Videos Evo: 450SEL 6.9 vs S65 AMG

[Imhotep Evil]

Wasn't the MB hydropneumatic a licensed and modified Citroen suspension ?!

 

[bum-man]

Wasn't the MB hydropneumatic a licensed and modified Citroen suspension ?!

Could have been, maybe that's why it was so unreliable.

 

[cawimmer430]

Wasn't the MB hydropneumatic a licensed and modified Citroen suspension ?!

It was a similar design, but MB engineered it themselves. Citroen was the inspiration however.

Also, the suspension should be fine if the car is driven regularly. The British Mercedes magazine Mercedes Enthusiast had a number of 450SEL 6.9 owners from around the world write them and they all explained that the suspension is generally reliable but degrades if the car is not used regularly. Once the suspension is in a bad condition, fixing it is bad news. Expensive as hell.

I wish I could scan the quotes but I lent those magazines to an MB salesman. Remind me to pick them up sometime.

 

[bum-man]

Don't most owners convert the pneumatic system to gas based shocks once they go out? I think I've heard a few people do that with their estates.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

It was a similar design, but MB engineered it themselves. Citroen was the inspiration however.

Also, the suspension should be fine if the car is driven regularly. The British Mercedes magazine Mercedes Enthusiast had a number of 450SEL 6.9 owners from around the world write them and they all explained that the suspension is generally reliable but degrades if the car is not used regularly. Once the suspension is in a bad condition, fixing it is bad news. Expensive as hell.

I wish I could scan the quotes but I lent those magazines to an MB salesman. Remind me to pick them up sometime.

I've heard that airmatic maintainace costs killed the 6.3.

 

[cawimmer430]

I've heard that airmatic maintainace costs killed the 6.3.

Once you ignored the suspension, that is. Mercedes Enthusiast of the UK had a big Mercedes 600 and 300SEL 6.3 review and the suspension should be fine if the car is driven. If you don't drive the car for longer periods (months), you're in trouble. Similar to the 450SEL 6.9.