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Mercedes Air Suspension Services

What we do

We are offering professional renovation for core parts of the Mercedes air suspension system from 1963 to the early 70s (Mercedes 600 from 1963 to1981), mainly level control valves, valve unit, anti-freeze device and pressure regulator for the 600 , W112 and W109. Other products are under development*.

Legendary Air Suspension

You are probably familiar with the Mercedes models W 109, W 112 or even the W 100 from this time.

These models were designed with a ‘legendary‘ air suspension system, legendary in a positive way - the ride in such a car is superior compared to a steel spring system- but also legendary for the complications the owner might experience and finally legendary for its price.

The air suspension system technically was potentially the best suspension system on the market at the time it was designed. It was for sure the best-engineered system of its time. However also this well designed system needs rebuilding. Oh yes, you will notice when it is time. If your car drops within one week or so the time has come.

Maintenance and Repair

No doubt, the air suspension requires a higher degree of maintenance. And most possibly your system will work perfectly fine if it was brought back to spec. This means the failing components need to be repaired/ rebuilt and the system maintained according Mercedes specs.

The bad news is: The repair can be overwhelming and rebuilding the valves units by a qualified specialist does not come cheap. Engaged and experienced DIY people can repair some of the air suspension components but the renovation of the core components like the 3 level control valves, main valve, anti-freeze device and pressure regulator should be in the hands of the specialist. Too much knowledge, experience, specialized tools and precise instruments, testing equipment and parts are needed for rebuilding.

From my personal experience I can tell that you will enjoy every bit of a ride with a proper working Mercedes air suspension.

Our Products

We work with passion and our products are based on integrity and honesty. We share our knowledge with the community and we like collaborating. We use the best technology and craftsmanship available. Our CNC parts are ‘Made in Germany’ and we use high quality seal rings and materials. All repaired parts and units run through extensive testing. We are giving a 2-year warranty for air tightness and function within specification for units and parts. You are requested to sending your units for rebuilding before we start and we will rebuild the units within ca. 2-4 weeks of turn-around or upon request. Prices are based on the assumption that provided cores are repairable which typically is the case. We will keep our clients informed about the process and communicate if there is a problem.

We take a $200 core charge for LCV-VNC, Anti- Freeze Device and $250 for the Valve Unit , $500 for the Pressure Regulator in case we deliver up front.

What is done during Renovation?

disassembly, all parts cleaned, unit body cleaned (ultrasonic) and sealed , steel parts zinc plated/ chromate, seals exchanged, E, A and Stk replaced by new CNC machined and sealed parts, proper lubrication, adjustments according MB specification, pressure testing, new seals for air line fittings. VNB units receive new rubber/steel bearings.

disassembly, all parts cleaned, unit body cleaned ( ultrasonic) and sealed, steel parts will be zinc plated/ chromate, inner valves inspected, cleaned, damaged parts exchanged, proper lubrication, adjustments according MB spec., pressure testing, new seals for air line fittings. Pressure switch will be tested but is excluded from repair. In case the pressure switch is defective it can be replaced by a replacement switch for $100.

disassembly, all parts cleaned, unit body cleaned ( ultrasonic), steel parts will be zinc plated/ chromate, inner valves inspected, cleaned, exchanged, adjustments according MB spec., pressure testing, lubrication, new seals. Exchange of paper air filter element included.

disassembly, all parts cleaned, unit body cleaned (ultrasonic) and sealed, steel parts will be zinc plated/ chromate, inner valves inspected, cleaned, damaged parts exchanged, proper lubrication, adjustments according MB spec., intensive pressure testing, new seals for air line fittings.

disassembly , all parts cleaned, steel parts plated with chromate, NBR seal exchanged, pressure tested.

disassembly, all parts cleaned, steel parts plated with chromate, machined new valve, new NBR seal, pressure tested.
Full Rebuilding of the brake booster with all new seals, new plate valve and new interior air hose. All steel parts yellow plated, fully pressure tested.  Bosch  SV/DKV1/115/44/2
Bosch 0 443 003 004
Mercedes Benz A0024300301

Manipulated Units: Very rarely I am finding ‘manipulated’ units. These are units that were previously "repaired" by non- professionals leading to partial destruction of inner parts. These are very difficult and time consuming to repair due to broken or missing parts. These parts need to be machined and the effort is obvious. Please understand that working on manipulated units will possibly cost some extra effort and in case I will communicate and discuss with the client. Thanks for your understanding.

