Is Your Benz CLS400d Sagging? Here’s Why!

For luxury models equipped with air suspension systems to enhance ride comfort and driving performance, while they provide a smooth driving experience, they can be troublesome when issues arise.

Finding the cause and performing maintenance can take a long time and can be costly, so it’s best to approach this with caution.

Simply lowering the vehicle height and replacing the air shocks and springs seems easy, but what if it doesn’t solve the issue? You can’t just replace expensive parts without being sure.

When problems occur with the height adjustment system (air suspension, air springs, air shocks), you first need to identify the cause and then source the appropriate parts (preferably OEM quality, not just generic).

I appreciate your trust in letting us handle this with ample time.

For the rear air springs of the Benz CLS400d C257,

we recommend using a set of Anote left and right.

★ We created this content to share maintenance information and promote our work based on our direct experience.

In the vicinity of Hwaseong, Dongtan, Osan, and Suwon,

you can find places that specialize in maintaining Benz air suspension and air springs. "GeoCar"

The rear air spring issue with the Benz CLS400d C257,

is often noticeable the day after parking when the vehicle appears lower than normal.

When starting the engine, the height adjusts correctly, but symptoms worsen to the point where the owner realizes something is wrong and brings the vehicle in.

In the case of the Benz CLS400d C257, unlike the previous W218 model, if there’s a problem, the vehicle often doesn’t lower or display warning lights, which makes diagnosis tricky.

To accurately diagnose the issue, we need some time.

In conclusion, we determined that both rear air springs need replacement.

We will use Anote products, a well-known manufacturer of air suspension components, which are recognized for their quality alongside OEM brands like Vibracoustic and Bilstein.

The advantage of using a trusted brand like this is reliability.

However, the downside is that good quality comes with a higher price.

The cost is about two-thirds of the original price.

Despite the high cost of replacement, my experience in servicing Benz vehicles has taught me that it’s best to use quality air springs.

I am aware of the cheaper Chinese alternatives, and while I have tried them, I haven’t seen any that last long. Occasionally, some people have had them last as long as OEM parts, but the odds are slim.

This issue is one of the common problems with the Benz CLS400d, where even OEM parts frequently fail. If you consider using aftermarket OEM parts, it's crucial to weigh the options carefully before making a decision.

The package contents and product packaging are well organized.

The connector condition is excellent, indicating that it includes the necessary sensors and modules.

Now, we will remove the existing air springs.

Using a scanner, we will depressurize the air and disconnect the components.

We will take care to minimize damage during this process!

Before replacing, let’s discuss the air spring issues! We diagnosed the cause, but we haven't visually inspected it yet.

Why?

The air spring has a protective cover that cannot be removed, so we will need to cut it.

This means we cannot perform an external inspection, so we will only check when we are certain.

What’s the result?!

Yes, both sides have a slight air leak.

The unusual aspect is that the issue isn’t due to cracks on the air spring surface, but rather rust and pressure damage on the fastening parts causing the air to leak!
Why do both need to be replaced? Let’s confirm with the owner.

We will install new parts.

We will replace the securing pins on the vehicle’s upper chassis with new ones and

We will neatly organize the connector wiring in the space and then finish up.

It may seem challenging, but after working on air spring issues frequently, you gain expertise.

We will mount the wheels and tires, reset the air pressure, clear the height control system warning lights, and set the vehicle height.

The air springs for the Benz CLS400d are ready!

We confirm that everything works perfectly before releasing the vehicle.

The good news is that when issues arise, it may require servicing more expensive components like the compressor valve block, so it’s essential to act quickly!

Quick maintenance is crucial!

As we wrap up, I want to express gratitude to the owners who trust us with these costly repairs. That’s all for today!

We’re done.