Viper98912

Some of our euro friends noted that the SL350 in europe had a harsher ride than the ones equipped with ABC, so it looks like you're on the right track.

Also, I'd be a little curious with the suspension tuning since it's made for a lighter front end (smaller engine)

JadAwada

Yes, its more harsh, you feel the bumps more. Its a known thing that hydraulics are more relaxing. But the car handles better for me and feels more controllable.

Regarding the weight, the SL350 is 1685 KG, while the SL55 is 1920 KG. With the exhaust modification, and the ABC Delete, I assume my SL55 is 1850-1875 KG. 200 KGs are a big different, but seems to be fine for the coilovers and springs.

SL55K

Congrats on finally completing the project!

I too have my car at the garage and they already switched my SL55 suspension to sport coilovers. Had many parts replaced and added, cambers, toelinks etc, just waiting on for my axel boots to come so i cant install them and drive the car around.

TTtodd

JadAwade

What are you doing with the old ABC struts?

I would love to get my hands on the old strut boots if they are in good condition.

BlownV8

Finally, a reliable SL.

JadAwada

@SL55K Thank you man, same to you as well congrats for getting rid of the ABC. I recommend that you get the Bilstein Kit, I can give you their code, they are Bilstein B6 Sport.

@TTtodd, the struts and the whole system was exchanged with those parts, they're not mine anymore, and 3 of them were good, the remaining one was almost gone.

@BlownV8, no longer afraid of having an ABC Drive carefully, or ABC Stop car too low! I feel happier now when I drive it now, because I don't expect any mechanical failure will occur

cnterline

Is that weight loss all the parts you took out minus what you put back in ?

Tankman

Well done for taking the plunge,when I first joined the forum about a year ago there was no coil over option and now here we are. Just need some nice people in the uk to offer a cool over conversion!!

F1BHP

Tankman I am in if you can find anybody in the UK but I would want the black series KW3 setup with the electronic adjustable dampers.

JadAwada

@Tankman @F1BHP, I first recommend that you perform the conversion to a SL R230 Coilovers kit. The SL350 Coilovers, are the same as the non-ABC SL500, SL550, and SL600. So they fit well to the SL55.

Once the whole kit installed, and you have not forgotten the importance of the TORSION (SWAY) BARS, you can get Bilstein or KW coilovers. I personally prefer Bilstein over KW considering their reliability, and they have a Bilstein B3 and Bilstein B6 Sport kit for the SL55/63.


@centrline, the weight of each ABC strut is 17 Kg, the weight of the oil is 8 KG, and the weight of the pump, hoses, and the ABC cooler say is 5-8 KGs. In total its 75 KGs system, while the coilovers, each weighs almost 3-4 KG, the sway bars 4-5 KGs each (there are 2), so in total the coilovers weigh 30 KGs, while the ABC system weighs about 80 KGs.

P.S. I didn't weigh the parts, but general speaking I have held a non-ABC coilover, and and ABC Strut the difference was obvious.

smyth600

Love the thread. I will order the same sl55 stuff for the sl600...looks like a euro black series sway bar will be needed for the front...the black bar mounts behind the front wheels. I did not see the part numbers for the HR springs you used...thanks.
mark

F1BHP

Hey Smyth if you get the part numbers for the sway bars and suspension bars could you post them.

JadAwada

The code is 29289-1. They say its for SL350, but holds the SL55 well, and the car looks sporty.

Thats how they describe their springs.

DCMETRO22Z

Great !!! I think that's good news for all people wich were hesitating on purchasing a High mileage SL55 because of the ABC nightmare risk

Goddam those ABC elements look like Artillery Shells !!!

spartan7669

I'm working directly with a few companies to get a complete adjustable air suspension setup available for the r230 sl.

F1BHP

Spartan that would be awesome.

JadAwada

Got to say it guys, the Coilovers made the SL55 handle better, not much more harsh than the hydraulic, feels the same unless you are so sensitive.

But now the 55 is more perfect for cornering, a more stable supercar, handles perfectly when drifting.

I'm glad I did this conversion. For the Air suspension its the same ****, haven't you read how many e55 w211 converted to coilovers as well? but no one took the courage to mess with the ABC because it has the tandem pump and tens of hoses. I did it, and its perfect for now!

A solution for all your troubles, and by this you use Original Mercedes-Benz parts, the ones I provided in the first post of this thread.

Geo3

I've been trying to research weights and parts for the conversion.

Would these be close to correct weight values?

Are all part numbers correct and what's the single PS pump part number ?

Many thanks.....Geo3

JadAwada

@Geo3, If you want install Bilstein B6 Sport shock absorbers instead of the original, I posted the numbers designed for the SL55 earlier, I'm sure they provide better performance.

The steering pump is the one for the SL350, I forgot to write its part number, but it was removed from the SL350

I'm gonna check if I can find its number tomorrow if its clear.

The part numbers were all given to me by the MB stealer in Lebanon, TGF.

JadAwada

Where did you get those numbers from, my assumption were almost the same, it does a good weight reduction (Y). I think the SL is a bit lighter stock, its 1920 KG, here it says its 1955 Kilos.

Geo3

Just searched on Internet and added to a spreadsheet.......Geo.

sgaar

Well, while you now have a car with less systems that can break or needs maintenance, you now also have a car that you cannot sell. There is nothing wrong with what you have done and it might not have and adverse effect on the driveability, try to convince a buyer that what you have is in the best interest of him/her. I believe you will have a hard time doing that.

I for one would never buy a car that has been modified as your have. That goes for any modification for that matter. My opinion is that when you start doing stuff like this, all good intentions aside, you are modifying the car in a way where it cannot be brought back to the original state.

JadAwada

FYI too many people don't buy those cars because of the hydraulic suspension because they hear that its too expensive etc.

When I did this mod, I did it because I decided to keep this SL55 for a very long time. Thank you for your information, I can understand what you are saying.

JadAwada

@Geo3 check out the following links:

http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pag...?product=75437

https://www.ecstuning.com/Cart/?add1...lesrep=bobryan

Geo3

+1

Also, keep in mind that all parts (you may add Bilstein, etc. later) can be purchased through Mercedes-Benz, from their SL350. That model sold well in Europe, Australia and Japan with coil-overs and is more desirable in the second-hand market due to its aforementioned coil-over suspension.

Just because we didn't get coil-overs in our North American SLs, don't think it's an inferior suspension system. After six years with my SL55 AMG, I personally think ABC is over-rated. I don't want to part with my car, but before I have ABC issues (and pay almost the equivalent current car value in ABC parts to repair), that's what I had planned, before this coil-over conversion was successfully completed.

At current low resale values of ABC equipped SLs, you may even attain more money, on resale, if conversion has been a properly carried out, using only Mercedes-Benz parts.