Adaptive Air Suspension With PASM

Adaptive Air Suspension With PASM







Compared with a steel spring suspension with PASM, adaptive air suspension offers the following advantages:
- Wide setup range between comfort and sportiness by enabling/disabling the air volume
- Total load balancing: constant vehicle height and full compression travel regardless of load (levelling system)
- Additional lift function at low speeds up to 20 mph (30 km/h) (height adjustment)
- Better day-to-day usability
- Sporty look and reduced drag at low level







The height adjustment feature allows the air suspension to vary the ground clearance of the Panamera by setting it to three different levels: from Normal level (basic air suspension level) to High Level or Low Level. It takes approx. 4 seconds to switch to the next lower or next higher level. The running-gear setup is shown on the multi-function display for approx. 4 seconds. The levelling system automatically ensures a constant vehicle position regardless of how the load is distributed.







NOTE: Automatic level control must be switched off when driving onto a lifting platform or when raising one wheel. Level control can only be switched off when the vehicle is stationary. Level control is switched on automatically at a speed of more than approx. 4 mph (7 km/h).







Switching off level control

1. Switch on ignition.
2. Press and hold the button for approx. 10 seconds. The message "Control off" appears on the multi-function display in the instrument panel.







Switching on level control

1. Lower the vehicle.
2. Switch on ignition.
3. Press and hold the button for approx. 10 seconds. The message "Control on" appears on the multi-function display in the instrument panel.







Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) optimally regulates the damping force. Modified software tuning enables a particularly fast build-up of damping forces and as a result, a harder damper rate is selected in "Sport" mode.







In addition to selecting a harder damper rate, a harder spring rate is also set in "Sport Plus" mode. The driver therefore has a sports chassis at the press of a button.







The manually selectable high level can be used to raise the vehicle by approx. 20 mm in order to drive safely over high speed bumps or steep ramps into parking garages. To ensure that the Panamera is not driven in High Level on public roads, the chassis automatically goes back to Normal Level once a speed of 20 mph (30 km/h) is reached.

Air Suspension Overview







The Panamera features a closed air-spring system with a compressor, solenoid block with integrated pressure sensor, and a pressure accumulator. To raise the vehicle, air is pumped into the spring units by the electric compressor. When lowering the vehicle, the excess air is not released outwards, but is fed back into the 5.2 liter pressure accumulator. This system makes the Panamera particularly energy-efficient and easy to control with a control speed of at least 10 mm per second, depending on load.

The adaptive air suspension system includes the following components:
- Closed air supply system for better energy usage and faster level switching
- Electrically driven compressor, uncoupled from the interior, with temperature sensor
- Solenoid valves for controlling the air-spring volume
- Light-alloy pressure accumulator
- Two fully load-bearing air springs with an outer guide and integrated dampers on the front axle
- Two free-standing air springs and separate dampers on the rear axle
- Air springs with switchable additional volume
- Four level sensors (spring travel sensors) for recording body movements
- PASM control unit

NOTE: The air suspension is filled with nitrogen.

Control Unit
Location: Luggage compartment, left.
Function: System control, diagnosis, monitoring.

Level Sensor (4 x)
Location: Front and rear control arms.
Function: Determining vehicle level.

Compressor
Location: Behind the rear axle.
Function: Pumps the air between the pressure reservoir and air springs in order to raise or lower the vehicle. If the air pressure falls below the required pressure, air is drawn in via the air cleaner.

Pressure Reservoir (5.2 liter)
Location: Under the rear apron.
Function: Stores the required air volume.

Valve Block
Location: To the left of the compressor.
Function: Supplies air to the relevant components. If the air pressure exceeds a certain nominal value, air is released via a release valve.

Intake Filter
Location: To the right of the compressor.
Function: Cleans the aspirated air.

Release Damper
Location: At the left, above the valve block.
Function: Prevents noise when releasing air.






















Filling The Air System Following Repairs

Air connection for front right air spring (green line)

Required tools:
- Intermediate piece (special tool)
- Connection to nitrogen bottle
- Nitrogen bottle with pressure regulator and pressure gauge

For instructions on draining and filling, see Workshop Data.

Front Axle Additional Air Volume

In the air suspension system, the air bellows generally acts as the spring. The newly developed, lightweight adaptive air suspension system has a selectable additional air volume for changing the spring rate. This additional air volume is integrated into the spring strut together with the shock absorber on the front axle and can be enabled and disabled by an electric valve. The total air volume in the Comfort setting is approx. 2.2 liters. Closing the valve reduces the volume to approx. 1.1 liters. This increases the spring rate significantly, thereby enabling extremely varied vehicle handling ranging from comfortable to particularly sporty. The spring rate also becomes more progressive during the course of compression travel.







Rear Axle Additional Air Volume

The air spring on the rear axle (RA) is designed as a freestanding spring and works according to the same principle as the springs on the front axle (FA).











Air suspension - V6






The adaptive air suspension with PASM is optionally available for the Panamera and Panamera 4. This features a levelling system for load compensation, 3-stage ride-height adjustment and switchable additional air volume to change the spring rate. This allows wide variation of the handling characteristics between comfortable and very sporty.