I was reading a post that some models have a more reliable and more expensive 'ABC Suspension'. If so, how will I be able to tell which it has?? The posts I'm reading about airmatic has about deterred me from an 2001 S430 I found.
Do all W220's have airmatic?
cmitch
21 - 28 of 28 Posts
When I did my first few hoses, I did all the accumulators, save the one in the back. You have to drop the exhaust to get it out.
That one got done when I dropped the entire subframe for a rear hose.
I think 10 years old is probably as far as I would run them in service.
That one got done when I dropped the entire subframe for a rear hose.
I think 10 years old is probably as far as I would run them in service.
Yes, but again, accumulator failures can often be anticipated by looking at the reservoir level change between engine off and on.
Changing them every ten years is probably a good guide. They do seem to exacerbate problems else where, rather like the wrong spark plugs tend to take out the coil packs.
Up market cars are getting MORE complicated, and none of them are fault free.
Nick
2000 S430, 2000 S500, 2003 S600 TT, 2005 E320 CDI, 2006 S500 4Matic, and 2006 S350
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Ah, I see. Didn't notice the reservoir check the first time; thanks! Seems I basically just got unlucky with it on my car.
Should I find another S600 (preferably) or an S55 AMG down the road--say, an upgrade for the wife--I'll consider keeping ABC on it if it looks like it's been decently cared for.
You all will appreciate this, given the timing of this discussion. The wife's 2000 S500 has just developed an AIRmatic problem that I get to troubleshoot. The rear wheelwells are squattin' right down on the tires, both sides. Starting the car does not raise the rear end up. Pushing the "raise" button on the dash does not raise the rear end. No "AIRMATIC TOO LOW, DO NOT DRIVE" message on the dash like I would normally expect. She got the car home OK before it really squatted down, but now she's driving the E320 CDI. Time to break out the SDS and get busy!
Should I find another S600 (preferably) or an S55 AMG down the road--say, an upgrade for the wife--I'll consider keeping ABC on it if it looks like it's been decently cared for.
You all will appreciate this, given the timing of this discussion. The wife's 2000 S500 has just developed an AIRmatic problem that I get to troubleshoot. The rear wheelwells are squattin' right down on the tires, both sides. Starting the car does not raise the rear end up. Pushing the "raise" button on the dash does not raise the rear end. No "AIRMATIC TOO LOW, DO NOT DRIVE" message on the dash like I would normally expect. She got the car home OK before it really squatted down, but now she's driving the E320 CDI. Time to break out the SDS and get busy!
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9,056 Posts
Hi @cowboyt ,
Absolutely, the clue here is that it's on the deck, but no "Too Low" Red warning on the Dash ..............
UK Cars are very prone to the metal linkage between Rollbar and Sensor corroding and breaking leaving the Sensor in a "high" status, thus it does not switch the VB via Airmatic Module to inflate the Rear end
HTH,
That's happened to me twice on ABC cars, and it can be serious. After a long period of no driving in winter, one of the ball joints will corrode and seize. The suspension still goes up and down, and the link mounting bracket has to accommodate the rotation instead of the ball joint. After a short time the bracket fatigues and breaks, but the suspension controller doesn't know that the linkage has broken, and does it's best to lower that corner.
Nick
Nick
2000 S430, 2000 S500, 2003 S600 TT, 2005 E320 CDI, 2006 S500 4Matic, and 2006 S350
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9,786 Posts
You guys called it. It was that metal linkage between the anti-sway (anti-roll) bar and the sensor. One end (the roll bar end) had deteriorated enough to where the little ball joint had separated and popped off. Rust all in there. The rubber that was in there holding the ball joint was pretty much shredded from 20 years of wear. Fortunately, I had a spare one sitting on the anti-roll bar eventually intended for the S600, and it looked like it was in good shape, so I applied some spray lithium grease in the joint and sealed it up with MB-brand green axle grease. Then I took it for a test drive.
Not only did the car go right back to its proper height, but actually the rear end is just maybe half an inch or so higher in the rear. Looks a little more balanced that way than before. Furthermore, the ride is a bit more firm in Sport 1 than it had been. It feels a lot like the '03 S430 now, come to think of it. The wife is out with it now taking it for a spin.
Moral: if your car feels a little soft in the suspension, check that metal linkage. They're still available from Mercedes-Benz, so I'm getting one for Dad's car (also 20 years old now) and the '03 S430. They're not showing problems now, but the time will come.
One more thing. Checking the car out with SDS showed that the AIRmatic system itself on this car is in great shape. That thing's holding air like a politician holds campaign contributions.
Not only did the car go right back to its proper height, but actually the rear end is just maybe half an inch or so higher in the rear. Looks a little more balanced that way than before. Furthermore, the ride is a bit more firm in Sport 1 than it had been. It feels a lot like the '03 S430 now, come to think of it. The wife is out with it now taking it for a spin.
Moral: if your car feels a little soft in the suspension, check that metal linkage. They're still available from Mercedes-Benz, so I'm getting one for Dad's car (also 20 years old now) and the '03 S430. They're not showing problems now, but the time will come.
One more thing. Checking the car out with SDS showed that the AIRmatic system itself on this car is in great shape. That thing's holding air like a politician holds campaign contributions.
2000 S430, 2000 S500, 2003 S600 TT, 2005 E320 CDI, 2006 S500 4Matic, and 2006 S350
Joined
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9,786 Posts
By the way, here are a couple of pics from SDS that gave me the clue as well that there was probably something wacky with the sensor's positioning.
Note the Rear Axle Level Sensor signals. Waaaaay out of tolerance!
![2617619]( "2617619")
And the level measurements. So, we're 127 mm in the rear when everything else is at -13 to -10? Yah...right....
![2617621]( "2617621")
All Hail SDS! Without this tool, I probably wouldn't have been able to diagnose this problem nearly as quickly. Nor would I have been able to verify that everything else was in proper order. Best $600 of automotive money I've spent.
Note the Rear Axle Level Sensor signals. Waaaaay out of tolerance!
And the level measurements. So, we're 127 mm in the rear when everything else is at -13 to -10? Yah...right....
All Hail SDS!
Without this tool, I probably wouldn't have been able to diagnose this problem nearly as quickly. Nor would I have been able to verify that everything else was in proper order. Best $600 of automotive money I've spent.21 - 28 of 28 Posts
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