I have the opportunity to buy a 03 e500 airmatic that was reposessed and has been sitting for 3 months.Car looks and starts nice,clean,however its down on the ground,the suspension/pump is not working for whatever reason.I have to drive it about 40 miles to the shop...is there anyway I can attempt that with the airmatic shot?,I cannot tow it,because its close to the ground and its impossible to get on a car hauler...any advice will be nice.

MB offers rubber blocks to install so they can be moved around,
I don't know about driving 40 miles????

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Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
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MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
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You might want to try jacking the car up an inch or two while the engine is running (2000 rpm) to see if it will pump up again. Sometimes the check valves could be stuck/blocked at the bumpstop level, at least that were true for the old hydropuematic suspension system.

Driving the car with the collapsed suspension will damage the shocks and possibly bend the frame. Call the dealer for help.

Well,the guy who bought the car for me at the auction,told me to go and remove it from the lot...so,I went there,today,started the car,looked under the hood and the 40 amp fuse for the airmatic was removed...plugged it back and the pump start working from under the front bumper/headlight.It worked for 10 sec.,stopped,then I heard air release from a valve for 1 sec.,then the pump tried every minute or so to lift the thing up,same result,pump stops,air released for one second...I dont hear any hissing sound or anything while pump is working,it seems that the car was on the ground for a couple of weeks it fridgid weather and the pump cannot lift it up now...there are no scratches under the air dam or moldings,it was not driven sitting down.I will try to bring 2 hydraulic jacks and lift both sides and help the pump,maybe that will work.Front shock tops look nice,no cracks,actually, look like new,maybe it had some work done recently.Any more suggestions on how to lift this pig a bit,so,it will go on a flatbed,seems like the front is higher,I can turn the steering,rear wheel well is right on top of the rim.

Drive onto a 2X12", that will give you a extra 1.5".

Most likely the air-matic pump is fried. Runs at 150psi.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator