Remove ABC System?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Cary, IL
2003 CL55 Kompressor Horizon Blue Metallic
Remove ABC System?
Before I bounce questions to the tuners, have any of you researched replacing our ABC system with a standard-issue mechanical set-up? I'm thinking about the fact that the S430 and S500's could be had without ABC.
I'm getting the ABC - Drive Carefully thing going on intermittantly, and have a visit to the dealer scheduled (still under warranty). In the interim, I did have a gander at the system.
To me, although the ABC works great when it works, it seems that removing it and going to old-school mechanical would -
1. Greatly reduce the frustration of owning one of these things long term relative to upkeep and maintenance,
2. Remove complexity under the hood and consequently reduce weight off of the nose of the car, (might even keep things cooler under the hood),
3. If one also went to a electromagnetic power steering system, would remove a pulling set by ditching the ABC/PS tandem pump and thereby get some power back.
The wild card would be if the ECU will freak if the ABC guts are pulled.
Thoughts ??
I'm getting the ABC - Drive Carefully thing going on intermittantly, and have a visit to the dealer scheduled (still under warranty). In the interim, I did have a gander at the system.
To me, although the ABC works great when it works, it seems that removing it and going to old-school mechanical would -
1. Greatly reduce the frustration of owning one of these things long term relative to upkeep and maintenance,
2. Remove complexity under the hood and consequently reduce weight off of the nose of the car, (might even keep things cooler under the hood),
3. If one also went to a electromagnetic power steering system, would remove a pulling set by ditching the ABC/PS tandem pump and thereby get some power back.
The wild card would be if the ECU will freak if the ABC guts are pulled.
Thoughts ??
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 828
Likes: 1
From: Northern VA
SL 500
I owned a CL 500 for a month, had numberous issues w/ the ABC system i.e. pump failures, flushed the pump.. etc.. never could be corrected 100%. It an known issue on alot of CLs. Eventually, I got rid of the car.
I spoke to the dealer about simply taking out ABC, and they said no way possible. If you find out any information to contradict this, i would think alot of CL owners would be interested.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TSB Bulletin:
Make : MERCEDES BENZ Model : CL CLASS Year : 2001-2004
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Service Bulletin Num : 010104 Date of Bulletin: AUG 31, 2004
NHTSA Item Number: 10009985
Component: SUSPENSION
Summary:
THE HIGH PRESSURE HYDRAULIC DISTRIBUTION HOSE OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) MAY DETERIORATE OVER TIME DUE TO EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY AND HIGH TEMPERATURES. VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN OF ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC)
Make : MERCEDES BENZ Model : CL CLASS Year : 2004
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Service Bulletin Num : 2004070012 Date of Bulletin: AUG 01, 2004
NHTSA Item Number: 10009820
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Summary:
REPLACEMENT OF ABC PRESSURE SUPPLY VALVE UNIT HYDRAULIC LINE. *TT
I spoke to the dealer about simply taking out ABC, and they said no way possible. If you find out any information to contradict this, i would think alot of CL owners would be interested.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TSB Bulletin:
Make : MERCEDES BENZ Model : CL CLASS Year : 2001-2004
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Service Bulletin Num : 010104 Date of Bulletin: AUG 31, 2004
NHTSA Item Number: 10009985
Component: SUSPENSION
Summary:
THE HIGH PRESSURE HYDRAULIC DISTRIBUTION HOSE OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) MAY DETERIORATE OVER TIME DUE TO EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY AND HIGH TEMPERATURES. VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN OF ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC)
Make : MERCEDES BENZ Model : CL CLASS Year : 2004
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Service Bulletin Num : 2004070012 Date of Bulletin: AUG 01, 2004
NHTSA Item Number: 10009820
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Summary:
REPLACEMENT OF ABC PRESSURE SUPPLY VALVE UNIT HYDRAULIC LINE. *TT
Last edited by djamer; Jul 19, 2006 at 12:43 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 614
Likes: 136
From: MD
S 63 Coupe, GLS 63
There is no "standard" suspension for a CL. They all (US) have ABC. S classes have airmatic which is just as bad reliability wise. No regular suspension is available to replace what you already have.
You'd have to get sway bars made if you did remove the ABC because your car doesn't have them.
You'd have to get sway bars made if you did remove the ABC because your car doesn't have them.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Cary, IL
2003 CL55 Kompressor Horizon Blue Metallic
Originally Posted by TECHNICIAN
There is no "standard" suspension for a CL. They all (US) have ABC. S classes have airmatic which is just as bad reliability wise. No regular suspension is available to replace what you already have.
You'd have to get sway bars made if you did remove the ABC because your car doesn't have them.
You'd have to get sway bars made if you did remove the ABC because your car doesn't have them.
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