Cheap plastic link failure - where to buy replacement?

I'll do that tomorrow. Bet you cannot buy the ******* plastic without buying the whole sensor and clamp on the other end.

I have ordered the plastic part and the two new balls and nuts and will collect them when they arrive at my depot(£37.00). I'm guessing that having already tried to move the sensor arm without any result that my car will still require Star to reset it.

Hi,

I have the same problem on my 2010 S212 - the connector ball has corroded on the, causing the small plastic arm that connects it to the suspension arm to snap. resulting in that corner of the car raising up.

I have just called MB to try and buy a new plastic link but, as you predicted, they only wanted to sell it to me with a brand new sensor attached at a cost of over £140. Do you remember where you got your parts from for just £37?

Thanks.

 

[Baldbloke]

Cheap plastic link failure - where to buy replacement?





Hi,

I have the same problem on my 2010 S212 - the connector ball has corroded on the, causing the small plastic arm that connects it to the suspension arm to snap. resulting in that corner of the car raising up.

I have just called MB to try and buy a new plastic link but, as you predicted, they only wanted to sell it to me with a brand new sensor attached at a cost of over £140. Do you remember where you got your parts from for just £37?

Thanks.

Apologies for not responding. Still getting my head around the forum and found this post from two years ago.
The arm was available separately from the sensor directly from the dealer. I also believe this issue was under a recall. However, my car was imported from the Channel Islands so I wouldn’t have had the call and the dealer stung me for the parts.
My suspension for the E class estate/wagon is not ADS, ie only air to rear corners so only one sensor above rear axle at centre.


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