SL/R230: What year did the major ABC redesign take place?
11-27-2018, 09:50 AM
#1
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Corona Del Mar, CA
Posts: 7,402
Received 3,695 Likes
on
2,112 Posts
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
What year did the major ABC redesign take place?
I recall seeing a post a few years ago—which I can no longer find—that showed an MB bulletin, outlining major changes and improvements to the ABC system. Does anyone here know what year those changes took place? Evidently, the changes made the system more reliable, easier to maintain, etc.
11-27-2018, 10:16 AM
#2
Banned
The change occurred for MY2007.
11-27-2018, 10:24 AM
#3
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Corona Del Mar, CA
Posts: 7,402
Received 3,695 Likes
on
2,112 Posts
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
I remember seeing photos of the components and they looked substantially different.
11-27-2018, 11:11 AM
#4
MBworld Guru
MY2007 changed a few things. The pulsation dampener was moved to be located on the pump itself (therefore the pump was changed). The valve blocks were redesigned. I also understand that the programming was changed so that the height is varied just slightly when the car sits at idle so that the valve block seals stay lubricated. There were also more changes for MY2009, but I am not sure what they are, as WIS just uses different documents for MY2009+.
11-27-2018, 11:27 AM
#5
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Corona Del Mar, CA
Posts: 7,402
Received 3,695 Likes
on
2,112 Posts
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Rodney, my new friend, you are a wealth of information, thank you.
I had a 2004 SL500 that I ordered new. I sold it in 2016 with only like 22,000 miles on it. It was a great car, but I worried about potential ABC & hydraulic roof problems down the line, so I sold it. I bought a CPO 2013 SL550 without ABC and disliked the ride, so I sold that. I would order a new SL, but find the interior/exterior colors unexciting. So, I’m thinking of going retro, back to an R230, specifically a 2008, as I love that body style. Other than the basics of trying to find a pristine, never damaged, but properly maintained example, are there any specific things good or bad about the 2008 SL550 that you know of? Your thoughts, along with those of any others out there, would be most appreciated.
I had a 2004 SL500 that I ordered new. I sold it in 2016 with only like 22,000 miles on it. It was a great car, but I worried about potential ABC & hydraulic roof problems down the line, so I sold it. I bought a CPO 2013 SL550 without ABC and disliked the ride, so I sold that. I would order a new SL, but find the interior/exterior colors unexciting. So, I’m thinking of going retro, back to an R230, specifically a 2008, as I love that body style. Other than the basics of trying to find a pristine, never damaged, but properly maintained example, are there any specific things good or bad about the 2008 SL550 that you know of? Your thoughts, along with those of any others out there, would be most appreciated.
11-27-2018, 12:01 PM
#6
Banned
Overlooked in my prior post is that the valve seats were revised, and this eliminated the tendency of the suspension to sink within a few days. That's probably a good thing. But on the downside, apparently the newer valve blocks can not be disassembled for rebuilding. That's un-good.
11-28-2018, 10:56 AM
#7
Banned
Just reported: an '08 car lost its ABC/steering tandem pump on a long trip and needed a 175-mile tow home: https://www.benzworld.org/forums/r23...l#post17619432
Trending Topics
11-28-2018, 10:36 PM
#8
MBworld Guru
Rodney, my new friend, you are a wealth of information, thank you.
I had a 2004 SL500 that I ordered new. I sold it in 2016 with only like 22,000 miles on it. It was a great car, but I worried about potential ABC & hydraulic roof problems down the line, so I sold it. I bought a CPO 2013 SL550 without ABC and disliked the ride, so I sold that. I would order a new SL, but find the interior/exterior colors unexciting. So, I’m thinking of going retro, back to an R230, specifically a 2008, as I love that body style. Other than the basics of trying to find a pristine, never damaged, but properly maintained example, are there any specific things good or bad about the 2008 SL550 that you know of? Your thoughts, along with those of any others out there, would be most appreciated.
I had a 2004 SL500 that I ordered new. I sold it in 2016 with only like 22,000 miles on it. It was a great car, but I worried about potential ABC & hydraulic roof problems down the line, so I sold it. I bought a CPO 2013 SL550 without ABC and disliked the ride, so I sold that. I would order a new SL, but find the interior/exterior colors unexciting. So, I’m thinking of going retro, back to an R230, specifically a 2008, as I love that body style. Other than the basics of trying to find a pristine, never damaged, but properly maintained example, are there any specific things good or bad about the 2008 SL550 that you know of? Your thoughts, along with those of any others out there, would be most appreciated.
Overlooked in my prior post is that the valve seats were revised, and this eliminated the tendency of the suspension to sink within a few days. That's probably a good thing. But on the downside, apparently the newer valve blocks can not be disassembled for rebuilding. That's un-good.
Just reported: an '08 car lost its ABC/steering tandem pump on a long trip and needed a 175-mile tow home: https://www.benzworld.org/forums/r23...l#post17619432
11-28-2018, 11:31 PM
#9
Banned
As an aside, an acquaintance of mine states he has driven an S55 with no fluid for a distance of 50 miles on three occasions without apparent consequence.
Last edited by bobterry99; 11-29-2018 at 10:23 AM.
11-30-2018, 02:23 PM
#10
MBworld Guru
Whether a hose or pump failed is immaterial to me. The point is that someone sold an extraordinarily low-mileage and presumably lovely '04 car because they feared ABC and roof problems, and now they are looking for an '08 under the fantasy that ABC will be more reliable and easier to maintain.
As an aside, an acquaintance of mine states he has driven an S55 with no fluid for a distance of 50 miles on three occasions without apparent consequence.
Yikes! Unless it was a life-threatening emergency, I'd not do that.
11-30-2018, 03:05 PM
#11
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Corona Del Mar, CA
Posts: 7,402
Received 3,695 Likes
on
2,112 Posts
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Whether a hose or pump failed is immaterial to me. The point is that someone sold an extraordinarily low-mileage and presumably lovely '04 car because they feared ABC and roof problems, and now they are looking for an '08 under the fantasy that ABC will be more reliable and easier to maintain.
11-30-2018, 09:54 PM
#12
MBworld Guru
So now the question: Is ABC on the R231 any more reliable than on the R230? My guess would be no. Honestly, there is nothing inherently wrong with ABC on the R230, but like any hydraulic system, it will break and need maintenance.
