SL/R230: ABC to Coilovers conversion: The Ultimate FAQ
03-09-2020, 02:06 PM
#101
I looped back the existing pump because it's quick, easy and inexpensive. Changing the pump is a lot of work in my opinion. Please just read the posts I'm referring you to (also below) - all explained there with photos and what loop back hose to buy :-). Apart from covering the quick connects with rubber plugs so the dirt does not go into them (in case they are ever to be re-used) I only want to loop back the pump and NOT block any lines, so there is no any pressure present in the left over ABC lines.
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...er-struts.html
I'm under an impression you wanted to block off quick connects and keep ABC under pressure - a VERY BAD IDEA which would make your car unreliable and could get you stranded.
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...er-struts.html
I'm under an impression you wanted to block off quick connects and keep ABC under pressure - a VERY BAD IDEA which would make your car unreliable and could get you stranded.
03-10-2020, 03:01 PM
#103
You really need to disable the ABC system and remove the lines so you can install anti-roll bars (the lines block the sway bar mounts on left front and the whole rear section above subframe).
These cars are not designed to be used without anti-roll bars and the handling of a 2000kg vehicle without anti-roll bars is definitely sketchy.
These cars are not designed to be used without anti-roll bars and the handling of a 2000kg vehicle without anti-roll bars is definitely sketchy.
03-10-2020, 03:19 PM
#104
Member
no where for the pressure to go will eventually blow the seals and i can tell you in my opinion the r230 doesn't feel stable at highway speeds without swaybars. I can honestly see this car rolling if a evasive maneuver is used at a high rate of speed. Just my 2 cents. Please be careful.
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Tommyboy928 (07-06-2020)
03-10-2020, 03:28 PM
#105
Member
Strutmasters come with plugs, I'm not using strutmasters. https://www.strutmasters.com/product...ht-fix-mx14fm/
03-10-2020, 03:33 PM
#106
Member
Strutmasters come with plugs, I'm not using strutmasters. https://www.strutmasters.com/product...ht-fix-mx14fm/
03-10-2020, 10:42 PM
#107
Here is the first installment video of the simple way to do the VVK coilover conversion. No need to completely remove the crossmember. Always remember to replace the motor mounts when doing this unless they have very low miles on them.
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Tony Ryan (03-12-2020)
03-11-2020, 08:19 AM
#108
Senior Member
Here is the first installment video of the simple way to do the VVK coilover conversion. No need to completely remove the crossmember. Always remember to replace the motor mounts when doing this unless they have very low miles on them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB4QCLj_xFI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB4QCLj_xFI
I couldn't find a single shop in the DC, MD, VA area willing to take on this job- nobody wanted to touch it
03-11-2020, 03:12 PM
#109
Give me a call also, Maybe I can track down someone in your area and explain how simple the job is. My direct number is on the VVK-USA website
Best regards,
Sean
03-11-2020, 10:54 PM
#110
Senior Member
Here is the first installment video of the simple way to do the VVK coilover conversion. No need to completely remove the crossmember. Always remember to replace the motor mounts when doing this unless they have very low miles on them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB4QCLj_xFI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB4QCLj_xFI
03-12-2020, 04:23 PM
#112
Mostly yes, however the V12 cars have different frame rails with no threaded holes to mount the sway bar brackets, so our Sway bar kit for V12 includes steel plates that get welded in the same location and also our V12 bar is shaped differently to clear under the larger oil pan.
Last edited by Sean@VVK; 03-12-2020 at 04:29 PM.
03-12-2020, 04:26 PM
#113
No, unfortunately the SL55 oil pan is much deeper and requires the sway bar to be very precision fit. I have some bars that are SL500 specific because of the clearance difference. We built a very good jig to exectly position the bends on the SL55 bars since they are the most difficult to get right.
03-12-2020, 07:06 PM
#115
03-13-2020, 03:21 PM
#117
Can anyone tell me if theres an OE Upgrade for these, ive seen the ECE Alloy ones and i dont want them , theyre shorter so that doesnt work and ******* expensive too .
