SL/R230: abc suspension in a 2007 sl amg
#3
Member
#4
Super Member
the differences are
1) the valve blocks look different as a different company made them (there is likely no difference in reliability between the 2, just the old version is older & thus have had more failures due to age
2) the pulsation dampener instead of being in the rear of the front driver's wheel well is attached to the back of the pump. this makes replacing the accumulator for it more work, but it also means that the hose that usually goes from the pump & through the engine compartment to the pulsation dampener on the older models will not have as much stress on it
3) the computer that controls the ABC will slightly open and close the valve at the valve block when you are parked or at a stop instead of just leaving them fully shut closed.
4) throughout the years (usually mid model year) some of the hoses were upgraded slightly to more resilient ones. All the new part number hoses are completely interchangeable with the old
Other than those thing they function the exact same as the earlier years and should have slightly higher reliability. I'll say this though, a well maintained car that was garaged and didn't seem extreme heat that is older will still have a more reliable ABC than a newer one that has been subjected to florida heat and poorly maintained.
1) the valve blocks look different as a different company made them (there is likely no difference in reliability between the 2, just the old version is older & thus have had more failures due to age
2) the pulsation dampener instead of being in the rear of the front driver's wheel well is attached to the back of the pump. this makes replacing the accumulator for it more work, but it also means that the hose that usually goes from the pump & through the engine compartment to the pulsation dampener on the older models will not have as much stress on it
3) the computer that controls the ABC will slightly open and close the valve at the valve block when you are parked or at a stop instead of just leaving them fully shut closed.
4) throughout the years (usually mid model year) some of the hoses were upgraded slightly to more resilient ones. All the new part number hoses are completely interchangeable with the old
Other than those thing they function the exact same as the earlier years and should have slightly higher reliability. I'll say this though, a well maintained car that was garaged and didn't seem extreme heat that is older will still have a more reliable ABC than a newer one that has been subjected to florida heat and poorly maintained.
#5
MBworld Guru
Well, i can tell you the hoses are no better, and the redesigned main pressure hose from the pump does nothing better. That one on my MY2011 failed with a pinhole, spraying the engine compartment with stinky green CHF-1s. Luckily, it was not too hard to replace.
#7
Member
I have only owned my own 07 SL 550 since early August last year so my maintenance experience is very limited. I recently replaced they pulsation dampener, my car has 45k and I have changed the ABC fluid and filter at 42K. .both were a fairly simple do it yourself job . I have however spent a lot of time reviewing old posts and any information regarding the ABC system. It appears to me that the reliability of the valve bodies on the 07 and later years seems to be much better . This is based simply on reviewing many posts not on my own actual experience . If my observation is correct this in itself would make the 07 and later years much more desirable from a maintenance standpoint. It appears as though leaky valves are a source of a lot of posts and complaints with cars dropping at all corners . That is my 2 cents. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has had problems with the valves leaking on an 07 and later MY.
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#8
MBworld Guru
These are very low-production cars, so even a few dozen reports of a particular problem is pretty significant. Consider the US sales by calendar year for the R230:
2001 - 4,217
2002 - 13,717
2003 - 13,318
2004 - 12,885
2005 - 10,080
2006 - 8,462
2007 - 6,126
2008 - 5,464
2009 - 4,025
2010 - 2,385
2011 - 1,449
USA accounts for just under half the sales, so overall global numbers are about double those. Still, we're talking about maybe 30K R230's with eh revise MY2007+ ABC system.
2001 - 4,217
2002 - 13,717
2003 - 13,318
2004 - 12,885
2005 - 10,080
2006 - 8,462
2007 - 6,126
2008 - 5,464
2009 - 4,025
2010 - 2,385
2011 - 1,449
USA accounts for just under half the sales, so overall global numbers are about double those. Still, we're talking about maybe 30K R230's with eh revise MY2007+ ABC system.
#9
Super Member
the reason there are less reports of 07+ not having problems is because there were far less cars made vs 03-06. The 07+ also have not aged enough. Give it 5 more years and the same problems will show up.
#11
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E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
Exactly. It's just time and mileage. They will all break. Nothing new and mind numbingly spectacular. Just newer with less time and mileage. MB's are very consistent. Ownership is easy because you know what to expect and you can budget accordingly. One breaks they almost all break.
#12
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2001 viper rt-10, 2007 SL65
Exactly. It's just time and mileage. They will all break. Nothing new and mind numbingly spectacular. Just newer with less time and mileage. MB's are very consistent. Ownership is easy because you know what to expect and you can budget accordingly. One breaks they almost all break.
#13
Member
Just to reiterate my post regarding reliability. I was only referring to the revised valve blocks of the 07 and later cars. These were apparently changed and my observations are that I have not seen any postings of sagging cars MY 07 and later due to leaking valve blocks.
#14
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E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
Just to reiterate my post regarding reliability. I was only referring to the revised valve blocks of the 07 and later cars. These were apparently changed and my observations are that I have not seen any postings of sagging cars MY 07 and later due to leaking valve blocks.
#15
Super Member
exactly. the design change on the valve block was just a switch of manufacturer and the way they function is in no way different. You can put the new style on an old car and vice versa.
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89 SL500 Silver ,97 SL500 Carlsson 04 Mercedes SL55 AMG , 07 Mercedes SL55 AMG convertedBlack series
Just to reiterate my post regarding reliability. I was only referring to the revised valve blocks of the 07 and later cars. These were apparently changed and my observations are that I have not seen any postings of sagging cars MY 07 and later due to leaking valve blocks.
http://www.qmiitw.com/QMI_PowerSteering.html
is 1 prosent Hydraulic system treatment y guys need. power steering and ABC use same treatment . this also expand the o rings 1 prosent.
if y have a leaking system, take the 3 prosent hydraulic treatment, it expand the o rings 3 prosent, saved my 2004 model system ,that leaked a Q before i found out.. this was in 2009 ,, and new owner report no issue on abc or pump til this day.. saves alot of money.
Last edited by Tommyboy928; 02-19-2017 at 07:56 AM.