Diagnosing my Mercedes ML W164 AIRMATIC Air Suspension Problem - Air Spring Strut Valve Block

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In this video I show you how I diagnosed the a Mercedes AIRMATIC Valve Block issue on a ML-Class W164 Vehicle.
In this video I show you al of the steps I went through to correctly diagnose that the issue was actually with the Mercedes AIRMATIC Valve Block. For the video I am using my 2011 Mercedes ML300 W164 where initially I thought that the problem was with the Air Spring component of the Front Right AIRMATIC shock absorber.
What you will see is that I step by step show you how to do this procedure safely with minimal tools. In particular I have attempted to film all of the steps involved without avoiding the trickier elements of this task.
Here is where you can purchase a new aftermarket Mercedes AIRMATIC parts at reasonable prices:
Valve Block: amzn.to/3NAWbPO
Front Strut Shock Absorber Assembly: amzn.to/3rmq4Zl
Front Air Spring: amzn.to/3rgsxry
Rear Air Spring: amzn.to/437CvIR
Air Compressor: amzn.to/46wqM9M
This is the Playlist to all of the videos that I have made with respect to Mercedes AIRMATIC suspension:
• Mercedes AIRMATIC Susp...
You to can do it yourself and save the cash!

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12 июл 2023

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Комментарии : 31

@nickkukrudz8387 18 дней назад

Great video. Thank you

@DrewFixIt 16 дней назад

Thanks mate! Out of interest, are there any specific videos that you would like to see me make? Cheers Drew

@johnbevilacqua6751 11 месяцев назад

Andrew, you are amazing. Not only do you discuss the issue, you fix it AND, give amazing links to where to buy parts. I bought my ML350 W166 a little while ago and it is still under warranty. Mercedes had to replace O2 sensor and Bluetec level sensor. I have not had to go through a lot of issues yet. But you can be sure that I will always check your site first if anything comes up. If you were in Melbourne I"d shout you a beer!

@DrewFixIt 11 месяцев назад

Thanks John, you are way too kind mate! Cheers Drew

@monkeebizz5997 23 часа назад

June 2024 I loved your video explanation and tips for the aftermarket parts as I have a client with a 2012 ml 350 blue tec who says his vehicle doesn't seem to ride as cushy as he remembers but I also noticed he's not running identical tire brands on the rear axle an😊d also wonder if he might want or need to try different air pressures in the tires to change ride characteristics? Feel free to provide your excellent opinion on this topic. The vehicle is in very nice condition but I did notice oil leakage on the right side of the bottom of the motor and I never had time to raise the hood to inspect it so far. Thank you for your time and your straight forward presentation!

@DrewFixIt 19 часов назад

Hi Mate, thanks for the feedback! It's a little counter intuitive, however get him to try higher tyre pressures as this can result in a smoother ride!! You will notice also that I have swapped out the low profile AMG rims (21 inch) for 16 or 17 inch rims on my car just because I personally wanted a softer ride ... I do get given grief by this decision, however I do have the AMG rims in my shed to put back on the car one day!! Cheers Drew

@johnboom6777 3 месяца назад

Andrew. Many thanks for the vid. 1 am a 75yo ex marine engineer ( long time ago) who hates working on cars. Engines four stories high are easier. I am still working as a machinery repairer, redesigner and making parts (Boom Engineering (impossible jobs our specialty)) in Sydney and factory at Central Coast (no more employees). Bought her 2011 ML new (I have a twin cab Sprinter) and have since done all the work myself which has been a PITA. All air bags, compressor, replaced oil cooler seals, resoldered ignition circuit boards, headlight lense covers, brakes, windscreen, transmission oil change, MAFS clean, replace sensors inc o2, panel beaten body, side mirrors and cut the DPF in half put in a $30 filter cartridge and rewelded it, water pump, belt tensioner, I have forgotten some of the others, (replaced something on transmission as well). A bit skeptical of 2 tiny leaks on right front causing erratic symptoms as these would normally be consistent so looked up your vid and you confirmed my suspicions before I went to the trouble of removing all the obstacles to the valve block. BTW have made special AMG tools for the MB repairer at Brookvale as he was not allowed to buy them. Thank you for the confirmation and time saver.

@DrewFixIt 3 месяца назад

Hi John, thanks for the comment. It’s a pity I’m not on the east coast as you sound very knowledgeable and I would love to have a chat! Cheers Drew

@johnboom6777 3 месяца назад

@@DrewFixIt You in WA or SA ? I was brought up in the fifties at North Cottesloe also lived at Northcliff and later Waikiki area where I designed and made a car outside with only a few hand tools and a borrowed cheap welder. It was the first car in the world with windscreen wipers under the bonnet( have pic). Driving from WA to NSW in 1970 and back multiple times rare to see anyone for a week as Nullabor was 350 miles of dirt track. Replaced PCV valve and shocks as well.😊 One thing I wanted to ask your opinion on the very light torque for the turbo charger hold down bolts. Do you think it's due to combating heat induced expansion ?. I worked for Rolls Royce (marine) who put me on a bolt plasticity course and they said having grease on bolts increased the linear pressure by over 30% With this in mind having doubt about the absurdly light torque recomendation greased them before torquing up. Would you have done similar or just increased the setting on the wrench ?. Welcome to have a chat, just look up the website.

