MBZ Air Suspension - Advice?

[daepp]

Ok - the right rear strut has finally failed on my wife's car. That makes all four, with the right front failing twice and the entire compressor being replaced under recall. The vehicle is an 07 GL450.

However, this time the vehicles is 2000 miles beyond the warranty (100K). Anyone have any info that would compel the dealer the repair this under the warranty? It seems obvious to me that their is a design flaw - the roughest terrain this car has seen are the CA freeways (not much).

[MotoSook]

Can't help but a buddy jus spent $3000 on top of $1000-2000 a year ago to fix his S500's air ride.

This is why I stick to simple suspension.

[A930Rocket]

From my experience, MB won't fix it.

Have you looked at other forums that might suggest installing a standard suspension? I know on the R-series, many have converted the air suspension to typical suspension.

[speeder]

That sucks. Where are you located?

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

From my experience, MB won't fix it.

Have you looked at other forums that might suggest installing a standard suspension? I know on the R-series, many have converted the air suspension to typical suspension.

that is what my parents did when the air level thing went bad in their old caddy.

[Laneco]

David,

Approach the negotiation armed with the previous repairs and request that they cover this under warranty.

Maybe they will (but probably they won't).

If "no" then ask what the procedure is to escalate a customer's disasfaction. E.g. regional or national representative, etc.

Then ask again. If you're shot down a second time, ask for a pro-rated repair. If that's a "no" then proceed with the escalation. With greater frequency, I am finding that manufacturer's refuse to pay full for the repair, but they will pay a portion, sometimes as much as 80%.

Oh, and after it's fixed - sell it.

angela

[Scuba Steve]

How many years have automakers been trying to make air suspensions work? I don't understand why they keep putting them on... it's like a couple of the designers are sitting around and one asks the other, what was that thing your grandpa's Lincoln had that made the rear of the car sit really low all the time? Let's put one of those on ours.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Scuba Steve

How many years have automakers been trying to make air suspensions work? I don't understand why they keep putting them on... it's like a couple of the designers are sitting around and one asks the other, what was that thing your grandpa's Lincoln had that made the rear of the car sit really low all the time? Let's put one of those on ours.

That's really funny.

I think that the reason they can't resist putting them on cars is because they are so biotchin when they work. My '96 Mercedes has hydraulic self-leveling rear suspension that works fine and AFAIK has never needed servicing.

That's an incredible amount of failure on one vehicle. (The ML).

[fastfredracing]

Check out Strutmasters.com. I have used several of their kits in the past, mostly on Lincolns, and Caddy's. I am not sure if they have mbz stuff, but they did have some BMW coverage last time I checked.

[slow&rusty]

Does the GL use ABC air suspension like the "S" Class or Airmatic like the "E" class?

If it uses Airmatic, Arnott makes very inexpensive replacements.
Yasin

[daepp]

Thanks for the advice everyone. The suspension is the Airmatic and does provide a nice ride. And even though I usually research these things, I was unaware it had an air suspension. I was aware of all the air suspension problems on 60's/70's Benzs that render them almost valueless but oh well.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by speeder

That's really funny.

I think that the reason they can't resist putting them on cars is because they are so biotchin when they work. My '96 Mercedes has hydraulic self-leveling rear suspension that works fine and AFAIK has never needed servicing.

That's an incredible amount of failure on one vehicle. (The ML).

They do work really well, when they work. The ride and handling is great. I had the air suspension on my old '05 E500, and I felt it was a noticeably better ride than the spring suspension.

That being said, I never trusted it. It also made me nervous hearing the pump going at random times while the car was parked. I didn't want to keep owning the car out of warranty, mostly b/c of potential air suspension costs.

[McLovin]

As far as it getting repaired under warranty or "goodwilled," you can get it done, esp. given the service history of your car, and that it is just out of warranty.

The problem is, it is hit and miss. If you get a really helpful service advisor, and he works it for you, you can get it done, or maybe partly paid for. But if you run into a wall, you'll be out of luck. You have to walk a fine line between being persistent, but not making them dislike you.

[daepp]

Good advice I'm sure.