Last edited by Tony Ryan; 03-13-2020 at 03:24 PM.
03-14-2020, 02:29 AM
#119
Member
03-14-2020, 02:08 PM
#121
SPONSOR
Thank you for the shout out. Here is a link to our engine mounts https://creative-steel.com/shop/merc...engine-mounts/
07-04-2020, 01:48 PM
#123
Junior Member
ABC to coilover conversion
Over the last couple of years there have been countless threads outlining ABC failure either at a strut level or complete system meltdown. Opinions get thrown around, engineers get flamed and the topic of converting the ABC system to a standard coilover suspension gets mentioned, acclaimed but never fully explored. Everyone always talks about someone who knows someone who has done the conversion but no questions are ever answered.
My car is a '03 SL500. I have been running coilovers for 5000 miles now so I'll answer any questions once and for all and let's see if we can make a sticky out this thread for future reference.
First of all, let's start with the ABC system.
Yes, it will fail. There are no "if's" but rather "when". The design isn't particularly brilliant and the pressure generated by the hydraulic fluid far exceeds what the seals on the struts and the pump are designed to handle. Hence once it fails, if fails massively. Furthermore, replacing all 4 struts, pump, block and lines will not only exceed the cost of a used SL in today's market, but it will inevitably also fail.
Where do you get the conversion kit?
StrutMasters SL500 Kits
There are two kits available.
The first is the Coilover system for $1595.
For an extra $200 you get a light fix module. The module is a series of resistors that will block the warning from the ABC sensors to the Comand system. That way rather than a flashing red warning that you cannot disable, you simply get a "Warning: ABC Display Malfunction" message that you can click through. Considering Mercedes charges over $2000 for each hydraulic strut, do yourself the favor and get the light fix module.
Do I need to modify anything?
No. The kit is a direct bolt on. They include the hardware to cap off the ABC lines at the struts. Other than that the coilovers mount at the same points your original suspension does.
Is there a kit available for my 55/600/63/65?
Unfortunately there aren't any kits available out there for the different R230 versions.
Is there a sway bar available?
If anyone has it, I have yet to find it. Would the car ride better with one? Absolutely. Does it ride well enough for me not to care? Absolutely.
How does it ride?
Let's start off the bat and say it: coilovers will never ride as smooth as a hydraulic suspension.
Once the ABC is off, you begin to realize just how heavy the chassis is.
The ride is tight but comfortable. The rebound on the coilovers is noticeable but not unlike an E500. All in all, it makes for a comfortable ride that is predictable under hard driving.
I have driven the car from New York City to Arizona with no trouble whatsoever and have logged on over 5K miles as of today.
Do i have a need to keep the ABC/Power Steering Pump?
The R230 has a tandem pump that operates both the ABC and the Power Steering system. A new pump is $1360 from Genuine Mercedes and even a used specimen will fetch upwards of $700 at a junkyard.
Luckily for you, once the conversion is completed there is no need for a tandem pump anymore.
I sourced a power steering pump from a 2001 S500 without ABC (any year W220 without ABC should do it).
Two out of the three mounting bolts line up perfectly and the stock lines from your R230 can be rerouted with minimal work.
Extra bonus: You get to use regular power steering fluid from Autozone or Walmart rather than having to track down CHF 11S at $30 a liter.
So there it is.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask away and I will do my best to answer.
My car is a '03 SL500. I have been running coilovers for 5000 miles now so I'll answer any questions once and for all and let's see if we can make a sticky out this thread for future reference.
First of all, let's start with the ABC system.
Yes, it will fail. There are no "if's" but rather "when". The design isn't particularly brilliant and the pressure generated by the hydraulic fluid far exceeds what the seals on the struts and the pump are designed to handle. Hence once it fails, if fails massively. Furthermore, replacing all 4 struts, pump, block and lines will not only exceed the cost of a used SL in today's market, but it will inevitably also fail.
