SL55 AMG ABC to coilovers

[village24]

A little bit of an introduction.

Earlier this year I sold my e46 M3 after 2.5 years of ownership. Just as I was starting to look at other cars to move onto lockdown occured and since I've just been browning.

Now I like this era of car from 2000-2010, the SL really does take my fancy. The problem from what I've read surrounds itself around the ABC suspension.

I've found threads but they're old and pictures don't work on those threads. If im looking to buy an SL just what is required to change the cars suspension over to coilovers. I've read it requires SL350 parts but just what is required.

On a side note, from current owners is the ABC is still problematic or are there now better specialist and better repairs on place that stop the issues occuring.

Cheers for reading and hopefully replying.

Ali

[ArmaghMan]

Not as expensive to change as it once was.
Replaced mine in the last month.

£1300

[village24]

Is that for per strut?

Is there anything worth looking out for from an owners point of view that wouldn't crop up on a buyers guide?

[Candellara]

The reality is that the ABC suspension is really rather good if it's all working correctly

Bills aren't nothing like they used to be. Struts, ABC pump, valve blocks are all available via the specialist market.

I'd say stick with the ABC suspension

[village24]

Hi, thanks for the information.

My only concern was multiple repairs being required on the ABC suspension, ive had a look and they're still looking at 1k per corner for when the issue arises I appreciate that hopefully with majority of the cars now being 10+ years they will have been addressed.

My preference would be to leave the SL standard as much as possible and only make performance modifications to extract a bit more power.

Do you happen to know if the SLs has any recalls for the seals around the rear windows and roof to address the leaks?

Thanks
Alib

[Candellara]

village24 said:

Hi, thanks for the information.

My only concern was multiple repairs being required on the ABC suspension, ive had a look and they're still looking at 1k per corner for when the issue arises I appreciate that hopefully with majority of the cars now being 10+ years they will have been addressed.

My preference would be to leave the SL standard as much as possible and only make performance modifications to extract a bit more power.

Do you happen to know if the SLs has any recalls for the seals around the rear windows and roof to address the leaks?

Thanks
Alib

It'd be unlikely that all four struts would simultaneously fail. I think the more common is that of the ABC pump or a valve block. Again, I really won't worry about it too much. No different to the cost of Audi RS4 struts etc

The 55 really doesn't need anymore power for a UK road - it's quite a monster already - the later cars were 517bhp IIRC. If you must - a pulley upgrade & remap will see the likes of 550 bhp in what is a 20 year old designed chassis, traction control etc.

The roof seals were updated in 2004 if I remember correctly. Try and buy as later car as possible with a thorough history. Most roof seals will have been replaced by now with updated versions. Check boot area isn't wet.

[Welshbeef]

Candellara said:

It'd be unlikely that all four struts would simultaneously fail. I think the more common is that of the ABC pump or a valve block. Again, I really won't worry about it too much. No different to the cost of Audi RS4 struts etc

The 55 really doesn't need anymore power for a UK road - it's quite a monster already - the later cars were 517bhp IIRC. If you must - a pulley upgrade & remap will see the likes of 550 bhp in what is a 20 year old designed chassis, traction control etc.

The roof seals were updated in 2004 if I remember correctly. Try and buy as later car as possible with a thorough history. Most roof seals will have been replaced by now with updated versions. Check boot area isn't wet.

Though some folk modify SL65’s..... bonkers but why not.

[Candellara]

This was a great article. SL55 pitched against a Ferrari 360 Spider.

Journalists rated the 55 as the better car

[village24]

Thanks for the reply guys. My main aim is to buy the best example I can for the budget I have in mind. The attraction with earlier cars is the cheaper tax but understand most issues also lie with the earlier models.

At the end of the day the sl will be a weekend car for myself, coming from an e46 I expect it won't handle as well but it will be used for a good blast at weekends so that was my other reason for looking into the coilover conversion but I'm still struggling to see just how much of the sl320 parts are required.

Thanks again guys you have given me much food for thought

[Candellara]

village24 said:

Thanks for the reply guys. My main aim is to buy the best example I can for the budget I have in mind. The attraction with earlier cars is the cheaper tax but understand most issues also lie with the earlier models.

Buy the latest car you can afford - ideally a 2006 onwards facelifted car but condition and history is everything obviously

[swisstoni]

As mentioned, newer is better.

Personally I wouldn’t worry too much about the ABC. It may well cause the odd issue but they are likely to be years apart, especially on a weekend-only car. You’ve got the pump and the struts - all seem to cost around £1k to fix.

Keep the boot battery well charged to avoid annoying error lights and obviously find a good independent Merc specialist. You don’t want main dealers getting involved with these unless it’s a bog standard service.

Oh, and don’t pressure wash it. The car seems to have electronics boxes everywhere, some around the scuttle area are a bit vulnerable to moisture.

[TarquinMX5]

Any insurance issues re the proposed modification. IIRC, all R230 500s had ABC, so it's possible some insurance companies might not be too happy about it.

[Gouki]

I wouldn't bother replacing the ABC, the ability for body control and significant ride height change is frankly outstanding. I've waded through floods and mounted significant obstacles in my SL55. The flexibility of the R230 for cross continent cruising where no compromised road is too challenging is something to behold.