Please do not hesitate and ask questions.

Parts under development

Pressure Test Adapter: This tool is for easy testing and monitoring air pressure in the support group (air tank) and filling the system with shop air.
This tool is for the professional Mercedes shop but also for Mercedes enthusiast.
This tool screws into the pressure switch port of the valve unit and allows for easy and safe pressure testing / monitoring with a standard AC gauge and 1/4" flare hose. With a long hose system pressure can be monitored during driving.

Articles

• Basics about Mercedes Air Suspension by Martin Werminghausen
  *Updated Feb 17, 2015
• Installation and Height Adjustment for Level Control Valves Type LF/VNC for W112, W109 and W100 by Martin Werminghausen
• Installation and Height Adjustment in Spanish translated by Gustavo Dahlgren, Panama
• Anti-freeze, Air Filter and Air Tank - by Martin Werminghausen
  *Updated Mar 15, 2015
• Mercedes Anti-freeze, Air filter and Air tank in Spanish translated by Gustavo Dahlgren, Panama
• Air Compressor by Martin Werminghausen
  *Updated Dec, 2017
• AirSuspension Sherlock Tests by Martin Werminghausen
  *Updated Oct, 2020
• Log for AirSuspension Sherlock Tests by Martin Werminghausen

Related Videos

• Video 1 : Kent Bergsma - Intro repairing leveling valves, W109
• Video 2: Kent Bergsma - Components of air suspension removed, W109
• Video 3: Kent Bergsam - Removing leveling valves, W109
• Video 4: Kent Bergsma - Emergency buffers, W 109
• Video 5: Martin Werminghausen - Key parts of the air suspension, part 1
• Video 6: Martin Werminghausen - Key parts of the air suspension, part 2
• Video 7: Kent Bergsma - Installation of leveling valves, W109
• Video 8: Martin Werminghausen- Nullzone adjustment of the VNC leveling valve
• Video 9: Kent Bergsma - air suspension inspection
• Video 10: Kent Bergsma - rebuilt leveling valves and valve unit from 600 air suspension
• Video 11: Kent Bergsma - new air springs
• Video 12: Kent Bergsma - air suspension anti freeze unit and tank
• Video 13: Kent Bergsma - initial ride height adjustment.

Related Images

Mercedes Air Suspension Repair Services

Pricing

Prices for rebuilding Mercedes Air Suspension W109 1965-72, W112 8/65-67, W100 1963-84 and W112-8/65
Units to be sent for rebuilding

Level Control Valve for W112, W109 and W100, complete rebuilding. LF/VNC 3/1 [0-500-003-004], LF/VNC 3/2 [0-500-003-005], LF/VNC 4/3 [0-500-003-006]. These are the 3 later style units for front- right, front- left and rear.	$580 per unit
Level Control Valve for W112 , complete rebuilding. LF/VNB 3B2 / 3A2, Front Left LF/VNB 1B1/ 1A1, Front Right LF/VNB 2B1 / 2A1, Rear These are the 3 earlier style units, before 1965	$880 $780 per unit
Main Valve for W112, W109 and W100, complete rebuilding, pressure switch excluded. 0-501-001-004, 0-501-001-005	$550 per unit
Anti-freeze device, rebuilding inner valves and all rubber seals, paper air filter change included. 000-431-14-15	$490 per unit
600 Pressure Regulator (W100), complete rebuilding and pressure adjustments. 0-481-040-001, 0-481-040-002	$1080 per unit
Drain Valve (bottom of air tank), complete renovation LF/ VE [0-500-400-001, -002]	$140 per unit
Main Check Valve (engine side of air tank, complete renovation LF/VB (0- 500- 100- 001, -002, -003)	$120 per unit
Air Filter Unit (part of anti freeze device) complete renovation, paper air filter change included	$130 per unit
Air Compressor additional parts/machining bronze bearing new piston pin	$900 per unit $120 $30
LF 600 Horn Valve	$520
LF Flex Air Hoses	$120
600 Air Brake Booster Bosch SV/DKV1/115/44/2 , 0 443 003 004 Mercedes Benz A0024300301	$2,450

