I bought an old 1985 Mercedes 500 SEL and the suspension is a little mushy. It occasionally bottoms out on larger bumps, especially with passengers. I have read around there may be a way to adjust the stiffness but i cant find where to do that, does any one know how. thanks
If you have a US 500 SEL with a mushy (weak) rear suspension you more then likely have worn shocks and possibly springs , no adjustments can be made . If you have a European model with the same issue i highly doubt you have a self leveling system and the reason i say this , I have repaired countless Benz hydro pneumatic suspensions both US and European models and have never had one with a mushy ride . When this particular system looses fluid pressure (hydro)by means of a leak or looses gas pressure(pneumatic) by means of blown accumulators , the rear suspension becomes very stiff and bounces like crazy over the slightest of bumps . This type of suspension is adjustable at the control valve located at the rear stabilizer (sway) bar but it does not control ride quality , it controls ride height. The motor that you speak of where the spare tire lives is for the central locking system and should only operate when you either lock or unlock the doors and is no way related to the rear suspension . Bandit is correct as far as the 500 SEL rear suspension application but the self leveling system is an option on the European models Bandit , not only did the 86 -91 560 SEL have the Hydro pneumatic rear suspension , it was also available and used in the 300 TD 123 chassis , 300 TD and 300 TE in the 124 chassis and the S 500 140 chassis and was even used in the European 500 SEL 126 chassis and 450 SEL 116 chassis
You ride is non-adjustable. If this vehicle is a European version, it will have a hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension. On the self-levelling suspension, you cannot adjust the firmness of the ride but if it is bottoming out, the system may be low on fluid or have some other faults with the rear suspension. If this vehicle was a North American version, it will have a standard shock and coil spring suspension set-up. Only the 560SEL (from '86-'91) received the hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension
