How To Release The Air From A Mercedes AIRMATIC Air Strut

►In our recent DIY where we replace the air struts on a Mercedes W211, Kyle Bascombe talks about a way to release the air from a Mercedes air strut when replacing the unit. In this video, Kyle takes you through the process of releasing the air with just a few simple parts you can easily find. A bushing contact and a 9-volt battery are all you need to safely and efficiently release the air from an air strut.
Read this DIY on our blog: blog.fcpeuro.com/how-to-relea...
For more W211 content and information, check out the W211 Mercedes owners hub on our website: info.fcpeuro.com/mercedes-w211
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Bushing Contact: www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-...
Index:
00:00 - Intro
00:53 - How to Release the Air on a Mercedes W211 Air Strut
02:49 - Thanks for Watching!
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[@markcoomber6282]

Thank you Kyle! I really appreciate you and FCP Euro following up on this. Especially the link to the wires (pigtails) needed. I'll be placing my order for the air springs next week. Great job!

[@jackterrick4831]

Thanks so much for the instructions. Planning to replace the bags on my W211 wagon in the next few weeks and your videos will definitely save a lot of time.

[@Onyxthecat__]

Thanks Kyle! Glad to see this is a simple process. The bags in my E500 wagon have been replaced and I’m waiting on a new compressor and relays to get it done.

[@telemaison1057]

you're my saviour! I read lots of forum, nothing about this little trick, thank you again

[@fcpeuro]

Glad it helped you out!

[@Gripen85]

Appreciated. Going to do this soon on my W211 E55 AMG Wagon, using the A-2725.

[@trackerrrr]

Thanks for this tip. This stuff always helps us DIY types.

[@fcpeuro]

Glad you find it useful!

[@patrickbauer5358]

One 9V battery would not open solenoid. I put 2 in series and worked like a charm. New batteries too.

[@jr1896]

Thank you so much for this tip !!! I was able to take off mine only thanks to your video !

[@fcpeuro]

Happy to be of help, Josquin!

[@kallehartikainen3048]

Very useful tip !

[@adambordas5024]

Thanks for this tip. How about the polarity of the battery? Doesn't it matter which terminal of the battery goes to which pin in the strut?

[@andrewanderson3355]

Neat trick. I assume polarity is important so switching the battery terminals is required if it doesn't release air on first contact. Wish I'd seen this two days ago!.

[@matth7471]

Very helpful 🙏

[@Lockemeister]

Great Tech Tip. Thank you.

[@fcpeuro]

You're welcome!

[@garelleegalsim2583]

Great video! You will be saving me a lot of money on labor! What did you do with the hose that was cut?

[@williamng7310]

Dear sir, thank you very much for sharing. I will glad that you have information how to release air from W221, S350L?

[@dariuszszmuro8494]

Hello. Great tip! Can you tell how to pressurize it after installation to do not damage the air spring when lowering a vehicle?

[@leon7891]

thanks for the tip ! have to change my e63 front left Arnott which is exactly same as the one you show (AS 2301 lol) I will go Aerosus this time Arnott maybe do good bags, but the remanufactured part means : nothing done to the suspension. Which is factory and started knocking after 2 years of use. Thank you Arnott. I 'll try to keep updating that post after doing that ;)

[@mangler313]

What do you do with the air hose you remove when changing the rear air bag with the Arnott brand that doesn't require the air hose. Cheers Robert Holding (in Oz)

[@floridatravelvideos]

Need to change a ball joint control arm on a 2013 Mercedes S550 and don't have the software you mention. How do I deflate the shock on it?

[@zoransrdic6347]

I tried to bleed the air from the A-2724 rear air springs with a 9v battery but it doesn't work. Is there any other option, thanks Zoran

[@kennedymestas3399]

Hi Kyle, we need to order two of those bmw lines?

[@Jason-Jason]

thank you

[@fcpeuro]

You are welcome!

[@Miyahkamiyah._]

can you tell me why my 06 mercedes e500 front air shock wont come down it to high

[@adogmcdizzle]

Hello chaps. Unfortunately for the rear airbags on my S211 E55 this method was only partially successful. Like a few others here I just got a clicking noise when I used Kyles method with the 5v battery. I used a 12v battery charger and some small jumper leads from a multimeter accessory pack. Polarity didn’t seem to matter but even on the rear airbags those pins are correct. With the bag in situ it would be challenging without the leads. Happy to have resolved my issue anyway. I didn’t realise the bag was still inflated when I removed the bottom bolt. Shifted over into the damper so hopefully didn’t damage it. Eek. I guess I’ll find out on reassembly… I love that its still possible to work on these cars as a DIY’er. But they can be challenging at times. Cheers all.

[@iam_ChrisJHarris]

Can you release the air to install also?

[@danielurquiza9663]

Could I just use regular electrical wiring ?

[@WestCoastBFF]

Thank You! I'm dealing with a 2008 cls550 that the front shock are at full capacity and wont lower even if you remove the air line. I'm crossing my fingers this will work for me after the rain subsides. again thanks!

[@dickdike92]

Hi mate sorry to comment on a old one. Did you manage to get the shocker down.. have have my rears up high and won't go down so was going to do this to lower the car and see if the shocks wear gone or a sensor..

