MajorCommonSuspension

Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Airmatic strut leaks and compressor failure; Magic Body Control faults on high-spec cars (W222)

Airmatic strut leaks and compressor failure; Magic Body Control faults on high-spec cars (W222) is a common suspension fault on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class on the 2014–2020 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,500 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 20 documented faults on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Years: 2014–2020
System: Suspension

This page covers the Mercedes-Benz S-Class as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Mercedes-Benz S-Class faults20 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Air suspension strut or Shock absorber / strut yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Air suspension is the most commonly reported failure point across all W222 variants: struts leak and the car sags (especially overnight), compressors fail from overwork, and valve blocks and sensors add faults. Costs are higher than earlier generations because W222 struts are dearer per corner, and cars optioned with Magic Body Control (the camera-scanned ABC hydraulic system on S560/S63-type cars) carry even bigger pump and strut bills. A pre-purchase overnight-sag check and invoice history are essential on any W222.

What you would notice

Car sagging overnight at one corner
Suspension warning message
Compressor noise after start-up
Clunks over bumps from a failing strut

How to check it

Where to look. Air struts at each corner; compressor and valve block under the front of the car

See the car before it has been started for the day and check ride height at all four corners. Cycle the ride-height settings and listen to the compressor. On Magic Body Control cars, watch for warning messages and a wallowy ride. Ask for strut/compressor invoices - one replaced corner usually means the others are close behind.

Parts involved: Air suspension strut, Shock absorber / strut.

What it costs to put right

$1,500 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Which struts and suspension components have been replaced?”
“Does this car have Magic Body Control, and has the hydraulic system ever been repaired?”
“Does it sit level after a week parked?”

Now check the Mercedes-Benz S-Class you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

CarWikiHub 'Mercedes S-Class W222: The Ultimate Buyer's Guide'
Go-Parts '2014-2020 Mercedes S-Class (W222) Airmatic Strut' guide
Adelaide AutoPro 'Common Problems of Mercedes S-Class W222 S560'

Mercedes-Benz S-Class buyer questions

Is airmatic strut leaks and compressor failure; magic body control faults on high-spec cars (w222) serious on a Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

We rate it major and common on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Air suspension is the most commonly reported failure point across all W222 variants: struts leak and the car sags (especially overnight), compressors fail from overwork, and valve blocks and sensors add faults. Costs are higher than earlier generations because W222 struts are dearer per corner, and cars optioned with Magic Body Control (the camera-scanned ABC hydraulic system on S560/S63-type cars) carry even bigger pump and strut bills. A pre-purchase overnight-sag check and invoice history are essential on any W222.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

$1,500 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Mercedes-Benz S-Class years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2014–2020 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.