Mitleider

Good morning.There’s so much chatter on here about ABC failures and need for maintenance. Daunting. For cars which reside in climates spared from winter salt, trying to figure out preventative actions to take, at what age or mileage do,these issues typically show themselves? Aside from ABC fluid flush, what do you all do,preventatively?
eager to listen and learn

HLG600

Some people replace the high pressure line (front) as a preventive measure. If you do that, then the option opens up to take the original line to a hydraulic shop and have it rebuilt to a much stronger spec than factory.

Fluid and filter service is key in general and critical for an ABC 1 car, since the filter was superseded to a significantly better 3 Micron one.

Mercedes recommends every 40K miles. I go by a maximum of every 25K miles (or 5 years, which is what Pentosin defines as the shelf life for new CHF-11S fluid).

For other components, you generally have a heads up. A brief warning light that flashes when going over a bump lets you know it's time to do the accumulators. Sagging when parked, might be time to rebuild the valve block (ABC 1 cars only).

Regarding mileage, hard to predict. A garage queen city-driven car may experience ABC component failure much sooner than higher mileage highway car.

Keith Noon

I searched back through a couple forums to find this out. The first posts started in around 2007. So basically after the cars were out of warranty and some were with not so rich owners that could unlimited spaff money at the problems.

E55_MvP

What should this service cost? Is it something a MB dealer does? I thought they originally called this a "closed system" so I'm surprised MB would offer a service on it.

Mitleider

So that I have temporary peace fo mind, I’m having the filter and fluid changed, Des-it’s my car having only 15K miles…….

Keith Noon

That's what caused my problems. I thought a full Mercedes service history would mean the car was all good. How naive can you get?

E55_MvP

Lol. The things that are required maintenance items by MB aren't the things that actually go bad... funny how that works

cdk4219

Changed my fluid today, at 48,000 miles it was very dark. I have changed the reservoir fluid at leas 3 times in the past 10,000 miles. Went to redline synthetic power steering fluid this time. 4 quarts to flush.

Rockster

This might be of some help to you:

https://www.youcanic.com/wiki/merced...nsion-problems

HLG600

Every automotive component that uses fluid is technically a closed system. There are very few components, however, that are truly sealed and therefore can not be serviced.

A dealer can do it, but frankly I wouldn't trust them. A better bet would be to find a reputable MB-specialist shop in the area.

As for cost, that varies. I've seen estimates as high as $1K+ for a fluid and filter change, which is absurd. Shop around. If they tell you it's a "closed system" or something silly like that, move on to the next one.

imtheking

pentosin is about $25 a quart and you need 10. The filter is around $40

I got my ABC fluid flush done for $500 (parts and labor) at a local Benz indy shop- dealer wanted $800

Kebowers47

The ABC system is outstanding performance-wise. The accumulators will need replacing at around 50,000 miles/8 years but are not outrageous or difficult to replace. You may need to have a Dealer perform a RODEO to purge the air from replacing accumulators and also 'realign' the height sensors and strut internal extension measuring system. If they do not agree within narrow tolerances the system goes into LIMP mode. Resealing the various solenoid valves is not difficult--consisting of replacing the old O-rings. Kits are available. The pump is really LIFETIME durable. The big problem is the high-pressure flexible hoses. They are reinforced with STEEL wires wrapped around the inner fluid tight core. The PROBLEM is the rubber external jacket---it cracks extensively with age--8-20 years? and the steel reinforcing wire rusts and get brittle. Then ANY flexing will crack the wires, leading to certain hose failure.
I recommend removing all 12 high-pressure hoses, taking them to a good hydraulic shop, and having them make up NEW U.S. manufactured 4000psi rated hoses (single ply steel reinforced) hoses, reusing all the fittings. You do not need to duplicate all the routing and bends, just make them fit without chafing and excessively tight bends. For example--the tow hoses to the rear struts and serpentine and 50% LONGER than more direct routing.. The long lines to/from the rear to front can be replaced without using any steel sections, just all hose.
With this work done, you will have SOLVED the costly and certain hose failure problem. You will still have to replace accumulators and flush the fluid every 8 years. The struts will last forever. You can replace the accordion dust boots when you do the hose job for $200. The solenoid valve renewal every 10-20 years for less than $200 each will still be there.

cdk4219

Yea not so sure about those numbers. Pumps forever, struts forever? 8 year fluid flush? This is very optimistic indeed.

