danmm7

According to the previous owner of my 2003 SL 55, most of the ABC high pressure hoses were replaced over the last few years, but i suspect some of them may be the original. Visually most hoses look good and dry.
Due to the age of the car and high miles (~130k), i want to do as much preventive maintenance as possible around the ABC system and prevent a sudden hose failure.

One of the hoses on the front that runs by the radiator has a tiny wet spot on it...2-3 inches away from the metal crimp. I can see that this is likely a very small leak since every time i wipe it.... few days later i get a wet spot again. Does not drip or leak...just gets wet. Aside from the wet spot, the rest of the hose looks really good - no cracks, no bulges, not even dirt on it. I wonder if this is one of the newer hoses...and it's already leaking.

I think that I should replace the hose sooner than later. For the time being i have it wrapped in a FiberFix wrap, but this is a temporary "solution".

Where is the best/cheapest place to buy replacement hoses for the ABC?

Dealer? I would expect this will be the most $$$ route.

I found a few online MB parts stores selling brand new hoses for $180-200, for this specific one i need. Is that a good price?

Also, i see lots of USED hoses being sold on Ebay and they cost about $90-100/ea.

If i buy one of the used hoses from ebay and i take it to a local hydraulics shop where they can replace the rubber part, i wonder if i am just better off buying a brand new one for $200?!? I am sure these shops don't make hoses for free.


For those who of you who have replaced ABC hoses, what would be your recommendation for the most cost effective way to approach this?

Thank you in advance!

BlownV8

Take the hose to a hydraulic shop and have them remake the hose/s for you.

Rudeney

I had a blown hose and found that the price and hassles to have a hydraulic shop repair it pretty much made paying ~$200 for a new OE hose justified. I buy from MBZ dealers with online discount parts stores. I have compiled a list of them below. No one has the best prices for all parts, so I check each on (plus shipping charges) for the best deal:

https://www.shopmbonline.com/

https://www.factorymoparparts.com/

https://www.mbpartspros.com/

https://www.genuinenewparts.com/

https://www.benzpartshq.com/

https://www.oembenzparts.com/

https://www.mercedespartsdelivered.com/

https://www.mbdirectparts.com/

https://www.genuinemercedesparts.com/

https://www.mboemparts.com/

http://mercedesbenzpartsshop.com/

http://benpartsonline.com

Blazeracer

Fixin to do mine today. Got the hose out yesterday. I'll let you know what I pay.

danmm7

Please do!! I am very curious to hear your experience...cost, time, difficulty to get the old hose in and out, etc

I am kind of on the fence between buying a brand new one for $180... or taking the old one out, driving to a shop...getting it fixed for ($ X) and driving back to install it on the car.
Today I went and asked one of the local hydraulic shops for a quote and they said that for this particular hose, about 2 ft long, i am looking at $80. It will take them 30-45min to do it.
Sadly, they want the entire hose out of the car. I asked if they can build a portion of the hose with compression fittings at the end so i can connect it to the metal pipe if i cut it and they refused.

On a side note, when you remove the old hose, how much fluid do you lose in the process, especially if you have to take the hose for a repair?
Do you plug the open ends in the system so most of the fluid doesn't run out? Did you have to relieve any of the system pressure?

Thanks!

Blazeracer

My hose was damaged so the fluid was pretty much all over my driveway. I disconnected the hose from the front axle valve unit, then cut the hard line next to the frame just before it turns up. It cost $70 to get a new hose built and included an industrial metric compression fitting that is rated to 4,000 psi from my local hydraulic shop. The guy built it in like 10 minutes while I waited. The new hose is routed the same way the old did. It was difficult and challenging to get it in, but it is good to go. I also had to buy 2 cans of the Pentosin 11S hydraulic oil at $25 a can. Total cost of repair was $120 for the hose and oil. My car was down for a day and a half. Wife and I drove all over town this afternoon for the test drive.

alk247

Links number 2 and 4 are no longer working. The last link is misspelled - should be http://benzpartsonline.com/

Rudeney

Thanks - I've updated my list.

BlownV8

Yeah, that's the way to go. I'm not a fan of the MB hydraulic hose. Just doesn't last long enough and seems to be very heat intolerant on the V12 cars. Can't help but think the aftermarket ones will last longer.

danmm7

What did you use to cut the hard line?

Blazeracer

A cordless Dremel with a cut off wheel for the first cut, then pulled the tube away from the frame and made a nice clean cut about 1/4" down with tubing cutter.

danmm7

Did you relieve the pressure in advance using a pressure relief valve.... or leaving the car off overnight is sufficient? I bet it will be very unpleasant to get sprayed in the face with Pentosin.

Honestly, my biggest concern with this process is fluid loss while i am dealing with the hose, shop visit, etc.

Rudeney

If the hose is leaking, there will be no pressure on it.

Blazeracer

Rodney speaks the truth. There is no pressure, it all leaks out in seconds. When I first dug into mine I didn't know where the leak was. Put in a can of Pentosin and started the engine. The leak revealed itself in immediately. Pressure relieved itself just as fast. Residual fluid remained inside the hose, but no pressure at all.

jgcsl600

https://www.discounthydraulichose.co...YaAo5wEALw_wcB

These people can make up a higher spec hose with bite to the wire fittings. The hose is 3/8" and the metal lines on the car are 10mm. You can use a 10mm cutting ring with a compression fitting. Measure the length of hose, have discount make it up with the compression fittings, cut the old piece out as close to it's original fitting as possible. Some hoses can be replaced this way without removing from the car. Make sure the cut tube is perfectly clean inside and double check when installing the fitting that the cutting ring is evenly seated all the way around the tube. Do not over-tighten.

You can get some silver fire sleeve from JEGS to reflect heat and insulate the new hose.

danmm7

This is a great point, except, in my case, the hose is not leaking much. I see a wet spot on it. I wipe it... it slowly gets wet again. Also, in the area of the wet spot i see a tiny bubble. I think this is a very early stage leak starting to form and i am trying avoid the hose bursting on me while i am driving the car.
It's a shame because otherwise the hose looks like new. I am pretty sure this is a replacement OEM hose that the previous owner installed not too long ago.

danmm7

This is super useful. Great web site with amazing hose selection!!!

I just need to figure out which type compression fitting i need. The list of fittings is super long.