Hi,

Considering purchasing the above, with 85k miles on the clock. It's had both coil packs replaced in March this year, with a service of oil, spark plugs and all brakes. It's got a fsh with the gearbox service around 30k miles, but no history of any ABC pump or strut replacement.

Is the ABC system on 2007+ models less problematic, or should I be concerened enough that nothing has been replaced on the ABC system to walk away?.

It's in fantastic condition, lovely black all the toys and all seems to be working, just a tad concerned something ABC related will fail soon and it will cost me 3k or so.

 

No, it won't really be any more reliable. ABC issues are dictated by time and mileage. The 2007 is right in the band where you will have ABC problems. Typically, 85k miles is in the sweet spot for pump and hose failures. If ABC scares you or you can afford or do the work yourself, do not get the car. It's a money pit if you pay the dealership for repairs.

The other alternative is to do a shock and spring conversion. I'm not sure if the 216 CL has a suitable shock and spring conversion kit. You may want to do a search.

 

I have to disagree.

The ABC+ system that debuted on the 221/216 is far and away more reliable than the previous gen systems. As with anything, rubber parts age and require replacement, but we see FAR less failures on the newer gen cars than the older 215/220/230 systems.

As with any used benz, a good inspection is worth it's weight in gold. Take the car to an independent shop that knows MB cars and have it inspected, spending $2-300 now may save you a ton of headaches. All the ABC lines must be completely DRY, any seepage is a sign of hardened rubber and the components WILL fail, catching it before it breaks helps minimize the damage.

 

What makes it more reliable other than it is newer and there are fewer cars with high mileage so you don't see them in the shop much - yet? From my understanding, the upgrades were not extensive and the ABC is still very problematic on the 2007+.

 

This has been an interesting subject for me.

The general consensus of 216/221 owners is that their ABC is more reliable than the "prototype" 215/220 systems.

I hate the look of the 221, but the improved ABC system is one of the key things swaying me to jump ship.

Nick

 

Hoses fail then pumps fail then contamination gets into the system and clogs control blocks. What does the second generation do to solve these issues?

 

The hoses are better, for one. They use a different crimp design and add an additional layer of protection from factory. The replacement hoses I bought last year for my 215 were more solidly made than the OEM ones from 2003, and those lasted 13 years.

It's not like the system stays the same forever. The accumulator design changed, the valve block placement changed, which keeps the hoses out of the engine bay more and away from the brutal heat that kills them.

I'm not just saying they are better, i'm going off of how many come in and how the failures are. There are 2 different 230's in the air right now with ABC problems, they are always here. I've only seen a 231 in for ABC once. I know age plays a part, but the system did improve.

 

No doubt, the 07+ ABC system is head and shoulders above its predecessor. The valve blocks are completely different and redesigned, accumulators, far far better pumps, struts, hoses are superior. I personally never had any ABC issues on my 08 65 when I had it, my 12 65 currently and my 11 cl63. I had the pulsation damper on the pumps replaced on seriously everyone of those wether warranty of out of warranty due to a vibration. But never ever one leak from a hose or pump. My W220 600s and 65s leaked like crazy, and my 05 cl65 I have I the garage has had everything literally replaced ABC wise in its only 39k mileage.

 

Yes, the stock 215/230 hoses are not even close to being up to the job. I can't tell you how many blown hoses I've seen as I'm sure you have seen even more. In time, even the new ones will fail and are not immune to issues that are inherent with the ABC system. Maybe the hoses will last to 125k plus miles instead of 70k to 85k miles.

The only way I would feel comfortable is if the system used an electromagnetic clutch for the pump. If it sensed a drop in pressure, it could save the pump by uncoupling.

 

There's nothing wrong with the hoses on the W215/200 IMHO. They're industry-standard two wire 3/8" medium pressure hydraulic hoses. They're the same as the hoses used in almost all agricultural, building and industrial applications. If you want to replace just the hose, it's as common and cheap as muck, and every big town has a shop that can make them while you wait.

It's the application that the problem though. Hydraulic hoses don't last for the life any vehicle, and maintenance has to be planned to replace them periodically like clutches, timing belts or - and there's a great similarity here - brake hoses.

In the hydraulic industry, nobody would commit to using a hose for more than 5 or 6 years and expect it to be reliable, and you can't even store them for very long, and high temperatures make everything much worse (like anything made out of rubber or plastic).

Therefore Mercedes should have planned for them to be maintained:

Hoses must not be treated as fit-for-life.
The hoses should be protected from heat by suitable routing.
All hoses should be protected by metal heat shields or lose heat sleeves - either way there must be an air gap.
All hoses should be terminated with a removable threaded connector - like a brake hose, not the "quick-release" jobs on the ends of the struts.
All hoses should be exactly the same length and have exactly the same fittings.
All hoses should be easily accessible for inspection and replacement.
There should be a scheduled maintenance task to inspect every hose every year.
Mercedes dealers and specialists (and enthusiasts!) should carry a stock of universal ABC hoses.
There should be a preventative maintenance schedule to replace every hose every five or six years.
Hoses should require common tools to manufacture and remove and replace.

Well, that's what I would do. It wasn't difficult to figure out. MB developed ABC over about 20 years, but the maintainability aspect only took a few weeks to figure out - see the thread in my sig.

Nick