Prinz Eugen

Hello,

I have a question for those with experience regarding the ABC suspension.

My suspension started to behave strangley the other day and today I went to the workshop where they told me that the valves (I hope it's the correct english name for it ), one for the front wheels and one for the rear wheels are loose and need to be replaced.
They quoted me each valve at 2200 USD and along with the work it's about 4500 USD total. Now, I would like to know if it's possible to find and buy these valves in the US for a cheaper price?

I love this car and I know it's expensive to maintain but if there is a possibility to find the same parts for a cheaper price - why not?

BTW, is this valve issue a serious problem? - the suspension works fine when the car is parked (it rises and lowers without problems and the board computer doesn't show any malfunctions) - it "just" lowers the rear wheels to the ground while driving . Are there some other problems that can evetually pop-up because of this issue?

Thanks for your help!


Greetings,

Oxygen

What year is the car?

Yes, this is a serious problem.

Oxygen

Never mind, judging by this picture I see it's a MY03+ biturbo model... let me get you the pricing.

Oxygen

By the way, I noticed in your other thread you had a picture of your front axle valve block, did this get damaged at all?

whoover

100 USD for the work? Replace two valve blocks, flush and replace ABC fluid, run rodeo sequence to set valves and adjust, for $100. It's either that Croatian mechanics are very cheap, or this shop doesn't know what they're talking about. I also don't see how a valve block can result in the car lowering when driving but not when parked. That sounds like a control problem, not a valve problem. Have you considered driving to Austria or Germany for a second opinion? For that kind of money, it seems worth the trouble.

Prinz Eugen

Thank you for your quick replies!

Yes, it's a 2003 model year (V12TT engine). I forgot to write it in the first post (my mistake).
No, the front axel valve was not damaged (at least it was never in the insurance pricing as a part to be replaced and the guys at the shop didn't mention it at the time). After the incident (which BTW ended well as we managed to get it all covered by the guy's other insurance company) I have kept driving the car and there where no problems with the suspension until about 3 days ago.

I apologize as I quoted the work pricing wrong (so all together more than 4500) - the work would be 600+ USD (the work hour for a MB shop is about 57-60 USD here in Croatia, depending on the exchange rate but, you get the idea).

Now you got me wondering. I'll ask if it could be a control problem but, they have told me that they have checked and the valve blocks are "done" and need to be replaced and that they are the cause of the problem as because of them the computer cannot level the car correctly while driving. As I said, when the car is parked it works fine (it rises immediately after stopping).

Unfortunately the car is not in drivable condition because as soon as I start driving the car lowers the rear left part and it starts to rub on the tire (strong enough to make the tire smoke ).


Thank you all once again.


Greetings,

Oxygen

Item 105, front and rear are the same part number.

A2203200358 VALVE 140000 112000 $1,120.00

Prinz Eugen

Thanks for the picture!

Interesting, that's almost twice as cheaper than here .

Do you think it would be possible to buy them from the dealership (or some other place, if aviable)? My father works in the US so if that would be possible, he could take tham back here. I cannot see how big they are (judging by the picture) but I guess they could fit in a bag ...

Oxygen

He can buy the valves at any US dealership.

This is how big they are:

Prinz Eugen

Thanks. Good to know that ...

BTW, apart from the block valves and the ABC pump, is there some other part of the ABC suspension that's an expensive item to replace? I'm not really into mechanics and I do not know all the parts an ABC suspension is made of so I was wondering about this ...

I'm driving my diesel C class now - it takes "an eternity" to pass someone with it - miss my V12TT already ...

Oxygen

The pump is about $1600, there are all the hoses, which are liable to blow, which are between $250 and $450 a piece, depends which one breaks. There is the pressure sensor, the computer, the struts are about $1200/each also.

I found the valve block on PARTS.COM -- http://www.parts.com/oemcatalog/inde...id=67&siteid=2 --

$833.75!

Prinz Eugen

Thank you for your help Oxygen!
Wow, that's quite a difference from what was I quoted back here .

Please, forgive my ignorance but could you point out which parts from the ones listed are the ones that I need? (front/rear block valve)? - I do not understand the differnece between "collision catalog", "mechanical catalog" etc. I see they all have the same price but cannot understand which ones do I need?

Thanks once again for your help - I owe you a beer when I get to the States ...

Oxygen

It's all the same part, it just came up in different catalogs because I searched for the part number directly.

Order it from the "OEM Catalog" because otherwise they are going to ask you for your VIN to double check, etc...

Prinz Eugen

Sorry for the late reply.
Thanks for all your help once again . So, I'll order 2 items with the same part number (I guess front and rear are the same valve block).

Greetings,

Oxygen

Correct... front and rear valve blocks are the same part number. Just order quantity of 2.