[16vCorey]

OK, so maybe I didn't "fix" it, but here's the story. I drove the '00 S500 to Florida this weekend, and on my way back to the hotel Saturday night, the right front Airmatic struts starts leaking profusely. At this point I'm 800 miles from home. I'm close to the hotel, so I limp it back. The compressor would keep up with the leak while it was running, but when the compressor would cycle it would drop and the tire would rub the inner fender until the compressor could kick back on. So basically it would go back and forth between rubbing horribly and not rubbing every two or three minutes. I jack it up and devise a plan. The next morning I head out to home depot.

Step one: Jack up the car a little.

Step two: Insert 2"x4"

Step tree: Lower the jack, sit back and revel in the absolutely perfect ride-height.

The ride was a little bumpy, but really not that bad! It really wasn't much harsher than it is when you push the button that stiffens the suspension! I made the 800 mile trip home with ease, and never had to change or replace the block of wood. I got a few extras just in case.

 

[Quadcammer]

things have reached a new low in this forum

 

[tannyboy]

HAHA, love it, well done!

 

[16vCorey]

things have reached a new low in this forum

When you're 800 miles from home and you have to be at work the next day, desperate times call for desperate measures. I was just surprised it worked so well.

 

[jurka]

When you're 800 miles from home and you have to be at work the next day, desperate times call for desperate measures. I was just surprised it worked so well.

Congrats, he he, very smart. I will pack 2 pieces tommorow in the spare wheel compartment. Defo cheaper then getting a recovery truck home just need to paint with aluminium pain and add merc part numbers on it ) a2200 2x4

so if to use 2x2 or similar that would be as lowering emergency kit?

its very cool then you not panicing but coming up with solving idea. Congrats once again.

 

[Gabby07621]

I can't hate on this emergency procedure, but the title leads me to believe that this might be a permanent fix, which it is not.

Kudos on the McGuyver fix though.

 

[16vCorey]

I can't hate on this emergency procedure, but the title leads me to believe that this might be a permanent fix, which it is not.

Kudos on the McGuyver fix though.

Definitely not a permanent fix. I got home, parked it in the garage, and immediately got on Arnott's website and ordered a new one.

 

[ollo]

What an elegant solutionto a frustrating problem. This is called a "bump stop" and Land Rover puts a hard rubber version on all four corners to deal with the anticipated failure of their air suspension system. Always wondered why MBZ failed to do this on the S class as it allows one to drive home or to a service station at a reasonable speed and in relative comfort. Don

 

[daisound]

For precaution, Jack up your car's front end, wheels above ground, if the rubber dust shield is not sealed to the lower seals, you must reseal the top of your air shock. If you prolong this repair, this is what you get while you are away from your town.

 

[Ramunsa]

wow what an excellent solution.
Good job man.

 

[SUBUYA]

You could buy the special tool that All the dealers have for that exact problem. But it won't be near $7.00. GOOD JOB!!

 

[chibenz]

I mean seriously very smart but not very safe.lol

I don't remember that member name, who went on vacation with his family thinking that he is driving one of the best and reliable car in the world but guess what happened 600 miles away...air suspension gave up and he got stuck in the middle of nowhere during winter time. It took him quite some time to get out of that situation. Hard to Imagine what it feels like to be in that situation when you are out with your kids and family.

We all talked about this flaw so many times that mb should have some type of emergency setting that would get you out of that situation so you can make it to your destination and here you showed everyone of us how to do that.

 

[MwC240Sport]

kudos to you for the great McGyvor fix !

Me thinking a better solution might be to do same but use hard rubber rather than wood.

I'm going to make a couple up and throw them in the boot - don't want to have to pay a flat bed, or worse ...

 

[cameraman123]

Haha! Great quick fix! That's some ingenuity right there... if only the car had rubber bump stops to begin with?

 

[s55am]

north american solution to a german problem!

lmao that was awsome!

 

[star500e]

little scarey...

Definitely not a permanent fix. I got home, parked it in the garage, and immediately got on Arnott's website and ordered a new one.

Hey Corey - congrats on getting that solved well enough to return home on! One thing that would really worry me is supporting 800 or so lb on a wooden block (you put it such that the grain ran parallel to the road which is probably good). Moreover, I'd worry that it would bend or otherwise muck up your suspension arm.

 

[PeterLondonH]

Thanks Corey you are just like me I do all what ever it needs when it comes to we need to get home in any mean is necessary

 

[4baddogdoug]

Check out your photos carefully again...

FWIW... it also looks like the rubber boot on that upper suspension component is cracking...good time to maintain your suspension ;-):thumbsup:

 

[PeterLondonH]

I mean seriously very smart but not very safe.lol

I don't remember that member name, who went on vacation with his family thinking that he is driving one of the best and reliable car in the world but guess what happened 600 miles away...air suspension gave up and he got stuck in the middle of nowhere during winter time. It took him quite some time to get out of that situation. Hard to Imagine what it feels like to be in that situation when you are out with your kids and family.

We all talked about this flaw so many times that mb should have some type of emergency setting that would get you out of that situation so you can make it to your destination and here you showed everyone of us how to do that.

Guys to be honest I had enough from these stories!
I mean I wrote today an email and explained to the Mercedes Benz whats going on with their air suspensions!
I know it is not much to expect from my email!
But I did that anyway. I wrote it down a story like this above and the family with the kids 600 miles away from home etc.
I am preparing now for a 600 miles trip up to north England and to be honest I am not exactly comfortable with it.
I dont have problems at the moment I know of... with my car but never know.
I find this rather sad. We have AA but still who needs this hassle?

 

[doni01]

When you're 800 miles from home and you have to be at work the next day, desperate times call for desperate measures. I was just surprised it worked so well.

I am surprised too it did. Great thinking man !!