Customer is covering shipping, duties and customs clearing (for shipping outside the US)

Core charges for up front services:
$200 for LCV-VNC and Anti-Freeze Device core
$250 for the Valve Unit core
$500 for the Pressure Regulator core
Core charge will be refunded after receipt of core

Contact

Martin Werminghausen
Engineer
Professional Experience: Maybach/MTU/Mercedes in Germany
Registered Architect
Location:
141 South Great Rd.
Lincoln, MA 01773, USA

Email: 600AirSuspension@gmail.com

Reviews

Review by

David Southwell

Martin- I bought my 300 SEL 6.3 in late 2018- after watching Jay Leno's review- and got it sorted enough to drive the following summer through John Robison's excellent shop. However, it was losing air after only a day or so. The following winter I considered replacing the air suspension with springs, but decided to do it right. After your work rebuilding the air valves, it's as though I have a new car. I just had to spend a month away, and was delighted to see my Mercedes high and level when I returned. When I fired her up there was no extra air at all needed from the compressor. You're an extraordinary resource for these cars- thanks!

Review by

Pierre Hedary

My name is Pierre Hedary and I operate a repair shop in Titusville, Florida, that services classic Mercedes exclusively.
A large number of 300SEL 6.3s and 4.5s have passed through our doors, all of which have need air suspension repairs.
Martin and his workshop are my single greatest asset. In fact, without the work he is performing, these cars would be impossible to sort and perfect, as the air suspension is their defining attribute. While I frequently have to travel the country to do follow up service on these cars, I have never once had a major issue with any of his air valves, and that says it all.

4/6/2020

Review by

Jay Leno

Hello MARTIN,
My name is Jay Leno and you recently did the valves for my 6.3 and I just wanted to let you know what an excellent job you did. It’s been a few months now and the car has not dropped an inch, I don’t think they were that good when they were new! I don’t know how long you have been around Massachusetts but I used to work at Foreign motors in Boston and used to dream of one day owning these cars. I also have a 600 that I will be sending you the valves for. It’s nice to see German workmanship still being done by a improper German! Talk to you soon, very satisfied customer, Jay Leno

Review by

Simon Haynes

We are one of the largest restoration companies based in the UK specialising in Mercedes-Benz from the 1960’s 1970’s and 1980’s.

Our Classic Department focuses on offering clients the opportunity to restore, repair and maintain their Mercedes-Benz to the very highest standards, as these vehicles become older and in most cases more valuable, year on year it becomes increasingly challenging to achieve and provide quality and reliability.

I am pleased that these demands are always met when dealing with Martin from 600airsuspension.com who we have used for many years now.

Martin is very knowledgeable, skilled and always comprehensively communicates extremely well during whatever works he is carrying out for us.

I would not hesitate to recommend his services with complete confidence.


