C200 Intermittant rough ride

[Archer]

2014 C200 AMG line - 14.5K miles on clock. Having had nothing but trouble with this car, it has now developed an intermittent rough ride fault. Start driving, everything normal then suddenly for no reason, the ride becomes rough and very bumpy like there is little or no suspension. Stop car, turn off ignition and it runs fine for a few miles then back to the rough ride. Suspect something in the AirMatic management system (?). Need it sorted - with so little mileage, this should not be happening. Local dealer want around £150 just to plug in diagnostics and see if there is a fault code. #totallyfedup, #nevertouchmercedesagain

 

[Wighty]

2014 C200 AMG line - 14.5K miles on clock. Having had nothing but trouble with this car, it has now developed an intermittent rough ride fault. Start driving, everything normal then suddenly for no reason, the ride becomes rough and very bumpy like there is little or no suspension. Stop car, turn off ignition and it runs fine for a few miles then back to the rough ride. Suspect something in the AirMatic management system (?). Need it sorted - with so little mileage, this should not be happening. Local dealer want around £150 just to plug in diagnostics and see if there is a fault code. #totallyfedup, #nevertouchmercedesagain

You need to find a good Mercedes independent who can read the fault codes for a lot less than that price buddy . Where do you live so a local Indy can be recommended .

 

[John Laidlaw]

^ what he said

 

[Archer]

You need to find a good Mercedes independent who can read the fault codes for a lot less than that price buddy . Where do you live so a local Indy can be recommended .

Gosport - the local Halfords Autocentre has a form of generic code reader but they are not sure it would indicate all codes - will start with them first.

 

[LostKiwi]

You're in luck. One of the better Indy's is in your area. Speak to Cole @ MBS in Southampton. I drove 2 hours to have him work on my SL and would go it again if it needs anything.

 

[Wighty]

Go straight to MBS buddy . Local Halfords Autocenter

 

[LostKiwi]

Gosport - the local Halfords Autocentre has a form of generic code reader but they are not sure it would indicate all codes - will start with them first.

Halfords generic reader won't pick up much at all - engine codes will be about it's limit.

 

[ioweddie]

Has it got airmatic suspension?

 

[Archer]

Has it got airmatic suspension?

Yes - Air car riser and selective drive (comfort, sport, Eco etc)

 

[Archer]

You're in luck. One of the better Indy's is in your area. Speak to Cole @ MBS in Southampton. I drove 2 hours to have him work on my SL and would go it again if it needs anything.

Hi - thanks - just googled MBS and they have a Carl and a Colin but no Cole on there webs-site meet the team - is this the same place (Hazel Road, Woolston)

 

[John Laidlaw]

Hi - thanks - just googled MBS and they have a Carl and a Colin but no Cole on there webs-site meet the team - is this the same place (Hazel Road, Woolston)

Cole = Colin......and it is

 

[LostKiwi]

Hi - thanks - just googled MBS and they have a Carl and a Colin but no Cole on there webs-site meet the team - is this the same place (Hazel Road, Woolston)

He's on this forum too. Good guys, know their stuff and have a better equipped workshop than most MB dealers (and are cheaper).

 

[Archer]

He's on this forum too. Good guys, know their stuff and have a better equipped workshop than most MB dealers (and are cheaper).

Many thanks - will be calling them tomorrow. Got an overly condensing headlight yet again - he may be able to help with that.

 

[Archer]

Well, car went to MBS in Southampton, very friendly and the diagnostic picked up a drivers side front Airmatic valve fault code. Software update done and car ran great home. Fault now back and I am back to square one and nearly eighty quid lighter. It appears that when the computer picks up a transient fault, it disengages all the Airmatic system. Switch8ngbthe ignition off resets it until something has a wibble. Catch 22 now as I want to get rid of the car but can’t with a fault like that!

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

What was the fault code?

 

[Archer]

What was the fault code?

Steve - Fault Code is C15321F - ‘The right front damping valve has a malfunction. There is a sporadic fault’ - Frequency counter 33.
I guess the fault is on the damper, either intermittent valve failure or a relay fault. Whatever it is, it will mean more money. Not bad on a car that is just about run in at just over 14,000 miles!