haoz129

Np, I understand your frustration about ABC.

The sway bars are common practice in most modern cars. It connects both struts in one axle. This setup keeps inside and outside at the similar level when cornering hence reduce body roll.

Accumulators are easier job than pulsation damper.
Actually there are 4 black spheres in ABC:
- High pressure damper on PSV(pressure supply valve): PSV is on passenger side in front of transmission;
- High pressure reservior on front valve body: front valve body is on driver side behind the bumper;
- High pressure reservior on rear valve body; rear valve body is on driver side in front of rear wheel;
- Reture reservior on rear valve body.

ctravis595

i cannot attest to whether or not they're still working, but they still worked when i had my abc system - i would be willing to part with the accumulators on my car for 35 a piece or 60 for both. something to consider, shipping included

haoz129

Guys,

Just completed my ABC high pressure lines/hoses replace after 4 lines found weeping. The hydraulic lines/hoses modification will help/simplify future ABC maintenace. Feels like another routine maintenance: inspect ABC components regularly, replace part when there is sign of dederiorate.

Detail's here: https://mbworld.org/forums/5659409-post162.html

Good luck.

Howard

Petej

The main accumulator is on order, should be here on Thursday. So other than cycling the car up and and down a few times there is nothing else that needs to be done when you change the accumulator?

w4sim

When we changed the dampener on mine a few weeks ago, we lost a couple of drops of fluid. After fitting the new dampener we put in a little bit more fluid and did the up and downs for about 10 mins. Not had a problem with it since.

From what the guys are saying here, the accumulators are supposed to be even easier so i guess it wont be anything more than a few up and down cycles really.

But if you can possibly take a few pics along the way that would be mighty handy for the likes of me.

Im taking the car to an Indy on Thursday hopefully to get the ABC fluid flushed so il get him to check the ABC system, including hoses, pump and accumulators. If i need new accumulators then il be looking at you for advice on replacement.

Welwynnick

There's another good idea: when the replacement hose sections are fitted with their compression joints, its easy to replace the hose next time. Leave the OE fittings in place, and just undo the compression joints. Getting a spare is easy - just measure up the old part and tell the hydraulic pipe shop what you want. IIRC all ABC metal pipes are 10mm OD, and the hoses are standard two-wire, 3/8, 300 bar hoses.

Nick

haoz129

Yes, they are all 10mm OD, except the pulsation damper. The section in the damper with banjo fitting is 12mm OD. That's it.

Howard

04S600AMG

I really like the way you made all of the flex hoses rebuildable. Do you mind if I ask what it cost to get those made. I am especilly interested in the dead ended pressure hose since that has failed on me twice.

Thanks,

haoz129

Not at all, $500 to make all four high pressure hoses.
You will find more details about this project in my maintenance thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/5659409-post162.html

Thanks.

Howard

Welwynnick

They're tens of bucks - do an ebay search for "hydraulic hose assembly". I'm not saying that's where you should get them, but that'll give you an idea. There are LOTS of places that make hydraulic hoses at a fraction of MB OE prices.

Nick

haoz129

Yes, but Canadians always have to pay premium,
That's why I buy parts from States whenever it is possible.
That's why there were only 3 S600 for me to choose nation wide.

Your guys are lucky.

Howard

Welwynnick

I'm going to change another one of mine next week. The pipe from the front valve block to the right strut is seeping, so I'm going to change that. Its quite long, so it'll be a bit more expensive than the last I had done, which was only about £40/$60. Commuting to work is one thing, but I don't want the worry of an ABC failure with the family on board this summer. Plus I like the engine compartment to be dry!

I've recently been thinking about using something other than Pentosin for the ABC fluid. The specs and approvals are the same for all the other CHF-11S fluids, which you can buy anywhere.

Nick

bzliteyear

my S600's in shop again this week - hoses which were replaced 4 months ago blew, and need to re-do, and it's covered by MB dealer's 1 yr/unlimited mileage warranty.
i'm a bit schizo on the ABC system over the past 5 yrs of experience between my S55 and now S600. my gut feel is it's a poorly designed(unreliable) system compared w/ what mercedes has done in the past, and that they shouldn't have put it into the cars - the cost/benefit(and hit to their reputation) for having it in the W220 has been an overall negative. that said, from what i've heard, it appears that (finally) most of the bugs have been worked out and there's no complaints on ABC from W221 owners(pls correct me if i'm wrong).
p.s. Similarly, it appears that most of the prior generation airmatics have now been replaced and now they're (finally) reliable with new cars (or older cars that have been replaced w/ new parts)?
Patrick

Welwynnick

I think if you look at the W216/221 forums you'l still see people complaining about ABC problems - just not as often as W215/220 - when it was first introduced. Remember that we're really the guinea pigs for ABC technology.

Hydraulics are nothing new, but the V12TT engine compartment is a harsh environment, and the automotive industry hasn't adapted to the service & support needs like the building, agriculture and automation industries have. Hydraulics aren't fit-for-life like other components, they need to be maintained, and both the design of the car and the approach to servicing need to reflect that.

Pumps, valves and hoses should be easily accessible, and they DO have to inspected regularly, as ABC can give various forms of advance warning of failure. Fluids and filters need to be replaced periodically like other systems, and the hardware should use industry-standard fittings and interfaces so anyone can do it.

Unfortunately there's little room for the ABC system, so everything is packaged into awkward spaces, and only cleverly-shaped MB OE parts will fit, and the dealers don't seem to have a very pro-active approach.

Nick

radride

I concur with everything that Howard has said. I'm in the same boat.

R.K.

BlownV8

The new ones are just as bad. It's just a function of time and or mileage. ABC sucks but Airmatic sucks less because it is cheaper to repair and less prone to failure.

superfast

Howard- Do you know if the base W215 also have 10 hi-pressure hoses or less? Do you or anyone also have a diagram showing the location of all these hoses? Thanks

w4sim

A diagram of the hoses wouldnt be a bad idea for me aswell, as iv just noticed quite a fair bit of green fluid on top of the ABC hose that runs under the radiator!!!!

Not looking forward to this.

superfast

I've found the diagram from another MB website. Here it is:

w4sim

Superfast - what an excellent find, thanks for that, really very much appreciated.

tusabes

The bad part is that each one of those 14 parts needs to be serviced /replaced on our aging cars

Welwynnick

Unfortunately that diagram doesn't show the location of the FLEXIBLE hoses. I don't think there's any single diagram that does. I've got some files and links somewhere; I'll dig them up.

The W215 and W220 have the same system.

Nick

superfast

Yes, even though the diagram doesn't show which sections are the rubber hoses but all ABC components & lines are there so we can easily figure out once we get underneath the car. The front & rear axle valve units (Y36/1 & Y36/2) are the valve blocks which everyone is also referring to & they can be removed, cleaned and/or reconditioned without buying new ones. The front & rear axle pressure reservoirs (14 & 4) are also referring by many as pressure accumulators. For the front, it's a round plastic ball which is attached to the front valve block via a metal bracket. The assy comes out as 1 piece when you disconnect all the hoses.

w4sim

I suppose superfast has a point there that all the connections are on the diagram, its just a matter of seeing which part is a metal tube and which part is a flexible rubber hose.

My problem at the minute is figuring out the type of connections we need. I saw a photo posted by Welwynnick in another post that shows the new rubber hoses next to the old lines and if im not mistaken the connections on the new ones have been changed???

w4sim

This, if this works:-

http://s270.photobucket.com/user/wel...ml?sort=3&o=68