Dr. Plastic

[QUOTE=HLG600;8556144 Sagging when parked, might be time to rebuild the valve block (ABC 1 cars only)[/QUOTE]

Why only ABC 1 cars? don't they all use the same valve blocks assy's?

cdk4219

Different valve blocks.

Dr. Plastic

How does one know what the difference is?

cdk4219

Quoted from MikeJ65

ABC1 and ABC2 are far more similar than different. There are a couple of changes that I see as a positive and one that is a downgrade in my opinion. The pulsation dampener is moved to the pump. This makes sense to calm the system at the source instead of downstream. Also, the strut position sensors are eliminated. This takes 4 potential points of failure out of the system. The downgrade is that the valve blocks for ABC2 are integrated units, cannot be rebuilt, and one bad solenoid requires replacement of the full unit. To be fair, Mercedes never offered parts to repair a block and always treated it as a unit, so it wasn't a service issue from their standpoint.

Tom Manning

The pump is really LIFETIME durable
Everyone who has replaced a pump would likely have a different opinion on that!

They (hoses) are reinforced with STEEL wires
The ones I have changed were not steel braided - are there any in the car that are?

The two hoses to the rear struts and serpentine are 50% longer than more direct routing.
The path lengths on the hydraulic system were carefully engineered to dampen resonance and reflections due to fluid pulsing through the lines, and therefore to reduce NVH. All original hose lengths and routings should be carefully observed and duplicated when replacing lines.

The struts will last forever
We should be so lucky!

Dr. Plastic

How can one visually check to see the differences between the two types of valve blocks?

jonseal

When something goes wrong with the system it goes into a mode where it says the ABC system is locked. When I first got into the car I was getting a low warning so I push the button that raises the suspension and it raised up and turned off the warning light. Now I am getting an error code on my iCarsoft scanner of "Fault in component B2/1(Left rear plunger travel sensor)". When I look at the live data I see a question about the system being locked and the answer is "on". I am wondering how long I can drive with the system locked in position and basically not working. Thanks for any help.

cdk4219

Probably until it fails and falls to the ground, making the car unable to move without damaging the front fenders and bumper getting it onto a rollback. These cars aren’t forgiving like some other brands.

Gene Fiorot

Someone has to say Coil Overs and get rid of all that crap.

elMacko

R230 friends, all these issues boil down to economics....what is the present value of your car? How much money are you throwing on it? Unless you love the vehicle and do not care about the cost, so bit..! The bottom line is no one will pay the actual cost plus the money to update all the hydraulic systems..!

Gene Fiorot

At what mileage do we replace other things to make the car reliable. I think the op needs to think about this too.
I purchased my 2004 Sl500. with 62000 miles. It had Coilovers I felt blessed. But with scant service records I made the decision to do the following.with all OEM parts

Spark Plugs

Coolant Replacement Mercedes brand

Thermostat Replaced

Serpentine Belt Replaced

Idler Wheel and bolt replaced

Air Filters replaced

Oil Changed Castrol edge with filter

Brakes Rotors, pads, sensors and hardware replaced

Brake system flushed dot 5 plus

Transmission and torque converter drained, filter and fluid replaced fuchs fluid

Motor mounts and transmission mount replaced

Jack Pads replaced

Lower Control Arms and Caster and Camber adjustment bolts replaced

Cabin Air Filters replaced

Trunk Battery Charger installed glass mat design

Front and Rear wheel Alignment

Rear End Lube replaced

Alarm Module replaced

New Wind Screen Fitted

Valve Cover gaskets and emission hoses replaced

Crankshaft Sensor replaced

2022 63500

Oil and Filter Change

Water pump replacement

Starter Battery Replaced

Present 2024 mileage is 65,000

Velocetta

My 03 R230 is sagging over the winter months of storage, and recently I have been seeing the dreaded momentary flash of the ABC light. I have changed fluid and filters (including going to the finer filter) over the years, but I guess it is simply time to take the plunge and replace the accumulators as well as rebuild the valve blocks.

Is there a trustworthy source for rebuilt valve blocks out there that anyone can offer up? Just trying to speed up the process as my indy shop will be doing the work and the rebuild will certainly drive not only drive up the cost but add a great deal of time to the work.

Thanks,

Doug