@DrewFixIt 3 месяца назад

@@johnboom6777 Hi John, I am in SA. I always have a tendency to overtighten things personally, probably something about growing up on a farm where we just tightened the living daylight out of everything to stop things vibrating loose, however having stripped a few things over the years I am a lot more careful nowadays :) I think that these European cars have lots of different alloys combined with many combinations of materials used and additionally the tolerances are so fine that I try to use a torque wrench as much as I can simply sticking to the manufacturer specifications. I have never heard the grease method, however if I was concerned I would have perhaps used some loctite on the threads and torqued to spec with loctite. Cheers Drew

@johnboom6777 3 месяца назад

@@DrewFixIt One more story before signing off. My 47yo cycling mate grew up in SA. ( made my own 81 tooth chainring from scrap alum checker plate). Anyhow, rocked up at Garden Island Naval dockyard shutdown and was greeted with " what are you guys doing here" by Hans and Rudy previous work associates. "We are doing turbines you're not good enough for that" . I answered " who do you think made the blades, Simon". "He couldn't have because they were made in South Australia" . ".Where do you think he came from".

@cisa1622 9 месяцев назад

that was a very good diagnostic. I was on the lookout for a used ML350 and was not sure about air suspension because of the Benz Cost( they quotes 2500 AU$ for a single strut). your vedio was very helpful.

@DrewFixIt 6 месяцев назад

Hi Mate, here’s a playlist of videos replacing basically every AIRMATIC component in a ML W164: ru-vid.com/group/PLor5qdyoV_nQk9277ANJLkKaJ-9Ky_OB7 You can DIY everything yourself for less than $1k and it’s actually not that hard … go to the dealer for all of this work and it will be over $10k! Cheers Drew

@dennisdrenthe1058 11 месяцев назад

The 1st link is to the strut instead of the Valve. Thanks for sharing anyway, it makes my decision to go all-in on a W164 much easier.

@DrewFixIt 11 месяцев назад

Hi Dennis, thanks for pointing this out, I have fixed this link now! Good luck with your W164 I certainly have no regrets with purchasing mine :) Cheers Drew

@dennisdrenthe1058 4 месяца назад

Got my W164 for two weeks now. You have no idea how helpful your videos are. Keep up the good work, mate. Greetings from the Netherlands.

@user-vn4kw4fd2o 7 месяцев назад

Thank you very much for comprehensive video. What happens if you don’t replace the valve block. Will it cause compressor to wear out quickly?

@DrewFixIt 7 месяцев назад

Hi Mate, I would suggest that the behaviour is not normal and you do need to get to the bottom of it as the car is leaking air somewhere. Mine ended up being the Air Block leaking the air. Any Air leaks ultimately mean that the compressor is working more than it should and thus yes will wear out quicker! Cheers Drew

@kabusanchez5622 7 месяцев назад

GRACIAS POR TAN BUENA EXPLICACION

@DrewFixIt 7 месяцев назад

Gracias por el comentario, suscríbete al canal y compártelo ampliamente con tus amigos, ¡te lo agradeceríamos mucho! Saludos, Drew

@flynnpadayachee8006 Месяц назад

Drew I have a Mercedes Benze Viano W639 2014 - 3.0 Cdi the air shock will not work the voltage at the air compressor is below 3 volts any suggestions mate

@BillMack-sb9wy 10 месяцев назад

Did you ever figure out what your leveling problem on your Mercedes was? I have a 2009 Ml550 and have a similar problem, mainly leaning to left side. I had previously changed a compressor and both rear air bags. I have since changed the valve block as you were planning. This has not solved the problem. I have a xtool A30M OBD reader. It seems to work well and provides good feedback on Pressure and level sensor set points and actual position. It is not showing any faults though, I would be interested to hear if you sort it out, Thanks, Bill

@DrewFixIt 10 месяцев назад

Hi Bill, I swapped the levelling block and all is good now. I need to edit up a video and post it, just haven’t had time with life and a day job taking priority! Cheers Drew

@BillMack-sb9wy 10 месяцев назад

@@DrewFixIt thanks, didn’t work for mine. I’m thinking it may be a compressor problem, even though the it’s only a 2year old aftermarket pump?? My code reader is reading low bar pressure, thanks again

@DrewFixIt 10 месяцев назад

@@BillMack-sb9wy when does it lean to one side? Cheers Drew

@BillMack-sb9wy 10 месяцев назад

Always now, I could hit the rise button on fully raise all for corners to maximum height and leave it for 24 hrs with no dropping or lowering. That makes me think the strut is not leaking. Since I changed the valve block I cannot raise by pushing the button. The A30M is reading the bar pressure for the system very low since the valve block change, I’m putting the old one back in tomorrow as there has been no change by changing it. I do have a old compressor I’m going to re install just to see if it builds more bar pressure. I’ll let you know once I figure this out.

@DrewFixIt 10 месяцев назад

@@BillMack-sb9wy I am not familiar with that scan tool. Can it read the Mercedes specific fault codes? Cheers Drew