After watching the grand tour episode where the Aston Martin Superleggera, Bentley Continental GT and BMW 8 series struggled with poor roads en route from the Black Sea to the Caspian provided the realisation how good ABC is.

[Candellara]

This looks like a nice car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202002257...

[village24]

That interior is not nice at all.

Tbh lads, you've given me a great insight for problems to look out for and slightly put me off purchasing too. The electrical gremlins on what is a 80k+ car are worrying me now, especially surrounding jet washing and the roof seals leaking. The fact the car won't be daily driven too and the boot battery requiring constant charging are all minor bits that are adding up.

The above car linked is a lot more than I want to spend. Even down to the suspension woes I have, coming from the e46 I think this car might be the wrong car I'm after, I won't use it for GT driving more of weekend hooning.

My budget is up to and around 20k, but spending anything near 25k and I'd rather be spending a bit more and buying a 996 turbo which I've wanted for a long time.

As always I appreciate the insight and what started with suspension issues has now helped me re-evaluate whether this car will actually be the right choice for myself next.

Cheers
Ali

[swisstoni]

You think an old Porsche Turbo will be a walk in the park?

[village24]

No not at all.

I said if I was spending 25k+ I'd rather be spending a bit more and buying a 996 turbo. The SL55 is a stop gap for myself, im not sure about you guys, but driving normal cars day to day isn't fun, I need something exciting to use.

The car linked was 25k, given the electrical issues everyone has pointed out and knowing how the weather is in the North, the potentially car could only be driven in selected months. Coming from experience when my e46 was parked up it does more harm than good for cars.

I really like the sl55, I like the looks and the power it comes with. As said before these cars made prior to 2010 have a very different feel and drive and while I can I want to own a few from this era before electric cars take over.

[Candellara]

village24 said:

That interior is not nice at all.

Tbh lads, you've given me a great insight for problems to look out for and slightly put me off purchasing too. The electrical gremlins on what is a 80k+ car are worrying me now, especially surrounding jet washing and the roof seals leaking. The fact the car won't be daily driven too and the boot battery requiring constant charging are all minor bits that are adding up.

The above car linked is a lot more than I want to spend. Even down to the suspension woes I have, coming from the e46 I think this car might be the wrong car I'm after, I won't use it for GT driving more of weekend hooning.

My budget is up to and around 20k, but spending anything near 25k and I'd rather be spending a bit more and buying a 996 turbo which I've wanted for a long time.

As always I appreciate the insight and what started with suspension issues has now helped me re-evaluate whether this car will actually be the right choice for myself next.

Cheers
Ali

Yep, interior is subjective :-)

The later facelifted cars 2006 / 2007 with nice mileage all seem to be between £24k and £28k unless it's an F1 then prices climb up to around £40k

Sub £20k and you're into earlier cars with bigger miles. 996 Turbo is similar in terms of performance but nice examples with nice miles are generally £40k upwards. Big bills will match anything on the SL55 for sure

I still maintain, at £25k it's probably the biggest "bang for your buck" that money will buy. Any car that was originally £100k + or labelled as a supercar in it's time will have the ability to give you some whopping bills.

Edited by Candellara on Wednesday 4th November 16:10

[village24]

Yeah its not bad bang for buck. But at the same time its a GT car thats over ten years old. Spending around 25k and just to pluck a few cars but you're looking at f13 m6, f types, maserati MC, early GTRs.

By no means are those cars similar comparison im just saying technology and power has come a long way, and those are similarly priced.

The running costs dont bother me, it really does come down to reliability and I know these cars are old, but everything I have read and every other forum I've been on just points to the same issues everyone has raised in this thread.

I'm going to continue searching for the right one to pop up for myself, id definitely like to own one, just like ill scratch the bmw v10 itch too. The search goes on and ill hopefully be able to post back maybe in a few months time with what I've purchased

[Candellara]

village24 said:

Yeah its not bad bang for buck. But at the same time its a GT car thats over ten years old. Spending around 25k and just to pluck a few cars but you're looking at f13 m6, f types, maserati MC, early GTRs.

By no means are those cars similar comparison im just saying technology and power has come a long way, and those are similarly priced.

The running costs dont bother me, it really does come down to reliability and I know these cars are old, but everything I have read and every other forum I've been on just points to the same issues everyone has raised in this thread.

I'm going to continue searching for the right one to pop up for myself, id definitely like to own one, just like ill scratch the bmw v10 itch too. The search goes on and ill hopefully be able to post back maybe in a few months time with what I've purchased

Well, you're doing the right thing by doing your research :-) but any car of this ilk - SL55's, 996T, Maserati's all have the capacity to deliver some eye watering bills. The 55 has it's own documented weak points (especially the early cars) but the 996 is not exempt by any means - ask a Porsche specialist - Turbo actuators, rads etc etc The Ferrari 355 only has 37 known weak points :-)

There's a good reason dealers need alot of margins in all these cars especially if they're offering warranties. Saying that a friend of mine has run his 2003 SL55 for seven years and is up to 123,000 miles and he's had no problems bar the normal service items.

This guy's YouTube and Instagram account is worth a look. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_qrBjiS4hY

I still maintain that a late SL55 still looks every bit a 100k car, still turns heads, fantastic roof down GT cruiser and not much will touch one in terms of performance on a UK A road even after all these years

Edited by Candellara on Wednesday 4th November 18:20