Hello

I'm looking for a new daily and want something that gives me that special feeling before I'm being forced into some electric eco box. I've always wanted a late model r129 or an r230 sl500. Late model r129 in Sweden are to expensive for a nice one, about the equivalent of 40k usd. A nice early model r230 can be had for around the equivalent of 20k usd.

Does anyone today run their r230 with abc suspension as a daily? What's that like? Have it worked out or just been a pain?

I'm mechanically inclined and very familiar with Mercedes from that time so my only real concern is the abc suspension. I have no problem with careful maintenance, replacing an strut or line here and there but have no interest in total failure or long down time since I do about 19k miles a year.

How sensitive is the abc suspension to ageing? I'm thinking to be safe, I need to find a car which at least once during it's lifetime would have more or less all abc components replaced to keep me from having to deal with total failure just due to age when I put the car to work. Is this correct or am I overcautious?

Sl350 is also and option but might be lacking a little in the power department. Yet another option is scraping the sl idea just getting a 2011-12 e350 cab for similar price as a early sl500. Opinions?

 

So, I dont have a 230, but I do have a 220 s55 kompressor which is known to have abc issues. I only "worried" as I am learning the system in my used vehicle. I personally have airmatic, abc, and ahc and each of these systems scare off buyers but I find them all very easy to troubleshoot and maintain. Id say the only worry based on your abilities would be that parts can be harder to find, especially stock parts. Nothing on the abc system is rocket science. Its only expensive to have someone else repair it. Its a pump, hoses, valves, sensors and some accumulators. Nothing happens that is catastrophic in terms of fixing it, but more the hassle of needing a tow. Its not as though the whole system will break at once. A harder issue could be if an accumulator sends rubber in the system and you have to clean out different valve ports. Pumps and valves are rebuildable, shocks available from china (if youre ok with that, many people have success) and home based computer diagnostics are inexpensive these days. Ive done all of my work myself, first time and no real issues. At this age, someone has dealt with the problem and there is info to help you along the way. Find a well maintained car because low mileage unmaintained will still need all old rubber replaced.

 

Thank you for your response. That sounds good. I have not been able to search part availability based on part numbers yet. Does arnott not make remanufactured struts any more? Is there any brand other than Chinese that makes them? I believe any hydraulic shop should be able to make lines.

I had two airmatic cars before and as you say they were easy to maintain but they were a little hit or miss. My higher mileage e500 went on without any issues during my ownership while my mint, low mileage cls55 blew all for corners third day of ownership.

How long have you owned your car, what milage and what issues have you had?

 

[QUOTE=Dokus;9058209]Hello<snip>
Does anyone today run their r230 with abc suspension as a daily? What's that like? Have it worked out or just been a pain?
<snip>
How sensitive is the abc suspension to ageing? I'm thinking to be safe, I need to find a car which at least once during it's lifetime would have more or less all abc components replaced to keep me from having to deal with total failure just due to age when I put the car to work. Is this correct or am I overcautious? <snip>

I have had a 2005 R230 since new and always dealer serviced at the selling dealer. I have been told that the ABC pumps start having issues at about 50,000 miles and my experience confirms that. My ABC pump failed internally at just about 50,000 miles. It was during the Covid transportation debacle and no ABC pumps were available through the dealer, anywhere in the US or from MBZ in Germany. I sourced a rebuilt pump from a German company that specializes in rebuilding ABC pumps and have had no issues since then. Good luck on your search.

 

I run a r230 SL500, not daily, but weekly. It is kept outside in typical british weather.

Had it about two years with no ABC issues, other than replace badly perished front strut bellows (I think it is important to keep the struts clean and dirt free).

However I am very weary of corrosion of the steel pipework, which is now evident in a few places.

So next years task will be to replace as much of the pipework as practically possible, and survey the rest to see if it is essential to do or not.

If you can keep the fluid in, then I don't think there is much else to worry about.. :-) ..I am on original pump and struts after 100,000 miles, though I understand the previous owner had the rear valve block refurbished.