Simon @ John Haynes Auto Technics

Review by

Herve Labesse

In october 2017 I found a very nice mercedes w109 near San Francisco California . The car was running fairly well at first, but it started showing very rapidly that it was in need of several overdue maintenances. One of them was a leaking air suspension system.The car would stay up for a couple days and start lowering itself on the front driver side and then pretty soon it would end up resting on the tires.. After some research on the internet i was able to locate 600airsuspension.com There were so much good recommendations for Martin’s work and his full understanding of the system was so clearly stated on his web site, that it was an obvious and educated choice to have him rebuilt my complete system. The car i purchased has had the air suspension gone through in the past couple years, but the work was not documented and most likely not done properly. I pulled the valves, anti freeze unit , check valves and main valves and shipped them beginning of march 2018. within a couple weeks they were rebuilt and when i installed them back myself..the system performed flawlessly. I had my air tank tinned inside out by Oregon re tinners..so the system would be taken care for many years to come.
Needless to say that the valves were as new when they came back with the proper plastic pins to be able to perform the hight adjustments. So, wether you are in the continental united states or in Europe and you own a w109 car..don’t waste your time and money trying to do the work yourself or entrusting it to your local mercedes mechanic.. send it to Martin ..you will only have to do the work once..and will have plenty of free time left ..to enjoy driving your car..

Review by

Atle Naavik, Norway

Hi Martin

Thanks a lot for your help with renovating the valves and components in my 6,3. I got frustrated with my 6,3 that would sit down in just a matter of hours. Since I had more issues with the suspension I decided to go all the way to do a complete rebuild of the suspension. You did a magnificent job with the valves. They works perfect and they look beautiful.
I really appreciate all the help you gave me and how quickly you returned the valves. I also got a chance to learn how the air system works, which has been very helpful.
Doing business with you has been a pleasure.
I will highly recommend you for any air suspension work on early Mercedes cars.

Review by

Frank Knieriem, USA

Hello Martin,
I would like to thank you for the fantastic service I received from you,
dealing with my air suspension issues on my 300SEL 6.3. I have to say that
as a German, I work like working with German engineers.
My first conversation with you, I already knew finally someone who knows what
is going on. I have a 1971 300SEL 6.3 which I purchased in Tokyo. The car has
really low miles but also has been sitting still for 20 years.
Of course the air-suspension was shut. The car went up but at the same speed
dropped again when we turned off the engine. The airbags looked old, so we replaced
the 4 airbags first. No change. We cleaned the valves and tank, or so we thought.
After installing everything again the car decided to only go up in the front.
I found you through a video of another Mercedes shop on youtube. When I saw your
video, I knew already that you would be the only person to fix my problem with the 6.3
Sure enough; you did exactly what you promised. Fix my system. After you sent all the
parts back now 7 weeks ago, we cleaned the lines as you suggested and put everything
back together. Martin, except for a small mishap when we confused two lines, which you figured out for us it was a smooth process. You actually took the time to figure out
what we did wrong, while you were in Germany. The car is now up for 6 weeks. Any valve repair from now on, there will be nobody else for me. As a matter of fact you are working now on my Maserati Merak headlight valve. Who knew that
it's the same
switch as the one on a Mercedes 600.
Thank you for everything you did for me. Have a great 2017.
Best regards

Review by

Jay Manek, UK
W100 Grosser 600 No. 505

Posted - 05/05/2014
http://www.m-100.cc/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8083&SearchTerms=air,suspension
I think Martin is well known here.
I have written this email to him today and I think it should be shared.
Dear Martin at 600 Air Suspension,
I would like to thank you sincerely for the absolutely outstanding service I received from you whilst dealing with my Air Suspension Troubles on my 600.
From the first email I was entirely convinced of your knowledge and attention to detail on this matter.
You helped me diagnose my problem remotely and then offered a solution at a price that I was happy with.
I am so afraid of dealing with sharks in the classic car restoration world, I know of many who have lost tens of thousands $ by entrusting their cars to the wrong people.
I was sent detailed step by step pictures and commentary of my new air valves being restored which you completed in a reasonable time frame.
The exchange service meant I didn't have to disassemble my car whilst you were preparing new valves for me. Also I did not have risk my valves getting lost with a courier!
I feel this level of customer service is lost nowadays in the world of fast and cheap service.
You have given me and my historic vehicle the level of expertise that would make even the original designers proud.
My car is now riding as it should and no longer sinks to the ground over night. As trivial as it may sound, It makes me so proud to walk into my garage and see my car still raised up as it should rather than slouched down looking sad.
You have not only gained a customer for life but a friend and I hope to meet you some day in Boston.
Now when are you going to start repairing the hydraulic parts!?
All the best.

