W220 Mystery Hard Damping problem - continued

[markben]

First, and important (!): sincere thanks to all here who replied to my earlier Post and Tales of Woe with helpful suggestions, conversations & offers to meet-up (you know who you are ).

Unfortunately, you kind folks are some distance away and it’s logistically difficult for us to get together at the moment: but I would like to stay in touch, regardless.

In the meantime: are there any W220 owners on this forum who are located in or near to me in South West England (North Somerset) who might be willing to do a Real Time ‘back to back’ drive comparison and give an opinion on the atrociously hard (OUCH!) Airmatic / ADS ride quality on my otherwise immaculate ‘S’? If only to confirm that I'm not 'losing the Plot' or imagining things?

Before you ask: in my previous Post (March 2022) I described the HD problem in detail, together with a summary of previous investigations / work done by my local main dealer and a few Indies at massive expense - without success. And I trust my judgement about the HD problem based on my professional background as a Sales Training Consultant to Mercedes Benz UK when I drove many S Class cars from W126s to W140s which rode supremely smoothly (even pre-airmatic). Enough said?!

In short: I know how supremely smoothly an Airmatic W220 should ride when ‘healthy’. Magic Carpet etc? But my ‘S’ is definitely out-of-sorts.

All thoughts welcomed, and thanks in anticipation

Mark B. (UK / Bristol area)

 

[tavernole]

First, and important (!): sincere thanks to all here who replied to my earlier Post and Tales of Woe with helpful suggestions, conversations & offers to meet-up (you know who you are ).

Unfortunately, you kind folks are some distance away and it’s logistically difficult for us to get together at the moment: but I would like to stay in touch, regardless.

In the meantime: are there any W220 owners on this forum who are located in or near to me in South West England (North Somerset) who might be willing to do a Real Time ‘back to back’ drive comparison and give an opinion on the atrociously hard (OUCH!) Airmatic / ADS ride quality on my otherwise immaculate ‘S’? If only to confirm that I'm not 'losing the Plot' or imagining things?

Before you ask: in my previous Post (March 2022) I described the HD problem in detail, together with a summary of previous investigations / work done by my local main dealer and a few Indies at massive expense - without success. And I trust my judgement about the HD problem based on my professional background as a Sales Training Consultant to Mercedes Benz UK when I drove many S Class cars from W126s to W140s which rode supremely smoothly (even pre-airmatic). Enough said?!

In short: I know how supremely smoothly an Airmatic W220 should ride when ‘healthy’. Magic Carpet etc? But my ‘S’ is definitely out-of-sorts.

All thoughts welcomed, and thanks in anticipation

Mark B. (UK / Bristol area)

Had the same problem on my W221, the fault is the electrical connectors close to the front top suspension on both sides in the engine bay, unplug, spray with contact cleaner and hay presto, problem solved

 

[robmc52]

Had the same problem on my W221, the fault is the electrical connectors close to the front top suspension on both sides in the engine bay, unplug, spray with contact cleaner and hay presto, problem solved

On the W220 the electrical connectors close to the strut tops are acceleration sensors, which have already been suggested as something worth checking in markben's previous thread.