CLS SB rear suspension and headlights problem

Isdyldan

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Hi, About 2 months ago I bought a 2014 350CLS SB with standard suspension on the front and standard air suspension on the rear. After a few days I realised that the rear was a bit low so I took it back to the dealer and they did something which raised it back up. Fine. Anyway, last week I drove in the dark for the first time and noticed the dipped headlights were high. It went in yesterday to the main dealer for an unrelated free SW update and I asked them to check and adjust the headlight aim, which they did. There were way out of alignment apparently. When I got home I realised that the rear had gone down again! The headlight aim is still fine though - there must be a connection here. I would have thought that lower rear would cause higher beam height, but I guess its all self levelling. Something odd if happening. Has anyone else had this issue please?
 

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John Laidlaw

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That does look low, and I’m with you on the link.
If they are dropping there has to be a leak in the pipework or bags or a fault in the compressor.
My last E63 had airmatic rear and they hardly ever moved, even though I used the AMG & Sports settings which would lower a bit- afterwards back in comfort they would reset and stay.
Needs the airmatic settings checked on MB Star diagnostic
 

EmilysDad

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I'd expect the headlight levelling & suspension levelling to be monitored by separate sensors ...... it was on my Omega ... but I could obviously be wrong :confused:
 

LostKiwi

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Sounds to me like a possible height sensor link issue maybe? They're known to rust away.
 

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Sounds to me like a possible height sensor link issue maybe? They're known to rust away.

That was my initial thought as well. There’s a few threads on here with the same issue
 
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Isdyldan

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Thanks for the suggestions. The indi garage plugged in and found the settings for the suspension heights all wrong. They reset them back to normal and also readjusted the headlight aim which was now a bit low.
Are the headlights adjusted normally by computer or are they done physically using some mechanical adjuster on the headlight please? Also can adjusting the headlights mess up the suspension settings??
Many thanks
 

LostKiwi

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You have self levelling suspension. That adjusts the headlight for load.
Adjusting headlights does not affect suspension.
 
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Isdyldan

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Ok, so if the headlight aim and the suspension height are related, can the suspension settings be messed up by adjusting the beam height?
 
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Isdyldan

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OK thanks. All I know is that the suspensions was fine. The main dealer adjusted the headlight aim, and then the suspension heights went out of spec. I'm just trying to work out how that could happen. It could be a coincidence, but a similar thing happened before just after I bought it - the suspension settings messed up and it was riding low at the back just after the headlight aim was raised for the MOT.
 
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Isdyldan

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Well I give up - can’t work it out. I guess someone at some point altered the headlight aim on the computer instead of manually on the headlights and screwed up the suspension setting. That the only conclusion I can come to. When MB Brooklands adjusted them manually they possibly didn’t set the suspension to zero first.
 
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Isdyldan

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Thanks for the details.
 
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Isdyldan

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This issue was all caused by a damaged wire to the air compressor/pump.
 


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