[Exorth]

Thank you. It was horrible hearing the noise and then seeing the damage that was done

I bet! I hope it's not too expensive to repair. I can't give you any recommendations for workshops as I am not UK based. But I do agree that these cars are way too low. Some speedbumps are literal ****. I have to adjust the way I park and drive (curbs are sometimes higher than the front splitter, so i can never put the car fully in the parking spot).

 

[Keat]

Hi all, I’ve very recently bought a 2019 A Class SE and on my second day of driving it, I notice it could not handle London speed bumps well. I heard a knock sound about 3 out of 10 speed bumps. I thought maybe I’m driving too fast over them even thought I was driving at same speed as other cars I’ve had. I continued to drive over them in the evening at some very slow speeds and notice it was still happening on creation speed bumps.

This is my first driving a Mercedes after coming off Audi’s and even driving a cheap run around I had for the last few months, I have never had any such issue on ANY car I have driven.

Is this just a typical thing with these new models?

To update / on the last two bumps I’ve went over last night (normal bumps) I noticed the the sound has now changed into a metallic sounding scrape which when looking unde the car, I noticed one of the 3 strips pieces has now become bent and hanging down and is probably the cause of the noisehooe

Are these cars so impractical for London Driving? Or is my car faulty or been adapted. No such history on this from previous owner or paper works provided with the car so I’m thinking this is just the style of it

also, fyi, car is out of warranty and I have 16’ wheels.

 

[Forrester]

It’s probably a suspension cover which needs replacing that was knocked out of place by the previous owner. If you do a search there is a thread which looks at this. I had a cover replaced under warranty as did at least one other member. I would take it back to the garage and ask them to see if it’s that and if so replace it free.

 

[PRW]

Do not know how high your bump are in London, I have only experienced it once and it was not bad (probably my own fault, drove a little too fast)
Live in Denmark and drive over 4-10 bumps every day..

 

[Keat]

Thanks. The car was bought from a private owner and not dealers so looks like I’m on my own now to fix /sort. I’m pretty sure that damage has happened from myself as I would of heard this sound on the first times of going over the bumps and only noticed last night. (Haven’t driven car today yet). But again, surely the car shouldn’t be this low to the ground?

 

[Keat]

Thanks. The car was bought from a private owner and not dealers so looks like I’m on my own now to fix /sort. I’m pretty sure that damage has happened from myself as I would of heard this sound on the first times of going over the bumps and only noticed last night. (Haven’t driven car today yet). But again, surely the car shouldn’t be this low to the ground?

I’ll try and pick up that thread you mentioned aswell - thanks

 

[PRW]

Looks like it has been lowered, you have a picture from the side where you can also see the wheels and what size they are.
Maybe you can see for yourself if the shock absorber has changed on it?

 

[Chow Gar]

The A35 ground clearance especially at the rear is lower than a Lamborghini Huracan! You have to be so careful going over anything like a speed bump. I often have to go over the small square ones with just one side of the car. Some time ago my rear diffuser got ripped off by a shallow speed bump, which was too tall for the car!

 

[Forrester]

I was behind an A35 for quite a few miles yesterday and it did seem very low to the ground. I haven't ever had the chance to follow an A45s so it could be the same. But this A35, which seemed standard to me did seem as though the exhaust housing, towards the front, was narrowly missing the road. It was the first time behind an A35 so it might just be entirely normal.

 

[r850r]

Any idea if the Saloon version would be an option with a better ground clearance or are they identical?

Identical

 

[r850r]

Time to pop into a good bodyshop. Where are you? Can recommend an awesome one in Glasgow.

Could you please advise me of that awesome bodyshop in Glasgow - many thanks

 

[ik90yz]

Is the new one (facelift) even lower? I"ll get mine in april

 

[Forrester]

Is the new one (facelift) even lower? I"ll get mine in april

View attachment 10739

Not sure there is scope to go much lower, for the performance versions, without a Porsche type option to raise the height for speed bumps. And quite frankly the state of UK roads would make these cars unusable.

 

[gwynp]

Identical

Must say that I’ve had a W177 saloon as a loan car when my W177 hatch went back to dealers for some work and it seemed slightly higher. Didn’t have to slow down for the usual speed bumps where I live!!

 

[PaulH]

Can't see ground clearance on that drawing only ramp angles.

If your car has more mileage than the loan car then yours has probably 'settled'. Haven't measured the minimum on mine with 8k but there is 150mm at the rear jack points and only 118mm at the front.

 

[tigre64]

Not sure if this is the right place for this…
Any recommendations for protection of the underside of the front splitter ?
starting to realise just how low it is when entering and exiting multi story car parks plus the odd speed hump and having to drive at a crawl as not to scrape the bottom !

 

[veeeight]

Not sure if this is the right place for this…
Any recommendations for protection of the underside of the front splitter ?
starting to realise just how low it is when entering and exiting multi story car parks plus the odd speed hump and having to drive at a crawl as not to scrape the bottom !

Anything you put on will only make the clearance even less.

Maybe a PPF will work but that will soon scrape off.

 

[Forrester]

Not sure if this is the right place for this…
Any recommendations for protection of the underside of the front splitter ?
starting to realise just how low it is when entering and exiting multi story car parks plus the odd speed hump and having to drive at a crawl as not to scrape the bottom !

I can’t even get my wife’s A200 24 reg over some speed bumps which go across the entire road, which my A45s doesn’t scrape. The entire car needs to be an inch higher and with stiffer suspension. I cannot imagine lowering her car even one millimetre.

 

[tigre64]

I can’t even get my wife’s A200 24 reg over some speed bumps which go across the entire road, which my A45s doesn’t scrape. The entire car needs to be an inch higher and with stiffer suspension. I cannot imagine lowering her car even one millimetre.

Maybe tyres with larger profile and bigger sidewalls will lift it 🤔🤣😂

 

[Remy34]

Hi all. So am due to pick up new A45s in the next few weeks. Am just wondering what it's like with uk speed bumps. Can you drive over them by basically letting them go between the wheels or do you need to make sure one wheel goes over it. Am coming from an I30 N. I am able to let the speed bump go between the wheels in that. Any advice welcome