0-60Motorsports

BUMP Geo3. any news from strut masters?

rickard681

2nd that. Any news?

RAWAMG

Third time is a charm... News??

Geo3

Unfortunately, nothing coming yet from Strutmasters for the SL55.

They currently are still only offering for SL500 and CL 500 models.

We just have to keep pestering them, before they get going on the SL55....Geo3

rsr911

So far so good. But it is only a matter of time before the ABC system will fail.
I too am very interested in doing a coiul over swap in the future.

superstar

Any updates on this?

Rick SL55

I email them several weeks ago, no response.
probably if many of us email strut masters they will produce the suspension for our cars.

RAWAMG

Aside from installing new struts I have or am currently rebuilding my ABC... that said I am still interested & I will for sure email them!

0-60Motorsports

I emailed and called twice and got negative responces. I really hope someone can start doing a coilover conversion for this car as there will be a lot of people buying these coils.

RAWAMG

I did get a quick reply this time... who is going to be the test car?

From Strutmasters:

"Unfortunately, at this time, we do not have a kit to offer for that car. We have to be able to get a test vehicle in. Keep checking back though, as we do get new kits all the time."

alx

that is a canned answer.

they prolly will not do it as the market is very small.

now, on a related thought- i think the abc is the best thing that has happened to the sl class. abc (when working) is the best of both worlds- a magic carpet on a bumpy road as well as a stiff geometry when pushed aggressively.

my personal take on the abc? i will repair it as needed and enjoy it when it does not need repairing.

besides, it is not _that_ complex to repair - shocks can be had with lifetime warranty, hoses are updated (new ones rarely fail), valve blocks are indestructible and easily serviced when they leak and the tandem pump rebuilds are not that expensive.

RAWAMG

I agree with what you say about their answer & the market BUT it would be nice to have the option.

I also agree with you "when working". I replaced my pump & hoses last year & I am cleaning my valve blocks in the next week or two because I have one side that fails when the car sits for awhile. I do know of the place to get the lifetime shocks & when needed I plan on replacing with those.

That said my issue is still with the "when working" & for this I would still consider the coilover conversion but I at this point I would have to really weigh the pros & cons of both because I have already replaced what I have replaced.

0-60Motorsports

Who sells the life time warranty shocks?

alx

that would be arnott. very respectable company and pretty much no-questions-asked policy.

RAWAMG

rsr911

Thanks for the info. I know I will need it at some time in the future.

Prices are quite reasonable. Especially compared to factory OEM.

-O

cal1

If I am not mistaken, the SL65 Black has coil-overs. I wonder why those would not work for most R230 platforms. I will do some research and see who made them.

RAWAMG

You are not mistaken - hook it up bro!

cnterline

Emailed them today still no sl55 kit. Wtf

RAWAMG

I may just do my own conversion soon but I will be ripping out all the ABC lines & changing the tandem pump to the 65 pump or another PS pump. The error code will be easy enough to get around via STAR I am sure. I have replaced & cleaned everything but the shocks & I now have a rear leaking so I am seriously leaning to the coil over set up despite also agreeing with ALX that the ABC is great when it is good but it is just too much of a hassle anymore & I can handle the stiff ride since my car is for fun & not for cross country driving

cnterline

They actually contacted me and said the sl 500 kit would probably work and that if I bought it for the sl55 that there is no warranty or return,also someone who did the switch on an sl500 used an s class sway bar ? They said if I got the car to them in n Carolina they can build a setup that would work,being I'm in ny that ain't happening,I was wondering if our car uses the tandem pump what happens if you run it with no abc fluid just ps fluid,I would imagine that's not good. Pump change ?

overZealous1

i just wanted to share abit after a great spirited drive today on the nationally famous highway 53 today in oregon.
there is no way a coilover conversion is a better option for a street driven sl than the hydraulic system. i have driven all of my creations on that road and none felt as good or controllable as the sl did. huge dips, uneven road, potholes, and all types of other crap mid turn and the car felt better and more in control than anything else i have taken down the road. no way a coilover set up would control the same way. with coilovers you get one or the other, comfort, or cornering. i was amazed enough to write this about the stock suspension that i really think even a high end coilover is still a down grade.
just my .02. just a heads up for guys who plan to push their cars. you will not better the way the stock suspension keeps the tire in contact with the road. now if you plan to track the car alot.............................................. ............then......................still not sure you will better it.

rickard681

I emailed strutmasters and wrote:
"Hi-
Just found your coilover conversion kit for the MB SL500. Nice setup and it appears fairly straight forward to DIY.
Do you offer that kit for a 2003 SL55 ? If not, can the existing SL500 kit be modified for the '03 SL55?

Thanks
Rick

PS - If not ... why? What are the specific differences between the suspensions that must be resolved.
Perhaps I can get an engineering firm to resolve the differences between the suspensions. the OEM parts catalogs suggest it is almost a direct swap between the SL500 & SL55 in most years."

Their response:
"
Thank you for your interest in our products. If you wouldlike, you can call me at 1-877-399-6724 and I will be happy to answer anyquestions you have about the suspension on your car. I am in my officeMonday-Friday from 8am-5pm est.
Thanks
Kent "

That is their answer. Thank you for your interest in our products. ..call me ...
Note he didn't answer ANY of my questions/concerns. Appears they are BS only ATT.

Wingzero

New guy to the forum, but did anyone ever look up that SL 65 black series coilover option? I've tried finding out where to buy them with out going through Mercedes themselves. And I'm assuming that all this information would also apply to the SL600. My mother's ABC has gone out and I know coilovers would be a cheaper yet more effective replacement to the ABC than spending $3500 on a new pump (the quote we've gotten from MB of Buckhead)

rickard681

[QUOTE=Wingzero;5687161]New guy to the forum, but did anyone ever look up that SL 65 black series coilover option? QUOTE]

Yes, sure did. Below is an email from Brad Walker and above that is my answer to him. I included 5 pics, as he requested. I am waiting for his response.

"" Hi Brad-
Thanks for your interest.
The car is an '03 SL55 AMG. The suspension is stock ABC. Wheel/tire size is also stock at 255/40/18 Front, 285/35/18 Rear.
Attached is a side view, a closer view of RF wheel, and three pics with the SBC in normal (low), medium setting and hi setting. I put a tape measure on top of the fender so the settings should be obvious.
I know that the SL65 Black Edition has coilovers and it is also n R230 so mayny if not all dimensions should be the same. I believe Mercedes saves costs and development costs across the board with 'common' parts use so many parts will translate across the models of the same chassis and, likely, across models also. It is a matter of digging the info out.
If there is any more info/pics, just let me know. I know there are more than a few owners of SLs and other models with the ABC that are interested in a reasonable solution to the hydraulic system Mercedes uses. Not for better handling, but for cost considerations. The pump of the ABC fails in about 60K miles or so and each corner usually fails in under 80K miles. Arnot industries sells a built shock for a very reasonable price but many people I know would like to have an alternative.
The maintenance (small micron filter, fluid changes)is a necessity but many don't follow the guidelines. These parts are too expensive and fail too often.
Some of the more popular forums for the R230 all seem to looking for an alternative to the stock ABC system, especially new buyers who are caught unawares when they buy their R230.
Waiting to hear from you.
Rick Granlund
Virginia Beach, Va. 23452

On 6/17/2013 10:02 PM, Brad Walker wrote: