Mercedes-Benz E-Class Quiz
Driving and parking

AIRMATIC

In this manual: Driving and parking
Introduction — 5At a glance — 6Safety — 25Opening and Closing — 17Seats, steering wheel and mirrors — 12Lights and windshield wipers — 11Climate Control — 11Driving and parking — 44On-board computer and displays — 29Stowing and Useful Information. Good to Know — 1Stowing and Useful Information. Storage Options — 10Stowage and convenience features. Convenience features — 7Maintenance and care — 11Roadside assistance — 13Wheels and tires — 13Technical data — 13
~4min read

AIRMATIC in the Mercedes E-Class (4th generation, W212, 2009–2016) provides variably adjustable ride comfort and driving dynamics. The system automatically or manually adapts the vehicle level and damping to road conditions, contributing to optimum driving stability.

Vehicle level

Important safety notes

WARNING

When the vehicle is lowered, body parts of persons located between the body and the tires or underneath the vehicle may be trapped. There is a risk of injury!

Make sure that no one is in the immediate vicinity of the wheel arches or underneath the vehicle when lowering it.

WARNING

Vehicles with level control:

The vehicle lowers slightly when you

  • have selected the Comfort suspension setting and
  • lock the vehicle within 60 seconds after switching off the engine.
This can trap you or persons near the wheel arches or the underbody. There is a risk of injury!

When locking, make sure that no one is near the wheel arches or the underbody.

NOTE

The vehicle lowers by approx. 15 mm when
  • you have selected the "Comfort suspension setting"
  • you switch off the engine and then
  • lock the vehicle within approx. 60 seconds.
When parking, position your vehicle so that it does not touch down when lowered, e.g. on a curb. Otherwise your vehicle may be damaged.

If you lock the vehicle within 60 seconds after switching off the engine, the vehicle lowers slightly when the Comfort suspension setting is selected.

Observe the notes on driving with a trailer .

Your vehicle automatically adjusts its height. The all-round level control ensures the best possible suspension and constant ground clearance, even when the vehicle is loaded. To improve driving safety and reduce fuel consumption, the vehicle is lowered automatically when driving at high speed.

The following vehicle levels are available:
  • Normal
  • Raised, vehicles without 4MATIC: The vehicle is raised by approx. 25 mm compared to the normal level.
  • Raised, vehicles with 4MATIC: The vehicle is raised by approx. 35 mm compared to the normal level.
  • Lowered: The vehicle is lowered by approx. 10 mm compared to the normal level.
The vehicle levels "Normal" and "Raised" can be set manually.

The "Lowered" vehicle level is set automatically

  • at speeds above 140 km/h
  • if you have selected the "Sport suspension setting" .

Adjust vehicle level

Select the "Normal" setting for normal road conditions and "Raised" for operation with snow chains or for very poor road conditions. Your selection is stored, even if you remove the key from the ignition lock.

Setting raised level

Erhöhtes Niveau einstellen

Start the engine.

When the indicator lampis off:

Buttonpress.
  • The indicator lamplights up. The vehicle adjusts to the raised level. The message Vehicle raising appears in the multifunction display. The "raised level" setting is cleared when you
    • drive above approx. 120 km/h
    • drive above 80 km/h for approx. three minutes.
    If you do not drive within these speed ranges, the "raised level" remains stored.

    Setting normal level

    Start the engine.

    When the indicator lampis on:

    Buttonpress.

  • The indicator lampgoes out. The vehicle adjusts to the normal height.

    Suspension setting

    General notes

    The electronically controlled damping system operates continuously. This improves driving safety and ride comfort.

    The damping is adjusted separately for each wheel and depends on
    • your driving style, e.g. sporty
    • the road surface, e.g. bumps
    • your individual selection, sport or comfort.
    Your selection is stored, even if you remove the key from the ignition lock.

    Sport suspension setting

    Sportliche Abstimmung

    In Sport driving mode, the firmer suspension setting provides even better road contact. Select this mode for spirited driving, e.g. on winding country roads.

    Buttonpress.
  • The indicator lamplights up. The sport suspension setting is selected. The message AIRMATIC SPORT appears in the multifunction display.

    Comfort suspension setting

    In Comfort driving mode, the handling of your vehicle is more comfortable. If you prefer a comfortable driving style, select this mode. However, also select Comfort driving mode for spirited driving without bends, e.g. on a straight motorway.

    Buttonpress.

  • The indicator lamplights up. The comfort suspension setting is selected. The message AIRMATIC COMFORT appears in the multifunction display.

    AIRMATIC on the Mercedes E-Class W212 (model years 2009–2016) provides automatic level control and adaptive damping, significantly enhancing comfort and driving safety. Different vehicle heights and suspension settings can be selected depending on the driving situation.

    This system underlines the premium character of the E-Class and ensures an optimum driving experience on any route.

    Question: When does the vehicle lower automatically?

    Answer: At speeds above 140 km/h or when the sport suspension setting is selected.

    Question: When is the raised level deactivated?

    Answer: When driving above 120 km/h or for three minutes above 80 km/h.

    • Test yourself

    A quick Mercedes-Benz E-Class quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.