Message to everyone who's replaced their ABC system for Coilovers
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 310
Likes: 49
From: AZ
Ride quality is subjective. It may not be the same. But that's not necessarily bad. The SL55 ride with ABC is probably closer to a Cadillac than a BMW, but with coilovers, it's probably closer to a BMW than a Cadillac. I used to drive a BMW 645 and I liked the suspension. It's also about the choice of coilovers. You said that you were unsatisfied with the choice of coilovers. Which ones? I decided not to go with Strutmasters or similarly priced ones figuring you get what you pay for. I understand people are happy with VVK, so that's the one I chose, which includes sway bars.
Honestly, I can't say what the ABC truly feels like. Because I bought the SL with blown accumulators (unknowingly). That may be a blessing in disguise. Because it's only going to get better now. Regardless, as you can guess by now, I am not in the purist camp. I bought the car to enjoy it not preserve it. Stereo is next on the list.
Honestly, I can't say what the ABC truly feels like. Because I bought the SL with blown accumulators (unknowingly). That may be a blessing in disguise. Because it's only going to get better now. Regardless, as you can guess by now, I am not in the purist camp. I bought the car to enjoy it not preserve it. Stereo is next on the list.
*edit - I do remain firm in my opinion that coilovers are better at speed then the ABC. People like to say that the ABC gives the best of both world (comfort and performance) but I've had a few cars with coilovers. Even with lower quality sets, they are superior at higher speeds than the ABC. It's probably why the SL65 had coilovers from the factory. Would I have liked a $5k set from KW? You bet. Too bad they don't make one.
Last edited by paste; Mar 5, 2024 at 03:18 PM.
Member
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 77
Likes: 37
From: California
2005 SL55 (past), 2021 E53 (present)
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 25
Likes: 3
From: Jersey
Cl500
It's 2024 and MB has no more abc struts to sell
The available stock of parts is diminishing. MB doesn't have the pump and struts. It's been a year since I took off my ab c pump and struts and installed silvers neomax. Yes hydraulic suspension is way better when it's new or under warranty. Now I want peace of mind and low total cost of owners.
For those of you like fried chicken I welcome you to start helping people with financial assistance to pay for their ab c repairs. Otherwise maybe you can simply not respond.
I also don't think that sway bars are needed unless you're taking the car to the track. There is hardly any roll without sway bars.
I put silvers on my cl500. I have three videos about the conversation including the pump to install with new reservoir and and additional magnetic power steering filter to protect that system.
For those of you like fried chicken I welcome you to start helping people with financial assistance to pay for their ab c repairs. Otherwise maybe you can simply not respond.
I also don't think that sway bars are needed unless you're taking the car to the track. There is hardly any roll without sway bars.
I put silvers on my cl500. I have three videos about the conversation including the pump to install with new reservoir and and additional magnetic power steering filter to protect that system.
Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 87
Likes: 42
2003 S430 , 2002 CL500 , 2007 S550, 2003 Yukon Denali XL
The available stock of parts is diminishing. MB doesn't have the pump and struts. It's been a year since I took off my ab c pump and struts and installed silvers neomax. Yes hydraulic suspension is way better when it's new or under warranty. Now I want peace of mind and low total cost of owners.
For those of you like fried chicken I welcome you to start helping people with financial assistance to pay for their ab c repairs. Otherwise maybe you can simply not respond.
I also don't think that sway bars are needed unless you're taking the car to the track. There is hardly any roll without sway bars.
I put silvers on my cl500. I have three videos about the conversation including the pump to install with new reservoir and and additional magnetic power steering filter to protect that system.
https://youtu.be/_OUwSgTFnjE
For those of you like fried chicken I welcome you to start helping people with financial assistance to pay for their ab c repairs. Otherwise maybe you can simply not respond.
I also don't think that sway bars are needed unless you're taking the car to the track. There is hardly any roll without sway bars.
