suspension riding high - 2001 S320

[mlc]

My S320 air suspension appears to have stuck at a very high level. I dont have any warning messages but the switch to lift / lower the suspension doesnt seem to do anything (although the light works ok). At a guess I would say that the car is sitting about 5 inches higher than normal.

Any suggestions would be gratefully accepted.

Mark

 

[Chas]

If you switched the ignition off when the car was on the raised level setting it is stored as the desired height ride.(5inches above tyres !) You have to drive about 60/70MPH for 5 minutes for it to lower to normal again. Check the manual it is in there.

I had this "problem" when I first got my S320 (2001) and was playing with all the toys !!
It is annoying when you do this and looks awful too

 

[mr. shr]

If you switched the ignition off when the car was on the raised level setting it is stored as the desired height ride.(5inches above tyres !) You have to drive about 60/70MPH for 5 minutes for it to lower to normal again. Check the manual it is in there.

Is this right?
On mine, as soon as you hit (i think 80MPH) the car will drop. The display will say, "Airmatic cancelled" but it will drop as soon as you hit that speed, and not after five mins.

But this is only the case if the car is raised (light in the button is on).
If you switch airmatic off via the button, it should lower the car.

I wonder if the vehicle ride height needs calibrating on the OP's car?

 

[Chas]

Originally Posted by Chas
If you switched the ignition off when the car was on the raised level setting it is stored as the desired height ride.(5inches above tyres !) You have to drive about 60/70MPH for 5 minutes for it to lower to normal again. Check the manual it is in there.

This above is correct: see page 343 S CLASS manual :-D

You can do 75-80 mph also as this will cancel the ride height and lower again, but this is illegal in the UK :-D:-D

 

[mlc]

My understanding agrees with Mr Shr.

Just been for a motorway run. If the switch is in the raised level setting them it turns off immediately at 80mph with the cancelled message, however sadly although I tried about a dozen times to speed up, slow down, turn it on, turn it off, the car level is still studidly high.

I will get a photo to show the problem, in the meantime what does "ride height needs calibrating on the OP's car? " mean?

Mark.

 

[Chas]

Ok, get in the car, lower the suspension-nothing will happen! Do not raise again! Now drive at 60/70 for 5 mins or 85 mph !! for 5 secs and and it will lower again to normal

 

[mr. shr]

My understanding agrees with Mr Shr.

Just been for a motorway run. If the switch is in the raised level setting them it turns off immediately at 80mph with the cancelled message, however sadly although I tried about a dozen times to speed up, slow down, turn it on, turn it off, the car level is still studidly high.

I will get a photo to show the problem, in the meantime what does "ride height needs calibrating on the OP's car? " mean?

Mark.

Our cars have sensors on the axles that tell the car what height it's at (I think there are two on the front axle and one on the rear).
Each of the sensors need to be reading within a particular range. If for some reason, the sensors are out of range, the ride height will be wrong (for example one corner might be higher than the other three). If the sensors are out of range then the ride height need calibrating.

I'm not sure if this fault could cause your problem but it might be related.

Where are you based? Do you know of a good indy?

 

[mr. shr]

Originally Posted by Chas

You can do 75-80 mph also as this will cancel the ride height and lower again, but this is illegal in the UK :-D:-D

Oops!
Kind of shot myself in the foot there, didn't I?

 

[mr. shr]

Originally Posted by Chas
If you switched the ignition off when the car was on the raised level setting it is stored as the desired height ride.(5inches above tyres !) You have to drive about 60/70MPH for 5 minutes for it to lower to normal again. Check the manual it is in there.

This above is correct: see page 343 S CLASS manual :-D

Page 343 in my manual is titled "Clearing the Windscreen" LOL
I'll see if I can find what you're referring to in my manual.

Edit:
Just found the section you're talking about. A speed of 75mph will cancel the height immediately. Speeds between 50 and 75mph for about 5 mins will also cancel the hight.

But I think mark has hit the 75mph speed, seen the "Airmatic Cancelled" display on the cluster, but the car is still raised when he gets out.

 

[mr. shr]

Mark,
With the car stationary and engine running, press the 'raise' button. Does the car go any higher?
How long does the display on your dash say "Airmatic, vehicle rising"
Can you hear your pump running?
Has it always been like this?

 

[mlc]

Ok, get in the car, lower the suspension-nothing will happen! Do not raise again! Now drive at 60/70 for 5 mins or 85 mph !! for 5 secs and and it will lower again to normal

Kind of thought this was a silly idea - however have just been out again and left the switch alone, having ensured it was off as soon as I started the car.

End result - thank you Chas, it worked perfectly - the car has lowered to the level I would expect.

Now not sure which is daftest, the fact that the car has a setting that I didnt understand, or that you can keep lifting the car higher and higher but have to drive it fast to bring it all the way down again.

I actually use the raised level all the time as it helps get onto our drive, what must happen is that I normally drive on the motorway most days so get to reset the system, however I havent been on the motorway for a week or so.

thanks again for the help.

Mark

 

[mr. shr]

Nice one.
Glad you got it sorted.

 

[Chas]

Kind of thought this was a silly idea - however have just been out again and left the switch alone, having ensured it was off as soon as I started the car.

End result - thank you Chas, it worked perfectly - the car has lowered to the level I would expect.

Now not sure which is daftest, the fact that the car has a setting that I didnt understand, or that you can keep lifting the car higher and higher but have to drive it fast to bring it all the way down again.

I actually use the raised level all the time as it helps get onto our drive, what must happen is that I normally drive on the motorway most days so get to reset the system, however I havent been on the motorway for a week or so.

thanks again for the help.

Mark

Well done Mark, the learning curve is steep on these cars sometimes.
Best advice I can give is dont raise it unless you really have too !!!:wink:

Ultimately the car will always sort it out itself

 

[mlc]

Well done Mark, the learning curve is steep on these cars sometimes.
Best advice I can give is dont raise it unless you really have too !!!:wink:

Ultimately the car will always sort it out itself

Not that steep!

I have had the car for over two years and didnt realise I was getting it wrong

However I have also now learnt how to clear error messages (from the handbook), I recently had a number plate light bulb fail and didnt know that I could get get the error message off the screen until I bought a new bulb.

Thanks again.

Mark.

 

[mr. shr]

Well now don't I feel daft, going on about all that technical stuff, like I actually knew what I was talking about?!?

Sorry to have gone off on the wrong track. I only mentioned calibrating of ride height cos I had to have mine done and thought you may have been in a similar situation.

Anyway, it's good you don't have a problem with the car. And even better you've learnt something new (as have I).

Top marks, Chas.

 

[Xtractorfan]

Actually driving at raised height is more economical..according to the book..and another thing I find with my car..If I lower the suspension completely and then raise it to normal driving height the suspension seems much more comfortable and smoother..

 

[Chas]

Actually driving at raised height is more economical..according to the book..and another thing I find with my car..If I lower the suspension completely and then raise it to normal driving height the suspension seems much more comfortable and smoother..

I thought driving at raised height would be less economical due increased drag/wind resistance, as the car when raised is about 2 inches higher off the ground ??
Maybe I have got my wires crossed