SL/R230: ABC issue drive carfully
i have a 2003 sl500 converted and build by Lorinser. Model is called K50 and its a car fitted with bodykit, wheels and compressor from Lorinser when new in 2003.
Anyway i have some problems with the ABC system. The red light drive carfully show up on the car. And the car have been jumping up and down sometimes. As if it sends shook waves to the suspension making it jump up and down.
i replaced front and rear big accumulators (same type front/read) and filled up the oil level to correct level, and it seemed to fix the problem when i tested. Car worked fine. But when everything was good and i tought problem was fixed red light with drive carfull show up again. And i could not adjust the dampers. If i turn of car and start it again and push button fast i get no warning but then the car rocks like a boat on the ocean as it sends oil to different struts. And then red light come on again.
i was maby thinking about replacing the small accumulator in the front. The one accumulator for the pulsasion dampener.
have anyone any tips? Car is level, no leaks. But still red warning and car is rocking if i get the system working even if car is standing still.
might pulsation dempener solve this issue? Or maby a resett by the obd port
photo for attention


today i started the var and everything worked like normal, so this problem comes and goes
i heard a little whiising sound from the location the valve actuator is located in the front left wheel arches when car was running.
i dont know if the pulsating damper(accumulator on the valve actuator) might be a problem giving me these strange fails on the car.


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If you look at the diagram, there is only one way for the fluid to go in and out of the struts and that's the only way for the struts to go up and down. Next item is the valve blocks. If seals/o-rings in valve blocks are not totally seated, it will leak in and out of the struts. Items 4, 14 & 53 may push fluid back into the struts which may cause struts to raised after engine shut down in some cases.
My guess is you just replaced those Nitrogen bottles. Debris may be flown into valve blocks and causes minor leakage (not totally seal which can cause suspensions to goes up n down).
At this point, easy n cheapest way is to cycle the suspensions up n down with center console buttons to push debris out of the valve blocks and back to the main tank.
As you said, system seems normal at some point....may be cycle it more to clear up the debris within the system.
Last edited by ml320x5; Aug 30, 2024 at 03:16 PM.
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So today i tested the ABC system again after the car has been sitting for some time. Level is okay on the oil. Car raised normal up and down, but after some try i notice the car lift uneven on the front and rear axel.
As if the car push one side of the car up before the other on the same axle. Same when i lowered the car. After that i got ABC warning light again in red. (deive carfully)
This must mean the valve block, front or rear must be opening different. Could this also be a result of the accumulator on the rear valve block is bad? I replaced the rear big one, but not the one sitting on the block.(see example photo of rear valve block accumulator)
Might this result in this issue?
Valve block accumulator rear
Also i noticed a wheesing sound from the front left wheel arch. Where the pulsation accumulator is located. This might be a bad pulsation accumulator tank on the valve block front? Anyone that notice this wheesing sound, like a snake in the wheel arche. That might be a bad tank there? I replaced the big one in the front, but since r230 has two in front left wheel arch and two in rear left wheel arche. I did just replace the biggest as they seem to go out first. Not the two that sits on the valve block front/rear.
This is the front accumulator that i think make the wheesing sound
I will add a video of the sound i took today.




as for if its the valve i will fix it by myself, i know Mb are to expensive when i know more about this system then most mecanic today. If i dont get to read codes i will have them just read the codes to check what the cause is.
but let me know if you have a good foxwell tips


as for if its the valve i will fix it by myself, i know Mb are to expensive when i know more about this system then most mecanic today. If i dont get to read codes i will have them just read the codes to check what the cause is.
but let me know if you have a good foxwell tips


havent recived it yet but it should show me the code and abc error. It might be a sensor or anything, but after i have read the code i will find out.
I see the wheel on front left is one finger lower then the other three wheels. Might be front valve block
anyway i got this code in the photo, so this sensor does anybody know the partnumber for this one?
This is the code, code C1122 fault in component B24/4 (Right front body acceleration sensor).
found it in a example from a cls. So seems maby this sensor is bad as to hight issue i have and drive carfully warning. Will swap it and see if it cleared.
Last edited by Cbrooen; Sep 13, 2024 at 04:09 PM.


If you a code free and still have the level issues, run the 'move to calibrated position' actuation. This should take all four corners to the vicinity of -4mm height +/- a few mm. Once it is stable, measure wheel well height. If they are not the same, especially side to side, you have a calibration issue.
this must mean the part is bad