Review by

Ruud, Netherlands W100:

Posted - 09/09/2014
http://www.m-100.cc/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7895&whichpage=3
After reading most of the posts here, and watching Mr. Werminghausen on youtube, I thought it would be safe to send my air suspension valves to Mr Werminghausen. The old ones were not bad, but when the drain valve of my airtank was leaking (took me some time to figure that out), the front of my car would sink - most probably a leaking E-valve. I must say, Mr.Werminghausen sent me a set perfectly overhauled air valves. They look like new, but more importantly, there is no leak any more, and consequently no sinking. Also - at first I thought it was a matter of misperception - the steering and cornering of the car feels better. The difference is not big of course, but the car feels a bit more agile, and even a little bit more comfortable. Finally, communication was great, even though he lives in the US and I in Europe. Sending and receiving the parts was simple and on schedule. I know that there are more addresses for this, and probably good ones, but from my own experience I can highly recommend Mr Werminghausen. (And I didn't get a discount for writing this :-)

Review by

John Heller, Atlanta GA

The front air valves on my 1970 300SEL were leaking down completely in less than 24 hours. These valves had been rebuilt within the past 5 years but yet they were leaking down again. I sent my air valves to Martin for him to diagnose and rebuild. He quickly diagnosed the problem as an internal leak with the E-valve. Once diagnosed he entirely rebuilt both valves. He kept me informed via e-mail through the entire process of diagnosing and rebuilding. The turn around time was excellent and I had my air valves back within a week of him receiving them. The rebuilt valves were returned in beautiful condition and correctly adjusted to the proper Bosch/MB specifications. I would highly recommend Martin in rebuilding the Bosch/MB air valves.

Review by

Scott Melnick, CA

Hi Martin
Greetings from California!
Just wanted to send along a BIG THANK YOU for the help on my last 2 suspension problems. Both the 600 SWB and the 6.3.
Your expertise and quick repair of the Air-Valves really helped.
In the future, you'll be my "go-to" guy for air suspension problems and help.
Thanks again

Best Regards,
Scott Melnick
Auto Engineering/Classic Mercedes-Benz

Review by

Kari Voutilainen, Helsinki, Finland

Hi Martin

I have a MB 300 SEL 4,5 that suffered from a leaking air suspension. The problem kept getting worse all the time and in the end the car was on her belly overnight. We managed to point the leak to the left front valve levelling bar hindge. Luckily I found Mr Werminghausen and his 600 Airsuspension on Youtube and contacted him via email. Since my car was already scheduled at the workshop Mr Werminghausen generously proposed to send me one of his already reconditioned valves and refund me as soon as he received my old leaking unit.

We followed the instructions found online at 600airsuspension.com and the fix was a perfect success. My car is in the Finnish national museum-car-registry, so it was imperative to use original parts to solve the problem. Nothing could be more original than the reconditioned original part. I am very happy with the workmanship and service of Mr Werminghausen.

All other old valves seem to be air tight so far, but when the eventual leaks appear I know who to call. I’m also considering a complete overhaul of the entire system in advance, but I’m having hard time convincing my engineer to change something that is not broken - yet.

Kari Voutilainen
Helsinki, Finland


MB300 SEL 4,5 1972

Return shipment of parts

These are valuable vintage parts. Cores received by the client for rebuilding are owned by the client, also for the duration of repairs. In case of a lost return box we cannot be made responsible for the loss of cores.
Please accept that we insure return shipment with an estimated core value plus rebuilding charges, in
agreement with the client.
The client may instruct us to ship with less insurance at client’s risk.