pumpedTSI

Took the S55 to the DIY shop today and got a crap load of items that needed/I wanted done.......
Flushed the ABC system, changed filter, switched fluid from Pentosin to Mobil 1 and installed inline magnetic filter.
Changed all 16 sparkplugs to NGK Iridium along with new wires.
Changed SC idler pulley.
Changed tranny connector plug.
CPS was changed last week.

Tomorrow is tranny conductor plate, new filter and fluid and "maybe" front ABC accumulator ball.

Gotta say, it looks like the plugs werent changed in a while. She used to have a slight hesitation accelerating from idle but now thats gone, idle is smoother and power delivery is smoother so plugs and wires made a nice improvement. Shes coming along nicely......

S55K_AMG

Good deal. You addressed all the typical concerns with the W220 chassis'. Preventative maintenance is key!

pumpedTSI

Yeah, but that changed a few days ago.....my crank pulley separated so in handling that mission creep has started.....new crank pulley ($500, ouch), crank seal, supercharger bearing, remainder of idler pulleys and bearings, supercharger oil change and eventually switchover to Evans coolant....air filters and cabin filters already done.....now its a labor of love....

maw1124

Sorry to hear that. When I read your first list, without knowing mileage, I was thinking "I hope that crank pulley has been done." Please tell me about the switch from Pentosin to Mobil 1. Is there a particular Mobil 1 hydraulic fluid that you like better, and based upon what data? I'm familiar with the inline magnetic filter.

Cheers,

maw

pumpedTSI

Its just basic Mobil 1 synthetic ATF....disconnect return line and run to bucket with car running keeping resovoir topped up so she never runs dry (will fry pump) and keep draining/adding until you get clear pink fluid....took about 6-7 QTS.
Quite a few Vw/Audi guys have made the switch along with some guys here....its non hydroscopic and a more modern formula....downside is it can be flammable if it bursts/drips on a hot exhaust so check your lines periodically for leaks and address right away. So far so good...

maw1124

Thanks. I've been thinking about this myself, knowing Pentosin is a 10+ year old formulation, etc., and wondered if there was a Mobil 1 fluid with similar specs that people were making a specific determination about, or were rather using something else. I'll pass on the ATF, but I may yet try a different hydraulic fluid. The ABC pump here and the SMG pump in the M3 both tend to "fail" and I suspect it's bad / tired fluid. So far I've just been changing more frequently (every 2 or 3 years), but still I wonder about a reformulated and better fluid.

Cheers,

maw

kyosuke

curious to know what mileage you have ? at what point should some one change their sc oil and flush out the abc system ?

pumpedTSI

I'm at 130k and just bought the car. The car doesnt "need" all the things I'm doing but I'm doing it because I dont know last time they were done or as preventative maintenance since I want to be able to trust this car to drive to California or New York tomorrow without any worries. I CAN say that the SC oil was like Molasses and about the same color AND it appeared to be low since I put more in than came out and the new stuff was golden honey color. I'm going to run it for a week or so and change it again since I still have half the can of oil left and it only takes 15 mins. I will also say the SC is more noisy now with new oil since I assume its thinner than the old molasses. In my personal opinion.......if you dont know when/if SC oil was ever changed, do it. On the ABC flush I intend to do it every 15k, cheap (using Mobil 1) and doesnt take long. The car is now running perfect with no codes, stumbles or issues "but" I still dont trust her until I have some miles clocked up. Next is the Evans coolant changeover and power steering flush and fill.

kyosuke

yea im looking to do the same exact thing i just got mine as well with 81k on the odometer. i looked at the records and it doesnt state that those 2 things have been done or if it did they say "regular maintenance" has been done. which could mean anything

maw1124

A few things to keep in mind (I've had mine for over 7 years and have been accumulating knowledge):

(1). The SC oil is "lifetime", which typically means 7yrs/100k miles. All of these are over that and, depending upon driving style, probably due. Mine has been light use to be kind, but I'm thinking to do it anyway, just because it appears simple and easy. PumpedTSI, please keep us posted on that extra noise. Treating it like a transmission flush (once, then again) is probably a good idea that can't hurt anything, since there's no filter mechanism in that closed system;

(2). I've been told that German dealers recommended ABC flush like PS fluid, coolant and Brake fluid (every couple or few years, 30k miles), but the US dealers didn't. I've been following that. It will likely save the pump but not the valve blocks. But I think it's pretty clear the valve blocks can be rebuilt and new o-rings installed, vs. a $1500 part;

MB has been all over the map about ABC. I'm on the AMG Private Lounge, and took the time to ask them about it. What I've learned is fluid hydraulics (ABC) are better than air suspensions (Airmatic) the heavier the car is. Notice for the W222, the 63 cars have Airmatic while the 65 cars have ABC, for two reasons -- the 65s are heavier and the 63s have 4Matic. Fluid handling shocks (ABC) are larger than Airmatic ones, and so while they can control a heavier car better (TT V12 vs V8), they can't accommodate 4Matic. Also note that MB have been using fluid hydraulics since the 60s, and only switched to Airmatic to save size and weight. In the 600 limos back in the day, even the windows were fluid hydraulics.

