221 ARB's main dealer only

[bembo449]

found the ARB's were mullered on the 221 this morning , wasn't expecting them to be MB only , I can however import them from Lithuania for £33 delivered , I haven't asked MB for a price yet , they aren't the straight forward wrap around style either , this set up slide on from one end of the anti- roll bar itself , pita

 

[Cole@MBS]

The anti roll bar bushes have to be bonded to the cups and frame and on a level ground when setting up!!!

 

[bembo449]

is that so ? even bigger pita than I originally thought then pal , I guess these have broken the bond somehow as neither were attached to the cups when I inspected them

 

[alexanderfoti]

The anti roll bar bushes have to be bonded to the cups and frame and on a level ground when setting up!!!

Can you simulate this on a ramp by using 2 x gearbox jacks on each wheel?

 

[Botus]

the was a TSB in the early days of the 221 .... for the Anti roll bar bushes making a noise.... the fix was to glue in place

mine looks awful with slop everywhere, it looks like normal rubber glue I bet they put some slop on bolt it up quick and park over night

 

[bembo449]

i guess I will use tiger seal or similar when the time comes

 

[alexanderfoti]

i guess I will use tiger seal or similar when the time comes

Hold on. How have you got anti roll bars if you have ABC suspension?

 

[bembo449]

because that's what the car has got Alex

 

[alexanderfoti]

because that's what the car has got Alex

Does it have ABC or airmatic?

 

[bembo449]

hmmm ? id say airmatic as it doesnt change the ride when I go for sport on the g.box

 

[alexanderfoti]

hmmm ? id say airmatic as it does change the ride when I go for sport on the g.box

Aha, I'm just wondering if I should be checking mine!

 

[bembo449]

well ive had this knocking and squeak for a while Alex and I had time to investigate , it was obvious the ARBs were in a bad way , just looking at them

 

[Westheath]

Hmmm

I though MB were monopolizing on these bushes

 

[Botus]

hmmm ? id say airmatic as it doesnt change the ride when I go for sport on the g.box

what's the car? w221 and the w216 with std suspension, has airmatic and it does alter transmission settings, ride comfort, ride height, steering weighting and cruise control responsiveness (dist plus)….

when its working

changes as per list above are (std then sport)
pulls away in second and low throttle pedal responsiveness to pulls off in first with an overly lively kickdown
wallowy and dangerous to firm and lumpy
normal ride height to minus 10mm
too stiff by 10% to too stiff by 20%
absent minded meandering to crazed kickdown for a 3mph increase (on a 5.5 v8 at 90mph !!!)

 

[Botus]

USA info

P-B-32.20/47a JAN08 -- 221.171 up to VIN A104333 knocking noise front axle when driving over small bumps such as speed bumps; will apply adhesive to the stabilizer bar’s rubber mounts.

 

[bembo449]

221 has the ARB issue , 216 defo has ABC because it shows in the display when I hit the sport button , 221 just has the lift facility via a dash button and doesn't feel any different when I change the gearbox setting

 

[Botus]

221 has the ARB issue , 216 defo has ABC because it shows in the display when I hit the sport button , 221 just has the lift facility via a dash button and doesn't feel any different when I change the gearbox setting

it should feel very different.....

Comfort will ALWAYS pull away from stationary in second gear
Sport will ONLY pull away in first gear

when driving if you attempt to drive it like a rally car in Sport, the gearbox ties the car in knots. Lets say you want to press on and you are in twisty roads where second and third would be the most sensible gears. I find you are happily getting say 200 bhp out to the wheels (which is about where grip levels are on our potholed and gravel infested roads) the car is well set up and its all normal, you then have a short 40 metre straight so you ease open the throttle a smidge expecting it to accelerate briskly but suddenly it decides first is the right gear the revs go from 3k to 5k and in an instant with the very same throttle setting you now have 350bhp the back wobbles, the esp interferes all of which as usual with a computer is a few milliseconds after you backed off already.... the gearbox now drops back to third the car calms down, but now in third its gutless and making 160 bhp so you squeeze the throttle and it all starts again... come the next set of bends you put it comfort the gearbox stops being mental the power reaching the road is what your foot is actually asking for and you make safer progress but with the car wallowing about a bit more than is necessary

Alternatively, rally driving in comfort can provide this snippet of hopelessness. When pulling away from rest if you push hard it will make a very scruffy change into first after about 10 yards only to realise 5 yards later its on the red line and go back to second... which is all rather pointless

 

[bembo449]

yes , throttle response etc is more energetic but suspension doesn't firm up like the 216 does

 

[Botus]

yes , throttle response etc is more energetic but suspension doesn't firm up like the 216 does

mine was like this for 8 months !!! the fuse to the air compressor had popped.... it only threw a dash light after I had 300kg of stuff in the boot and rear seats and a corner sagged and it couldn't pump it up again

 

[alexanderfoti]

All 216's have ABC btw. No airmatic option on them.