How are people fairing with ABC Suspension?
Discussion
Hello all
I have a 2004 R230 SL 500 with ABC suspension.
Last summer I noticed a couple of issues with it. The front valve body is leaking and I think a seal in the rear valve body is gone as the OSR strut will raise when the car is stood for a few moments with engine off.
I don't think this is the end of the world and I need to get around to rebuilding both valve bodys.
Other than that, in my ownership, I have flushed and renewed the ABC fluid.
Curious to hear how others are getting on with it?
It seems the internet is full of bad press about this system, but I think it's fantastic and really helps manage the weight of the SL.
I had it on a 2007 S600 and I wouldn't want an S Class or SL without it, it's an absolutely fabulous system. The way the car stayed level during monster braking and V12 powered acceleration, maintained iron grip on body movements over unudlating roads, and yet rode superbly was supernatural. I've got a 2010 Jaguar X351 XJ which has a very "sporty" suspension setup for a big barge and is a great car, but the suspension can't hold a candle to the ABC setup.
People who replace it with aftermarket coils are eating dog food from the can instead of steak because it's cheaper.
People who replace it with aftermarket coils are eating dog food from the can instead of steak because it's cheaper.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 23 January 10:10
stickleback123 said:
I had it on a 2007 S600 and I wouldn't want an S Class or SL without it, it's an absolutely fabulous system. The way the car stayed level during monster braking and V12 powered acceleration, maintained iron grip on body movements over unudlating roads, and yet rode superbly was supernatural. I've got a 2010 Jaguar X351 XJ which has a very "sporty" suspension setup for a big barge and is a great car, but the suspension can't hold a candle to the ABC setup.
People who replace it with aftermarket coils are eating dog food from the can instead of steak because it's cheaper.
I couldn't agree with you more. I hate when people convert exotic suspension systems to coil springs.People who replace it with aftermarket coils are eating dog food from the can instead of steak because it's cheaper.
Edited by stickleback123 on Monday 23 January 10:10
It really bugs me the way this suspension system get's so much bad press... sure, it's expensive when it goes wrong, but it's a complicated system.. and the cars are beginning to age.. but it's not an unreliable system and not everybody get's stung, preventative maintenance goes a long way.
fourwheeler said:
I couldn't agree with you more. I hate when people convert exotic suspension systems to coil springs.
It really bugs me the way this suspension system get's so much bad press... sure, it's expensive when it goes wrong, but it's a complicated system.. and the cars are beginning to age.. but it's not an unreliable system and not everybody get's stung, preventative maintenance goes a long way.
I think a lot of the bad reputation comes from clueless (and very expensive) dealers and "experts" unable to diagnose and fix it properly so working up huge diagnostic fees and throwing part at it. They also seem tohave improved the reliability in the 2nd and 3rd generation, as you'd expect.It really bugs me the way this suspension system get's so much bad press... sure, it's expensive when it goes wrong, but it's a complicated system.. and the cars are beginning to age.. but it's not an unreliable system and not everybody get's stung, preventative maintenance goes a long way.
stickleback123 said:
I think a lot of the bad reputation comes from clueless (and very expensive) dealers and "experts" unable to diagnose and fix it properly so working up huge diagnostic fees and throwing part at it. They also seem tohave improved the reliability in the 2nd and 3rd generation, as you'd expect.
Again, agreed. A lot of the bad news is from the early days. These days I think the system is more clearly understood.Replaced both front struts on my 2002 CL600 Bi-turbo due to play in the top mounts.
Weirdly, M-B provided a partial refund for returning one of the old struts but not the other - the reason being that one of the two struts they provided was new & the other was a factory refurbished unit for which there was a refundable deposit upon sending in the old strut.
It's a magnificent system - but does require regular inspection and periodic fluid changes / flushes.
Weirdly, M-B provided a partial refund for returning one of the old struts but not the other - the reason being that one of the two struts they provided was new & the other was a factory refurbished unit for which there was a refundable deposit upon sending in the old strut.
It's a magnificent system - but does require regular inspection and periodic fluid changes / flushes.
fourwheeler said:
Hello all
I have a 2004 R230 SL 500 with ABC suspension.
Last summer I noticed a couple of issues with it. The front valve body is leaking and I think a seal in the rear valve body is gone as the OSR strut will raise when the car is stood for a few moments with engine off.
I don't think this is the end of the world and I need to get around to rebuilding both valve bodys.
Other than that, in my ownership, I have flushed and renewed the ABC fluid.
Curious to hear how others are getting on with it?
It seems the internet is full of bad press about this system, but I think it's fantastic and really helps manage the weight of the SL.
Currently I've owned an SL55 04 for the past 6 years. It's mostly snuggled up in my garage on a charger and not driven much over esp during winter. I've never had ABC issues with it. It's never drooped despite sitting for longish periods.
A couple of years ago it did droop on driver rear corner after starting but after a few minutes level up and stay up whilst driving and parked.
Turned out to be a broken level sensor, was £10-15 for the part so got other side changed out at same time so overall bill was about £90.
The ride and handling is great on ABC as has been mentioned. Quite often the internet would have you believe you need to rip it all out and bin it to save a fortune but you then spend a fortune getting dry suspension in from an SL350. In reality it might be a cheap part needs fixed or a bit of TLC.
I had it on a 2002 SL500 which was six years old with 51k on when I got it.
ABC was a nightmare - probably cost me about £10k in the three years I had the car.
I don’t think it was that much better than normal suspension.
Never again!
(I’ve an SL350 (facelift R230) now and it’s better than the old one in every single way. And the suspension doesn’t give me the s
ts every time I start the car).
ABC was a nightmare - probably cost me about £10k in the three years I had the car.
I don’t think it was that much better than normal suspension.
Never again!
(I’ve an SL350 (facelift R230) now and it’s better than the old one in every single way. And the suspension doesn’t give me the s
ts every time I start the car). I had a similar issue a number of years ago and it was a corroded washer on the valve block, Replaced the washer and all was fine. A bit fiddly with the block in situ and everything needed a good clean before removing offending part. If that is the problem you will see it as soon as you remove the wheel arch liner.
It is good that your fluid is green
It is good that your fluid is green
fourwheeler said:
I couldn't agree with you more. I hate when people convert exotic suspension systems to coil springs.
It really bugs me the way this suspension system get's so much bad press... sure, it's expensive when it goes wrong, but it's a complicated system.. and the cars are beginning to age.. but it's not an unreliable system and not everybody get's stung, preventative maintenance goes a long way.
Have you done the low-rider impression as part of your preventative maintenance? It gets fluid moving through the system, exercises the actuators and valves, gives everything a good wipe and so on. Might be worth doing periodically after you get your leak repaired.It really bugs me the way this suspension system get's so much bad press... sure, it's expensive when it goes wrong, but it's a complicated system.. and the cars are beginning to age.. but it's not an unreliable system and not everybody get's stung, preventative maintenance goes a long way.
Hello everybody...
Just a quick bump to say that I have embarked on an ABC refurb mission and logging my progress over on the MB Owners Club, if anybody is interested.
It's a total guts and all journal, with plenty of pics.
https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threa...
Just a quick bump to say that I have embarked on an ABC refurb mission and logging my progress over on the MB Owners Club, if anybody is interested.
It's a total guts and all journal, with plenty of pics.
https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threa...
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