Where do you get the conversion kit?
StrutMasters SL500 Kits
There are two kits available.
The first is the Coilover system for $1595.
For an extra $200 you get a light fix module. The module is a series of resistors that will block the warning from the ABC sensors to the Comand system. That way rather than a flashing red warning that you cannot disable, you simply get a "Warning: ABC Display Malfunction" message that you can click through. Considering Mercedes charges over $2000 for each hydraulic strut, do yourself the favor and get the light fix module.
Do I need to modify anything?
No. The kit is a direct bolt on. They include the hardware to cap off the ABC lines at the struts. Other than that the coilovers mount at the same points your original suspension does.
Is there a kit available for my 55/600/63/65?
Unfortunately there aren't any kits available out there for the different R230 versions.
Is there a sway bar available?
If anyone has it, I have yet to find it. Would the car ride better with one? Absolutely. Does it ride well enough for me not to care? Absolutely.
How does it ride?
Let's start off the bat and say it: coilovers will never ride as smooth as a hydraulic suspension.
Once the ABC is off, you begin to realize just how heavy the chassis is.
The ride is tight but comfortable. The rebound on the coilovers is noticeable but not unlike an E500. All in all, it makes for a comfortable ride that is predictable under hard driving.
I have driven the car from New York City to Arizona with no trouble whatsoever and have logged on over 5K miles as of today.
Do i have a need to keep the ABC/Power Steering Pump?
The R230 has a tandem pump that operates both the ABC and the Power Steering system. A new pump is $1360 from Genuine Mercedes and even a used specimen will fetch upwards of $700 at a junkyard.
Luckily for you, once the conversion is completed there is no need for a tandem pump anymore.
I sourced a power steering pump from a 2001 S500 without ABC (any year W220 without ABC should do it).
Two out of the three mounting bolts line up perfectly and the stock lines from your R230 can be rerouted with minimal work.
Extra bonus: You get to use regular power steering fluid from Autozone or Walmart rather than having to track down CHF 11S at $30 a liter.
So there it is.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask away and I will do my best to answer.
Last edited by Colinporter; 07-04-2020 at 02:03 PM. Reason: Forgot some info
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07-04-2020, 02:14 PM
#124
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
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89 SL500 Silver ,97 SL500 Carlsson 04 Mercedes SL55 AMG , 07 Mercedes SL55 AMG convertedBlack series
ABC is not big deal if follow my recipe to take care of it, Change the pump at of before 100 000 km with overhaulled pump, for 300 Euro ,plus the job. and change oil now and then, and liqseal teflon treat system every 5 years. so mutch big fuss about this ABC.
could not even get in garage if i put coilovers, will never happend, .
could not even get in garage if i put coilovers, will never happend, .
07-15-2020, 03:25 PM
#125
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2003 SL500
So it happened to me. 2003 SL500 with only 65k on it. The pressure hose behind the front drivers tire blew out, which then fried the pump.
The cost to fix that isn't too bad, but now I see the rear struts are starting to leak fluid. Sounds like the cost to replace each one of those is $3700 each. Does that sound right??
Either way, it's going to add up close to $10k. And that's not to say the other struts won't leak or other expensive probs.
The car is new to me and I really like it and want to keep it.
If you were me, what would you do?
And if you suggest installing a kit, which one(in 2020) is the best for general driving and adjustablity?
Thanks all for you input. Greg
The cost to fix that isn't too bad, but now I see the rear struts are starting to leak fluid. Sounds like the cost to replace each one of those is $3700 each. Does that sound right??
Either way, it's going to add up close to $10k. And that's not to say the other struts won't leak or other expensive probs.
The car is new to me and I really like it and want to keep it.
If you were me, what would you do?
And if you suggest installing a kit, which one(in 2020) is the best for general driving and adjustablity?
Thanks all for you input. Greg
