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We could use a sticky/definitive thread about ABC conversion. I'm not the guy to do it, because I don't know enough about it, but it would be great to have some solid answers about the pros and cons of the various systems, and where to source sway bars.
I'm not familiar with W221, but I did do the conversion on a W211 E55. I did it myself using the ECS Tuning parts bundle as a guide for parts.
My parts (purchased new from my local MB dealership) plus a button panel with the Airmatic "Up" and dampening control buttons deleted (from eBay):
All of the above was about $800, not counting the coilovers (one front and one rear):
These are from D2. On par with KW V3. These are around $2K.
Basically, you have to revert the parts that are specific to the Airmatic system back to that of the standard system. But, a big difference is that the W211 Airmatic cars still use a sway bar. So, that's has to be considered. I don't know how the sway bar routes or attaches.
I'm pretty confident that a MB specialist could do this job on a W221. I suspect that, until now, there hasn't been much interest in doing so.
Those of us w/ ABC seem to have fewer options than Airmatic. And those of us w/ a CL seem to have even fewer options--sway bars don't seem to exist for the now called S coupe, at least something you can buy off the shelf. I hope I'm wrong about this and someone can correct me, but I haven't seen it. A sway bar doesn't seem like rocket science, though...sure a good fabricator could make something?
I've been dreaming about sending my car to Germany to the ABC specialty shop. I have looked into it some...it is surprisingly doable, for someone with some excess income and willing to go on an adventure. I'm about 50% serious about doing it. One can drive around Europe w/ US plates after a simple online registration, and getting an international driver's license (easy, done that before). $1000 each way in shipping, and a few days in port for processing. Would be a very memorable adventure. The thing is, I bought my car sight unseen from a serious liar (foolish, I know, won't do that again), and while I've done a ton to bring it up to spec, I wish I were starting with a perfect car that was babied in a Florida climate controlled garage its whole life.
For conversation's sake:
These parts are less than $550 before tax. Not sure what else will be needed. But, it stands to reason that if these parts fit my S63, that I could convert to static suspension.
The next step would be to get into MB's Electronic Parts Catalog and see if the control arms and whatnot that the sway bars connect to are different for ABC cars. If not, then maybe you'd be good to go. If so, then maybe a qualified mechanic (not me) would have to look at the car and see if it has provisions to accept sway bar end links (and whatever else).
No one take advice from me in this thread. I'm just spitballing 😂
I wish I were starting with a perfect car that was babied in a Florida climate controlled garage its whole life.
Bingo! Find the older people in FL (snowbird usage) with them who keep them well maintained, low miles and then when they are ready to sell, jump on it...at least that's what I do, hasn't let me down yet.
I think I may qualify. Age 72, winter in FL each year, maintain the car carefully. No Chinese parts. The car will be a legacy....
I do the same but only half your age...keeping this car until it blows up. The drive to and from FL is one of my fav things to do. Now just keeping it safe from the haze outside blowing down from Canada.
I feel like such a fool for being sweet talked into buying a "perfect no disappointments" car. The guy was a former police officer, had one of his cars in a car magazine, and said all the right things. I was crushed when I received it, and it needed so much. To make matters worse, he denied every having said anything like the above quote, even though it was all in writing. Really has jaded me about trusting anyone again on buying a car. Very expensive lesson learned. Next time I will find the FL climate controlled garage car, and fly down there to inspect it myself. The thing is, I would have told anyone else not to do what I did, but did anyway. Duh!
I feel like such a fool for being sweet talked into buying a "perfect no disappointments" car. The guy was a former police officer, had one of his cars in a car magazine, and said all the right things. I was crushed when I received it, and it needed so much. To make matters worse, he denied every having said anything like the above quote, even though it was all in writing. Really has jaded me about trusting anyone again on buying a car. Very expensive lesson learned. Next time I will find the FL climate controlled garage car, and fly down there to inspect it myself. The thing is, I would have told anyone else not to do what I did, but did anyway. Duh!
It's sort of my hobby to go car shopping. Well, not "sort of"...it is my hobby (I went to two BMW dealerships yesterday just to look at modern M cars). The upside is that I learn what a good deal is when I see it. The downside is that I can confirm that there's a lot of bull**** out there.
As others have stated above, FL is a great place to buy luxury cars. Especially estate and full-sized cars (think 7-Series, S-Class, A8, LS, etc...). The cars you'd expect older affluent people to own. The "extra car at my FL house" is real. That's where you'll find a 15 year old car with 40K miles on it...dealer maintained, for pennies.
Estate sales are great places to pick up cars. This is where you'll find a nice low mileage S-Class, E-Class, X5, ML, etc. And the occasional 80's W123 "Doctor's Mercedes". They usually go for KBB prices or much less. The estate sale companies aren't in the car biz, so they aren't jacking up prices. They are highly motivated to sell. They are trying to liquidate everything in like 3 days. So, they'll accept a decent offer on the spot.
Finding unmolested small sports/sporty cars is very, very difficult. Finding a bone stock C63, M3, M4, etc... is like finding a bone stock Subaru WRX...it's rare as hen's teeth. About 2 weeks ago, I went to test drive an M3 and the dealer had three M3's and two M4 on the lot. All 5 had been modified. One had a new engine (at 20K miles...because "yolo!"), and one had a rebuilt title and was being sold at clean title market prices because it was a manual M3 (****ing nuts).
So, if you want a great deal go for the bigger lux cars like S-Class, 7-Series, A8, Panamera, and the fast variants like S63, S8, MSport 7-Series, Alpina B7, Panamera GTS/Turbo. The kids aren't searching for those.
To put the small vs big lux car thing into perspective, I sold my 2003 W211 E55 AMG with 140K miles (which is the size of a modern 3-series or C-class) and took that cash (with maybe $2K more) and bought a 2008 W221 S63 AMG that only had 75K miles on it. Sure, there was some luck involved. But, it was a huuuuge upgrade for a small price because no one is checking for the full-sized cars.
Oh, and @nath_h , yes, you should always have a look at cars before you buy.
Don't feel bad, many/most of us have been burned on car deals in one way or another. Either with the car, the price, or financing.
I've traveled to buy cars before. As the saying goes: Never sit down at a negotiating table that you aren't willing to walk away from. So, even if you travel a great distance to see a car, don't let that sunk cost push you into buying something that you wouldn't buy if it were in your neighborhood.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
Now just keeping it safe from the haze outside blowing down from Canada. 