For our cars, fluid is probably overkill since the car only weighs 4400lbs, which is why it feels so damned nimble. But the fluid requires more frequent changes. It's Pentosin, which over the years has proven not to be as sturdy as it is thin. I just change PS, Coolant, Brake Fluid (blue stuff), Transmission fluid, and ABC every 2/3 yrs and 30k miles and forget about it. I'm thinking about making the SC fluid an every 7yrs / 100k miles thing, given my driving habits for this car (long run highways, no stoplight derbys).

Cheers,

maw

pumpedTSI

Maw, check the color and fluid level on your SC......mine was low and nasty color....stinky too......its easy, quick and cheap ($15 can = 2 fills).....

kyosuke

thanks maw1124

i was reading a thread of the w211 guys and they actually regrease all their bearings in their sc

would it be a similar process for us s55 guys ?

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...filling-4.html

maw1124

Yup, same part even, I'm almost sure.

PumpedTSI, did the new stuff smell as well? I don't wrench on mine, but I'll have my guys get into it. I have my own list -- ABC pulsation damper, water pump, valve cover gaskets (again), spark plugs (again), and cabin air filter (again) with next service -- I'm thinking to add SC fluid to that list.

Since you just bought the car, assuming you intend to run pure gas in it, I'd run Techron fuel system cleaner through on a highway run, then change the fuel filter afterward. That's on my "newly acquired" list, along with trans fluid. You don't know what kind of gunk a prior owner or dealer ran through that fuel system, and this is an easy way to erase that risk.

As this thread details quite well (well done guys), I think this car is basically bulletproof with good fluid maintenance. The W220 65s, not so much. But the 55s I think get real easy to live with if you handle the fluids and pulleys properly. Consider them maintenance items, not repair items. I think I'm on my 3rd idler pulley, for example (I've lost count). But it's cheap so who cares. You only care if it breaks on you... Same with the fluids -- who cares if you swap out Pentosin from your ABC system ever couple or few years? You only care if the pump ($4k) or valves ($1500 each) go. If you get after the ABC fluids and filters and the transmission fluids and filters, and keep the car running cool with clear fuel delivery, the rest is just "old car stuff" -- brakes, tires, chassis rubber, who cares.

Cheers,

maw

pumpedTSI

Yeah, new stuff is stinky too but not like old stuff......I have already done the fuel treatment twice (seafoam and BG fuel system flush) and only run 93 so its clean....

maw1124

Good stuff. That's what I've heard about the jet oil in the SC. Swap the old fuel filter to keep whatever gunk you ran out with the BG, etc, out. That is, once you've flushed it all into the filter, trap it there and then get rid of the filter.

maw

kyosuke

maw where is the fuel filter and how much does it run ? Im going on a road trip saturday about 250 miles going to and then another 250 coming back itll be the perfect time to do so.

also if you guys post how tos with pics that be awesome so i know what im getting myself into

maw1124

IIRC, passenger side near (just before or after) rear wheel well. Simple R&R, part may be under $50. I had mine done long ago. I'm useless on the DIY stuff, so I can't help there. But I remember it being a no issues swap.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mercedes_B...eSearch/Fuel/2

maw

pumpedTSI

Just did my fuel filter.....no big deal...15 mins. Apparently there are 2 types for the 03....twin inlet/outlet and single inlet/outlet. I bought both and mine was the single port in/out. I also removed all wheel sensors and cleaned them along with PS fluid flush....Mobil 1 ATF again and finally I changed out the intercooler pump for a Johnson 030 I found NIB at ebay marine for $40. I know now the Bosch 010 is better but no big deal.....next is tranny mount and MAP sensor for the hell of it.....Evans switch is made and running well, doesnt run any cooler but no system pressure.....all good.

StarvingArtist

Don't forget the CPS. That is the one that will leave you on the side of the road. I'm guessing you've seen the common maintenance thread on W211.

pumpedTSI

CPS was the first thing I did when I got the car.....

StarvingArtist

I just saw that on the first post. Duh.

kyosuke

whats cps ?

pumpedTSI

crank position sensor.....common failure point....

kyosuke

hows the car running with that new sc oil btw ? still noisey ? i got 91k on the clock and thinking about doing it

pumpedTSI

Runnin great......but yeah.....still sounds like a tractor. The oil did absolutely nada in regards to noise but its peace of mind.