Are you looking to refine the stance of your Mercedes-Benz, particularly a model around 2015? Many owners find the factory ride height a bit higher than they prefer, especially on sportier models. If you’re equipped with Mercedes-Benz diagnostic tools like Xentry (also known as SDS – Star Diagnosis System), you have the capability to adjust your car’s ride height yourself. This guide will walk you through the process of lowering your Mercedes W212, a popular model from that era, using Xentry.
This tutorial is based on a real-world experience of adjusting the ride height on a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic W212. While the car in question is slightly older, the procedure remains highly relevant for 2015 Mercedes-Benz models and others within the W212 generation that utilize the Airmatic suspension system. Keep in mind that while Xentry allows for ride height adjustments, it’s not intended for extreme lowering or “slamming” your vehicle. For drastic drops, you might need aftermarket air ride links. However, a subtle and tasteful lowering of around 30-40mm is achievable through Xentry.
Before we dive into the steps, let’s look at the initial ride height of the Mercedes W212 in question. As you can see in the before photos, the wheel gap was quite significant, detracting from the sporty aesthetic, despite being equipped with the sport package and AMG wheels.
Essential Preparations Before Using Xentry for Lowering
Prior to connecting your Xentry system to your Mercedes-Benz for ride height adjustment, there are crucial preliminary steps to ensure a smooth and safe process.
1. Prepare Your Vehicle’s Suspension: Begin by activating the “raise vehicle” function in your car. Allow the Airmatic system to fully elevate the car to its maximum height. Once raised, deactivate the “raise vehicle” function and let the car settle back down on its suspension. It’s important to wait for at least 2-3 minutes after the car settles. This ensures the air suspension system is in a stable state before you start making adjustments with Xentry.
2. Battery Power is Critical: Maintaining a stable voltage supply throughout the Xentry procedure is paramount. Connect your Mercedes-Benz to an external battery charger. This is especially important when working with electronic control units to prevent data corruption or module damage due to voltage drops. A 10Amp charger is recommended. Similarly, ensure your laptop running Xentry is also connected to a power source to avoid interruptions from battery depletion during the process.
3. Xentry System Setup: For this procedure, a C3 Multiplexer with Xentry software (version 3/2012 or later is suitable for 2015 Mercedes models) is used. Connect the Multiplexer to your car’s OBD-II port. Position the Multiplexer conveniently, for example, on the driver’s seat, and run the cable to your laptop outside the car. Set up your laptop on a stable surface, like a stool, for easy access during the procedure.
Step-by-Step Guide to Lowering Your Mercedes W212 with Xentry
With the preparations complete, you can now proceed with the ride height adjustment using Xentry.
1. Launch Xentry and Vehicle Identification: Start the Xentry software on your laptop. Allow Xentry to automatically detect your vehicle by reading the VIN. Avoid manual vehicle selection as incorrect choices can lead to errors.
2. Acknowledge Warnings and Proceed: Xentry will display a screen with safety warnings. On W212 models, ensure the Command system is turned ON to continue. Acknowledge the warnings and click “Continue.”
3. Access the Airmatic Control Unit: Navigate to the control unit selection screen. The quickest way is to use the search function and type “airmatic.” Select the “AIRMATIC (N51/3)” control unit specific to the W212 chassis.
4. Navigate to Adaptations and Level Calibration: Within the Airmatic control unit menu, select the “Adaptations” tab. Then, find and click the “+” sign next to “Teach-in processes” and choose “Level calibration.”
5. Initiate Level Calibration and Erase Existing Calibration: Proceed by clicking “Continue.” Xentry will indicate that the Airmatic is already calibrated and ask if you want to erase the existing calibration. Confirm that you want to continue and erase the current settings to proceed with the adjustment.
6. Adjust Ride Height Manually: You will now see the level calibration screen. The key step here is to use the “+” and “-” buttons within Xentry to manually adjust the ride height at each corner of the vehicle. Important: Do not just tap the buttons. Click and hold the mouse button down on the “+” or “-” keys to see and hear the car raising or lowering at each corner. Adjust the height by eye or by using a tape measure to ensure the car sits evenly and to your desired stance.
The numerical values displayed on the screen represent sensor voltages and do not directly correspond to ride height measurements in millimeters or inches. Your goal is to keep each wheel’s sensor value within the green range displayed in Xentry. Adjustments to the front will affect the rear and vice-versa, so take your time and iterate until you achieve the desired and level ride height. If any sensor value goes into the red, you must adjust it back into the green range before you can continue.
7. Enter Inclination Angles: Once you are satisfied with the ride height, click “Continue.” Xentry will prompt you to enter inclination angles for all four wheels. This step is designed to compensate for uneven floor surfaces during dealer alignment procedures. If you are working on a reasonably level surface, you can use a default value. In this example, -1.3 degrees was used for all corners as an estimated compensation. Enter the values and click “Continue” to finalize the calibration.
8. Complete Calibration and Verify Success: Xentry will process the new settings and calibrate the Airmatic system to the adjusted ride height. Ensure you receive a “Level calibration successful” message. If you encounter an error, you may need to redo the procedure.
Post-Calibration Steps and Final Ride Height
After successful calibration, disconnect the Multiplexer and battery charger. Start your Mercedes-Benz. Activate the “raise vehicle” button, let the car lift, and then deactivate it again, allowing the car to settle to its new ride height. Take the car for a short drive to allow the suspension to fully settle. You might notice a slightly firmer ride quality, which is normal.
The result is a noticeably improved stance, as seen in the after photos. The reduced wheel gap provides a more athletic and refined appearance, much closer to how a sport-package Mercedes-Benz should look from the factory.
This guide demonstrates that lowering your Mercedes-Benz W212, or similar models around 2015, using Xentry is a manageable DIY task for those with access to the software and a bit of technical patience. It provides a subtle yet impactful enhancement to your vehicle’s aesthetics and stance.