I put silvers on my cl500. I have three videos about the conversation including the pump to install with new reservoir and and additional magnetic power steering filter to protect that system.
https://youtu.be/_OUwSgTFnjE
Member
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 77
Likes: 37
From: California
2005 SL55 (past), 2021 E53 (present)
The available stock of parts is diminishing. MB doesn't have the pump and struts. It's been a year since I took off my ab c pump and struts and installed silvers neomax. Yes hydraulic suspension is way better when it's new or under warranty. Now I want peace of mind and low total cost of owners.
For those of you like fried chicken I welcome you to start helping people with financial assistance to pay for their ab c repairs. Otherwise maybe you can simply not respond.
I also don't think that sway bars are needed unless you're taking the car to the track. There is hardly any roll without sway bars.
I put silvers on my cl500. I have three videos about the conversation including the pump to install with new reservoir and and additional magnetic power steering filter to protect that system.
https://youtu.be/_OUwSgTFnjE
For those of you like fried chicken I welcome you to start helping people with financial assistance to pay for their ab c repairs. Otherwise maybe you can simply not respond.
I also don't think that sway bars are needed unless you're taking the car to the track. There is hardly any roll without sway bars.
I put silvers on my cl500. I have three videos about the conversation including the pump to install with new reservoir and and additional magnetic power steering filter to protect that system.
https://youtu.be/_OUwSgTFnjE
Last edited by Scallawalla; Apr 5, 2024 at 01:33 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 310
Likes: 49
From: AZ
I've been trying to track down a clunk in the front end from when I installed a set a few years ago and I have some advice. Tighten the tophat nuts on the front to at least 36lb/ft and 24lb/ft on the rear. I've been waiting for a response about what Yellowspeed torque specs are but still have never received one. I did a lot of searching and came up with this number based on information on various coilovers. I was only able to do the front but it seems to have made a difference in the bounciness that I was trying to remedy although just decided that I was going to live with. I'll come up with a solution do tighten the rears hopefully without having to remove them.
Member
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 77
Likes: 37
From: California
2005 SL55 (past), 2021 E53 (present)
I've been trying to track down a clunk in the front end from when I installed a set a few years ago and I have some advice. Tighten the tophat nuts on the front to at least 36lb/ft and 24lb/ft on the rear. I've been waiting for a response about what Yellowspeed torque specs are but still have never received one. I did a lot of searching and came up with this number based on information on various coilovers. I was only able to do the front but it seems to have made a difference in the bounciness that I was trying to remedy although just decided that I was going to live with. I'll come up with a solution do tighten the rears hopefully without having to remove them.
I wanted to keep the coilover ride as close to the comfort of the ABC suspension as possible, so I opted for lower spring rates than the standard. In hindsight, I should have went with the standard spring rates. Because I’d characterize the lower spring rates as more bouncy than comfortable. But it’s still fine. Because the damper settings are responsive enough to reduce the bounce and firm up the ride to where I like it. I’m happy with it. I like thawing the adjustments and they are in a useable range. I’d recommend VVK.
Super Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 554
Likes: 150
From: Netherlands
CL 600 '00 5.8L V12
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 310
Likes: 49
From: AZ
The VVK coilovers were a bit bouncy and creating lots of oversteer at the default damper settings of 50% (12 out of 25 clicks) I left the rears as is and stiffened up the fronts to 80% (20 out of 25 clicks). Much better. Less bounce and more firm and oversteer is gone. I like some oversteer so I might stiffen the rear dampers.
I wanted to keep the coilover ride as close to the comfort of the ABC suspension as possible, so I opted for lower spring rates than the standard. In hindsight, I should have went with the standard spring rates. Because I’d characterize the lower spring rates as more bouncy than comfortable. But it’s still fine. Because the damper settings are responsive enough to reduce the bounce and firm up the ride to where I like it. I’m happy with it. I like thawing the adjustments and they are in a useable range. I’d recommend VVK.
I wanted to keep the coilover ride as close to the comfort of the ABC suspension as possible, so I opted for lower spring rates than the standard. In hindsight, I should have went with the standard spring rates. Because I’d characterize the lower spring rates as more bouncy than comfortable. But it’s still fine. Because the damper settings are responsive enough to reduce the bounce and firm up the ride to where I like it. I’m happy with it. I like thawing the adjustments and they are in a useable range. I’d recommend VVK.
Not the damper settings.
