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Part of the trademark Mercedes experience is that feeling like you’re gliding over ice, yet in complete control. They really are some of the smoothest rides that you’ll ever find. The most critical part of achieving this experience is your Mercedes’ AirMatic system and today we’re going to tell you a little more about it.
We’ll cover what it is and what it does, as well as how an AirMatic system is diagnosed. We’ll follow it up with a little advice on how to avoid AirMatic and other system issues in the first place. By the time we’re done, you’ll know a little more about how your Mercedes stays so graceful on the road and more importantly – how to keep it that way.
What is the AirMatic System and What Does it Do?
The Mercedes-Benz AirMatic suspension system is a proprietary model of engineering. A self-leveling suspension, it helps to ensure that the weight of extra passengers doesn’t diminish the quality of your ride and it also lets you raise up the suspension manually if you like – all at the touch of a button!
For more granular control when you are on the highway, you can also lower your AirMatic suspension, so it’s really quite a nice upgrade over standard and much less luxurious vehicles that you’ll be sharing the road with.
As with any finely engineered design, proper care and maintenance is required in order to keep it running at its best, and that means that a little preventative maintenance is in order.
While some recommend that this is done every 10 years, the air springs in the system really should be checked on a more regular basis, especially if you spend a lot of time on the road.
What Does an AirMatic Diagnosis Consist of?
An AirMatic suspension diagnosis every now and then can help to make sure that your superior suspension isn’t starting to get a little taxed from keeping your ride as smooth as possible. These checked are thorough, but not overly complicated, and look a little like this:
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- Getting a closer look – A visual inspection comes first, where your Mercedes specialist is going to check for loose connections, air leaks, and any other physical damage that might be going on with your AirMatic. They’ll take a peek at the dashboard, as well, but also look a little closer in the next step.
- Error code check – Error messages don’t always pop up when you need to show them, but your Mercedes is a smart vehicle that stores its error messages and they can be retrieved with the proper diagnostic tools. Any error codes found will help to isolate the issue to specific components.
- Testing individual components – Armed with error message data and the visual inspection, it’s time to start testing individual components. Your air compressor, solenoid valves, and the control module are among the items checked so that the precise nature of the issue may be determined and remediated with the proper repair steps.
- Checking the height of your suspension – Another diagnostic tool will be deployed that’s going to check that your suspension is meeting the exacting lift requirements and that your suspension is level. Uneven suspension can cause a rocky ride, but also it puts a lot of stress in specific areas of your vehicle and sets you up for trouble down the road.
Airmatic Checks and Other Regular Preventative Maintenance Keep Your Mercedes at it’s Best
As you can see, while it’s not an overly complicated check, it doesn’t need to be – because experts who know your Mercedes and who have the right tools for the job are going to know exactly what to check.
Regular preventative maintenance of the AirMatic system and other parts of your vehicle are vital to maximizing all of the mileage and comfort that your Mercedes has to offer. While you might be able to get away with getting a little work done with a ‘generalized’ mechanic, we don’t really recommend it – You want someone who knows your Mercedes so that every bit of repair and maintenance is done with the entire design in mind.
If you happen to live in Alpharetta, Chamblee, Cumming, Norcross, Duluth, Dunwoody, Buckhead, Roswell, or the Atlanta area of GA, or even in Houston or Dallas, TX, then European Service Center can help. At European Service Center, we’ve been family owned and operated since 1979, so you’re never going to feel like a number at our shop. Once you’ve seen the difference that having your own Mercedes medic can make, we think you’re going to like it!
* Mercedes-Benz C-Class Car image credit goes to: teddyleung.