hi guys - sorry for posting here, but hoping to get some more responses and thought the CL gang might be able to help.

it's been 3 weeks since getting my 02 S55 and today as i went to drive it, i noticed the right rear of the car basically sitting on the tire. it's not quite clear whether it's touching, but very close.

the previous owner had already spent $1500+ on some valve related items in the past 3 months, but i recall it was in the front. my friend thinks it's a bad right rear strut, but thinks it could also be the pump on the right side(front right is also a little low, but not as much).

i did purchase extended warranty via interstate for 3 yr/36k miles, but frankly i'm a bit anxious about how they'll react to covering me so soon after i just bought the warranty.

any idea what the most likely item is and how much if this is out of pocket? also, any chance it's related to prior item? i recall there was a TSB on the ABC as well.

 

If the ABC system has a failure, it's a serious safety problem. So, my recommendation is to have a technician check it out no matter what.

Now, from personal experience -

Did it correct itself after you started getting the tires rolling? You can also cycle the ABC raise - lower button to get the system to get to the correct height. Lots of people panic and have the car towed, but usually the system will raise the car with only a small amount of tire rotation.

If it doesn't raise don't drive it.

Keep an eye on it to see if the problem occurs a lot or occasionally. I'm convinced that air in the system from large temperature swings is what causes the right rear side to drop all the time -> that is the side that is furthest away from the fluid cooler. The fact that these cars have a fluid cooler for the ABC system is evidence to me that there is a problem with the fluid staying cool. Air in the system can be solved by having the technician bleed the system.

If the strut is leaking, or if the problem occurs a lot, or if you get warnings and the car doesn't correct its height, there could be a severe problem.

In general, based on age I believe a 2002 S or CL will need to have had at least one ABC pump replacement, the recall on the high pressure line, and all struts replaced. If your car hasn't had this work done, you may want to prepare yourself for getting those items fixed soon.

 

Here's some info on "vehicle lowering":
Suspension - Vehicle Lowers On One Side or Corner
Date: October 11, 2006
Order No.: P-B-32.50/42
Supersedes:
Group: 32

SUBJECT:
Model 215.373/374/375/376/378/379

Model 220.170/173/174/175/176/178/179, with Active Body Control (ABC) code 487

Model 221.171/176/179, with Active Body Control (ABC) code 487

Model 230.471/474/475/476/477/479

All Model Years

Vehicle Level Lowers on a Single Axle

If you receive customer reports in the above model vehicles of the vehicle's level lowering on a single axle on a single side after an idle time lasting from 1 day to one week, perform the new filter repair method as outlined in WIS document AR32.50-P-0025A instead of the previous flushing method.

Leveling complaints resulting from dirty ABC hydraulic fluid can be rectified just as effectively by filtering as by the conventional flushing method (replacing the hydraulic fluid). The new repair method is possible because the mesh width of the ABC filter was modified from 10 micron to 3 micron. Filtering is of no use if the ABC fluid is dark black or smells burnt. In such cases the hydraulic fluid must be replaced, reference WIS document AR32.50-P-0026A.

NOTE: Vehicle lowering is generally not the result of a malfunction of a suspension strut. The suspension strut can only be responsible for vehicle lowering if it has an external leak. This can be recognized by an oil fouled boot.

NOTE: The revised 3 micron ABC filter entered series production as of October 2005. Part no. A003 184 61 01.
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I checked with the local MB dealer regarding the filter repair procedure which requires 2 filters. I was told that 1 new filter is installed after all of the old hydraulic fluid and filter are removed. After new fluid is added, the system is connected to their diagnostic equipment and adjustments are made. If all is well,the first new filter is removed and is replaced by the SECOND new filter. This procedure may cost +/- $800.
For preventative maintainence purposes I purchased one ABC reservoir filter #003-184-61-01 @ $42.00 and installed it in place of the original filter.

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