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*** NOTE: I will update this post once the conversion is complete ***
Hi folks,
It's been some time since I have posted and it looks like the forum has changed a lot. I have a 2002 CL500 and the ABC crapped the bed a few months back, one of the rear lines leaking...I've had enough with it...no more for me and good riddance to the ABC. I have not started the work on it yet, but I will and I will outline my experience when the conversion is complete...with photos! I also have a new set of tires coming as well as Snoozie's rear camber kit to install. So that said, wish me luck!
Oh, and if anyone has done this YS conversion already can they be kind enough to post how long these things are supposed to be before I put them into the car (they are two piece and they give no instructions on what length the need to be to achieve a stock ride height (I'm going to drop about 1/2" or so from there).
Last edited by BoxxMann; Dec 18, 2019 at 07:59 AM.
Read my posts before you go into the wrong direction with DAS / Xentry Diagnostics
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Last edited by pmercury; Jan 15, 2020 at 05:20 PM.
Thanks! Tell me, how do you determine the length to set the Yellowspeed struts before you install them into the car? Do you take the measurements from the original and make the YS ones the same length? I cannot seem to get this information from them :/
Thanks! Tell me, how do you determine the length to set the Yellowspeed struts before you install them into the car? Do you take the measurements from the original and make the YS ones the same length? I cannot seem to get this information from them :/
ouch a bit tricky
I never measured them
Unfortunately you'll have to put them on, then set them
but good part is that you don't have to remove them completely to set them
front can be set just by turning
rear, you need only to undo the lower bolt to drivetrain
I have to do a brake job on mine. I don't know if I will get to it in the next 2 weeks after I catch up on some house work. I will gladly measure them and post.
Puerto Rick;7926868]This is from one of the other threads that I used in my install.
It was helpful but not spot on.
I was trying to find this to respond to the earlier post. As quoted, it was helpful as I used it for initial install. I would start out with a 27” ride height and go from there.
I wound up - after several months of ‘break in’ - raising the car about three turns each corner. This equated to about 3/4” additional ride height. I was rubbing on the most robust of pot holes and road variances. No more ;-)
I was trying to find this to respond to the earlier post. As quoted, it was helpful as I used it for initial install. I would start out with a 27” ride height and go from there.
I wound up - after several months of ‘break in’ - raising the car about three turns each corner. This equated to about 3/4” additional ride height. I was rubbing on the most robust of pot holes and road variances. No more ;-)
I second that one. mine settled almost an inch after a month and it was not evenly settled. I went back and readjusted the height to get back to what you see in the picture.
Great information! Thank you for posting it! What is the ride height now once you have them broken in? And is it possible to know a starting point for getting the strut set to a reasonable length upon installation so that the ride height is somewhat close? The people at Yellowspeed seem to be unable to tell me this valuable information.
I'm hoping to get this thing onto the lift within a week or so and get this going. My Benz has been on the floor too long
Last edited by BoxxMann; Dec 18, 2019 at 07:56 AM.
REAR: 4.375" from bottom of lower spring perch to top of tube
FRONT: ~2.5 - 3" from bottom of lower spring perch to top of tube (I set the fronts to be about the same length as the original ones and came out pretty close for my liking.
The ride height is adjusted for now until it settles, but I have it where I like it. Here it is, unwashed and filthy. I like the ride! It's totally not like ABC, but I like it. I need to adjust the rebounds for some tuning, but though the ride is "different", it's solid and connected...a bit hard, but that's ok.
Here's my advice: If you're thinking of doing a conversion AND your ABC is borked or going to be borked, DON'T WASTE A MOMENT AND DO IT NOW! However, if your ABC is in good shape with NO ERRORS OR FAULTS, leave it alone until such time as when you have a failure..because you will and it will be costly.
So yeah, it's mostly finished for now, but I am pleased with the outcome and the fact that I will never miss that ABC nonsense. The peace of mind alone is worth it. I plan to pull the pump and replace it with a W220 airmatic one in the future. And yes, I know the headlights are yellow and those are going to get restored soon.
So yeah...after a couple of weeks of driving my old CL and running about 600 miles on it I can say that a coil conversion is VERY MUCH recommended if you want to be rid of your ABC worries forever. The ride is good, solid. The car handles like I expect and it's a pleasure to drive now that the ABC isn't hanging over every trip I take in it. The installation was straightforward, but you will need some help getting rears into position - it is not easy since the damn things are heavy.
My plan now is to get it back on the rack and readjust the ride height using @Puerto Rick 's height settings. I'm going to wait a couple more weeks to get it to fully settle. As far as the RED ABC warning goes, I just pulled the ABC fuses in the two engine boxes and only get a white warning now (ABS light is on and no Cruise is the consequence). I'm not paying 400 bucks for the box...Nooo!
Hey, Boxxman... put the fuses back and remove the ABC control module instead. This will resolve the ABS light and restore cruise control. You will only have the white warning message which can be cleared with the reset button.
As far as the rear coilovers - in the future, place the end of the strut on a floor jack to hold and slowly raise the strut into position while allowing you to look through the rear window to center the threaded studs.
Last edited by meadows222; Jan 28, 2020 at 05:49 PM.
I swapped out the worthless ABC for Yellowspeed coils last summer on my 04 S55. My only regret is not doing it sooner. Definitely a different ride, but I like it, and no more worrying about expensive repairs.
I swapped out the worthless ABC for Yellowspeed coils last summer on my 04 S55. My only regret is not doing it sooner. Definitely a different ride, but I like it, and no more worrying about expensive repairs.
I took the car on a drive of a few hundred miles, all highway. Feels great, a but "springy" over bridges, but what a relief knowing the ABS will never curse me again! If you're wondering if it was a good thing to do, YES...DO IT!
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BoxxMann's YellowSpeed Conversion
Well Put!