[@WestCoastBFF]

@@dickdike92 that was a while back. Yes, I replaced the shocks. There was a problem with the internal sensor.

[@dickdike92]

@Pierre Sutton haha sorry 😅. Appreciate the reply tho. Glad you got it sorted aswell. But good to know 😌 hopefully it's not a big issue but we all know it's not that simple with cars haha. Thanks man 🙏

[@LL-po4dh]

Hi Kyle. Nice trick. Unfortunately, I have been unable to make it work. I only get a clicking noise when activating no matter polarity. I even bumped up to 12v hoping that would work. Same thing, click but no air. Assuming the click is the solenoid. Any advice. The strut is an inch and a half too long to get back in. I would really like to finish the damn job!

[@adogmcdizzle]

I have the same issue. Did you get it sorted?

[@brianpascoe7731]

Same issue aswell. Any solution?

[@karledwards4848]

Kyle, love your video on releasing the air. I have a question for the reverse procedure please.I have just replaced the 2 front airbags on my W211 2003 E500. I didnt repleace the entire strut, just the bag itself which meant removing the bag solenoid and completely depresssuring the bags. I have re-installed the bag on the existing struts, reasssembeled in the car, but the car wont pump them up? Is there a trick here to get the air bag into fully delated bags? Air is present at both bag solenoid units. I welcome any feedback.

[@jackobob21]

Hey man did you have any luck? Also how do you remove the top black block or solenoid? Thanks man

[@206dcoe]

What if the air does not release? I have passenger side stuck all the way Aired up. And they will not go down

[@mzee5533]

I got it mann

[@softmetals3702]

would this work for a new front strut of a 2002s500 ? i got it but its almost an inch and half too long to get set back in the car thanks

[@tgbitw17]

Hi did you ever figure this out? Im in the same situation where I actually need to DEcompress the strut to get it ON the car. Any advice is appreciated

[@angelayala4903]

@tgbitw17 how did you end up doing it ? Currently stuck with my 2000 s500 also getting it back on

[@angelayala4903]

@@tgbitw17 how did you end up doing it ? Currently stuck with my 2000 s500 also getting it back on

[@softmetals3702]

@@angelayala4903 it's still not fixed,I'm not a fan of dealer price of 1800,and pay first and if don't fit I pay a restock.fee. and thats.not installed for that price. I'll start looking again soon tho

[@brianpascoe7731]

Same issue on a 2003 s430. In desperate need of advice

[@user-mr9uy9gj5l]

For inflating these struts where does the air come from? Where does the line that transports the air lead from to go into the struts? Thank you.

[@dickdike92]

Hi pal. If I read your comment right. The air comes from a little compressor located (uk) passenger side front.. like near front wheel inside the bumper if that makes sense.. then a air line running from that, to a box shaped unit (i believe 1 air line going into it and 4 going out) the 4 air lines going out will be for each strut on the car... and the 1 going in will be from the compressor to the box.. inside the box are 4 valves that sort air going in to each strut.. and they also release air aswell.... I believe there is a valve on the actual compressor also.. I'm no mechanic and I could be wrong haha but I'm sure someone will correct me if I am 😂 Hope this helps dude

[@dickdike92]

Sorry I'm wrong there is more air lines coming out of that valve box.. like 6 or 7 😅

[@tenkai2011]

how to release w205?

[@user-vl4ux7cf2q]

👍 👍 👍

[@leohofer9218]

have any one found out how to deflate rear airbags with 2 pins?

[@jackterrick4831]

Finally got around to replacing the rear air springs on my non-airmatic wagon. Getting those wires onto the pins to release the air pressure with the units on the car is wishful thinking. I ended up making a very crude pigtail with a couple wires to do it. The rest of the job was simple.

[@LL-po4dh]

I did the same but am only getting a clicking sound no matter polarity. I even increased to 12v, still no luck. If I can release some air I can get this damn strut in and finish the job. Any thoughts?

[@jackterrick4831]

@@LL-po4dh If you're dealing with the front struts, are you contacting the middle and lower pins as in Kyle's video? My car has just the rear air springs, so only two pins in those.

[@LL-po4dh]

Hi Jack, Thanks for the reply. I did finally get it to release by making some contact pins with some old electrical parts and using a 12v portable automotive jump starter. My problem now is that once reassembled and running, I am having issues with full inflation of the front air strut I replaced. If I put the vehicle in raised mode, it seems to be ok, but if I put in the sport 1 or 2 the tire runs on turns. I have jacked the vehicle up a couple times to extend the strut to its max to allow for filling but it seems to only work temporary. I am concerned that I cannot get the strut to level out like the other side. I certainly don’t like the rubbing. Any suggestions of how to get that strut properly inflated? I have checked for leaks and have found none.

[@jackterrick4831]

@@LL-po4dh Sorry, my experience is limited to the rear air springs on a wagon, which has conventional front suspension.

[@rap_freestyles]

@@LL-po4dhlevel sensor

[@tasiaeafeiuli4194]

/1

[@nvkulk]

The air release was juicy...juicy

[@fcpeuro]

""Juicy. Very Juicy." - The Juice (aka Bascombe) 😂

[@JohnSmith-xc7xk]

Didn’t work