goth

I am seriously considering upgrading to AMG and i wanted to ask the experts here about is this even a good idea to have replaced your hydraulic suspensions with regular suspensions and the advantage of having two catalytic convertors vs 4
here is the ad

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22330853566...torefresh=true

can you let me know what you guys think? thank you

bobterry99

That eBay car has a suspension inferior to what you have now. Since it will significantly sacrifice ride quality and/or handling performance, I don't know why you could conceive of it as being an "upgrade".

goth

well i have the AMG sports package but now i want an sl 55

bobterry99

A few weeks ago I bought the 2014 remaster of Zep's Houses of the Holy. Something about it just doesn't sound right. One thing I noticed was that on Rain Song the vocal seemed shifted slightly to the right. I have to listen to it more, but for now I'd say I prefer the original issue of the CD.

BlownV8

Most that have done the shock/strut change would disagree just not sure the RMT system is the best choice.

bobterry99

To achieve greater agility modern fighter aircraft are inherently unstable in flight. Without computer control such a plane is unflyable and would crash.

Not dissimilarly, to achieve ride comfort the R230 suspension is extraordinarily compliant. Without computer control the car is still driveable, of course, but the handling is terrible.

The notion that a company can produce a suspension for the R230 that equals the comfort afforded by ABC would be patently absurd.

57staff

I don't have any observations of a coilover conversion ride except what I read and hear. People who have done the changeover to coilovers comment that the car does handle better than with ABC. However, from what I understand, you lose the comfort and adaptability ABC affords to the ride. Basically, you can dial in the level of handling you want with a coil-over package and then you will only have that handling level until you change the setup. Now, changing that setup may be as simple as clicking the ride adjusters a few clicks to get the compliance you want but it is all manual and definitely not adaptable. From what I see in available coil-over packages, the SL 350 sway bar is not sufficient to provide you a flat ride plus it needs to be modified to clear the oil pan.

For me, I will keep my ABC until it fails catastrophically. Flush the system every year, rodeo, and run a finer filter element. ABC is very comfortable, especially on long drives, and I can drive it pretty hard in the curves and it does a great job keeping the car flat.

Frederick NL

bellwilliam

Thinking an ABS car can out handle a properly setup coilover car is equally absurd as thinking coilover car can ride better than a ABC car. how many ABC type controlled race car do you see?

BlownV8

SL65 Black ditched the ABC to improve handling, just saying.

Aussiesuede

Here is a half hour video of someone removing the ABC system and replacing it with Coilovers, sway bars, end links, and new pump.

And here is the same car on the road after the swap.

bellwilliam

it is a 30 minutes video, but it took him 4 long long days.
3.9 days were for sway bar install.

bobterry99

You've made a mistake. I never claimed ABC outhandles any or all conventional suspensions. Here's the relevant text you misunderstood (with emphasis): "Since it will significantly sacrifice ride quality and/or handling performance".

57staff

With coilovers, you have the choice of setting up the car for comfort or setting up the car for performance. Adjustable coilovers may allow you to adjust between drives, but you have to select a level of comfort or a level of performance.

The nice thing about ABC is you don't have to make that choice. These are heavy cars and ABC does a pretty good job of sorting out the handling in most situations. I've taken my SL up into the hills around LA and it has performed admirably if I don't push it too hard. Usually it's the brakes that give out before the ABC. Those with the P030 package have even better performance handling characteristics.

The real benefit I see with removing ABC and switching to coilovers is your get a couple hundred pounds of weight out of the car and you can do a better job of dialing in handling on the performance end of the spectrum. I believe this is what most people who have made the switch describe as the key benefit.

Rudeney

I won't argue whether handling and ride are better or worse between ABC and non-ABC, but I will say that I like what ABC does for my car. There is a particular stretch of road I drive that has some dips and undulations. In the ABC-equipped SL, I go over it and feel just a minor dip. When I drive over it in other cars (pretty much every car we've ever owned plus various loaners and rentals), it's a very uncomfortable "wallowing". Going over it at 40mph+ can be quite harrowing. I've hit it at 50mph in the SL and barely noticed it. I see other cars ahead of me really jumping and swaying. I also like the "simulated skyhook" cornering. Yes, I know it's a "fake" experience, and it does not improve the skidpad speed, but it sure feels fun.

TheSaint

I did not want to have the problematic ABC suspension so i bought a Euro SL 350, R230 without the ABC suspension

Remember that Mercedes used adjustable coilovers on the SL Black Series

m5zealot

Don't do it. The ABC system is an elegant and essential part of the car's engineering. I have driven two SL55's with coil overs and they rode like crap IMO. I put money aside to replace my entire system and about $9K later I have a new ABC that will hopefully last another 100K miles. My neighbor said it best, if you can't afford to fix it...maybe you should just light a match.... Kidding aside....this is just my opinion and no way putting down anyone who has a converted car. The trick is finding a kit that will work for you.

m5zealot

My car has the P30 Performance pack and is an amazing track monster out of the box. Well worth the $14,000.00 added cost to the MSRP.

Frederick NL

Rudeney

It seems the standard suspension on the SL350 does a decent job. The car is lighter, and without the drag of the tandem pump, the V6 would perform better than with ABC.

ItalianJoe1

Aftermarket conversions are NOT the same as an SL350 or SL65BS suspension.

I've driven an SL65BS. Rides like ****. The main concern with them was weight. Same reason they deleted the folding top. ABC is the best possible combination for a street luxury/performance car, but it's heavy and expensive.

Active suspension is outlawed in most racing classes, or they would use it. The dynamic advantages are too strong not to.

I have CL and have had S classes, the heavier the car, the more you enjoy the ABC. Driving an airmatic w220 after an ABC one is night and day, the car feels heavy and loose on air, but it's soft. ABC has sharper bumps and such but totally defeats the heavy feel of the car, makes it so much more balanced and composed than a 5000lb yacht should be.

gaazmon

I notice the exact same thing. There is a back road into the mountains and canyons in my area I take to get to the highway instead of the main road. There is a sharp dip and on the CLK if I go quickly though it I feel as though my stomach is coming up, but in the SL almost nothing.

TheSaint

I totally agree. If the ABC suspension was so great why did not Mercedes use the ABC suspension on the SL Black Series? What i find strange is that the ABC suspension does not have sway bars

Do not get me wrong i sure the ABC suspension is great as long you do not have any problems with it

bobterry99

Have you wondered why the Black doesn't have a folding top? Maybe that isn't so great?

TheSaint

No i have not wondered about it since i am pretty sure Mercedes want the SL65 AMG Black Series as stiff a possible.and as we know convertibles are not among the stiffest cars

But i have to say i am glad we all are different because if we all had the same opinion on things like cars it would be boring

I wanted a SL, R230 with regular shock absorbers, coil springs suspension and others want the ABC suspension. It is only a matter of what type of suspension you want on your car