 

I've owned three R230s, a 2004 SL600 with around 85K miles, a 2007 SL550 with about the same miles, and a 2003 SL55 AMG with 92K miles. No problems with the ABC on any of them but the SL55 the accumulators wore out and were giving the red ABC warnings on the dash when I bought the car. 20 years and 92K miles, you can't blame the car, parts do wear out. I had purchased new accumulators and pulsation damper and had them in the trunk of the car and was wondering who to get to install them for me. Still drove the car weekly or twice a week, because, I couldn't resist. Try having this car in the garage and not driving it!! LoL. Well, with worn accumulators you put too much stress on the ABC hoses so if your accumulators are shot, DO replace them and don't wait. The high pressure hose burst. Boom! It was a good thing, because now that hose is brand new. I really like having a ton of brand new parts on the car, it's obviously a lot more reliable now than if all those parts were well worn....
Dealership wanted NINE thousand dollars to replace that hose. HA. Indy shop #1 said they could do it for $5000. I found some engineers with their own car shop, called them up. "Sure we have done about ten of those, we'll do yours for $2000. Told them I had accumulators, pulsation damper, plus new motor mounts and trans mount in trunk, they said "We'll install all that for another $1000." Less than 24 hours after they received the car it was all done and ready, with all new ABC fluid and filter as well. Perfect ever since. I have no fear of ABC on these cars. You just need to know some competent mechanics who are nice people and honest, I know in today's world that is a tall order. I always shop online for genuine MBZ parts at the best prices, for any parts I need. All repairs done on my cars are done very cost effectively, without me getting ripped off by crooks. Be smart! Then the R230 is the best car you'll get for the money....

 

If you can do the work on the ABC yourself then jump right in. Replace the pump when it gets noisy and do the hoses as necessary. I am going to replace all my hoses shortly.

Then there is little chance that the system will fail and strand you. Change the gas cells when they fail. If you can DIY then the costs are modest.

There is no comparison between the R129 and the R230. The 129 is a slow noisy antique by comparison, with scuttle shake you'll hate. The R230 is so quiet and cosy with the roof down and the widows up.

 

Thank you all for your response. The r230 does not sound any worse than other premium cars.

@tonylinc What hoes did the want 9000 for? Sounds like one should be able to replace the entire system for that money.

@Tom Manning which are the gas cells you referring to?

How common is problems with parts actually bursting leaving one stranded? Identifying and replacing parts is fine. Regular towing not so much. I'm under the impression that one should not drive if the car lower itself due to a leak.

Any opinions on the 350? I drove one about 10 years ago. It felt really slow. I rarely drive very fast I cars these days but the engine must suit the car.

 

Gas cells = accumulators. Same thing. Four in total.

How common is problems with parts actually bursting leaving one stranded?
An increasing likelihood with age, but regular inspection may help identify trouble spots. We're talking about 20 year old hoses here which really all should be replaced.

 

@TxBenzIn just went through this whole ordeal earlier this year. Maybe check out his thread. I think we covered it pretty thoroughly there. He's driven the car plenty this summer and seemed happy with it.

I guess I should say I've lived with the ABC system on my S55 for over 15years. The car never saw daily driving duty though, except maybe during the summer (self employed, driving optional, etc). But it's a fairly basic system. At this point, all the fluid, filters and accumulators should be changed if you can't prove they have been already. On your car, it's the hydraulic top that keeps people up at night, in addition to the suspension.

Cheers,

maw

 

The hose was the high pressure hose that goes from the pump thru the front end of the car, threading thru all that, and MB WIS says the drop the front subframe and take apart brakes, etc, something like 30 hours labor to replace a $300 hose. MBZ dealerships, charge by the hour and it comes over $9000. An indy shop was going to do it for "only" $5000.
It's called a car killer hose in some circles due to that cost to replace, some folks give up and give the car away. If your accumulators are worn out they will not absorb shock and the system typically runs near 3000 PSI so you hit a bump, pressures can spike to much higher than that. When my accumulators were bad, there were warnings on the dash in red, "ABC, See workshop", and the car did not ride right, it was rough. I had bought new accumulators and pulsation damper, plus a new ABC filter and Pentosin fluid, that was all in the trunk along with new motor mounts and tranny mount. I was waiting to decide where to have all that installed but still driving around twice a week because, well, it's hard having an SL55 and not driving it. LoL. Should have just had all those installed but I hit a bump and the pressure was too much for that hi pressure hose. I was lucky to find another shop owned by those engineer brothers who did it ALL for under $3000. I'm happy now because that hose is I think, the one that takes the most pressure so, the first to go, and with all those new parts plus a new hose I think it's gonna be trouble free for a long time again.

 

For the high pressure hose, instead of taking the entire front end of the car apart, the way to replace that hose is buy a new hose, cut the ends off at the right places, remove the old hose, thread the new one thru where the old one was, then install the ends and buy hydraulic hose couplers that are rated for 10,000 PSI, get the very best ones you can buy, don't go cheap here. Couple them together and if you do this yourself the cost is very small. Guys on the forum here, have done it this way. No $9000 bill at an MBZ dealership. I didn't want to do the work myself, and thought I was lucky to find an indy where they were going to do it for $5000. THEN, I found the engineers brothers called them, they said "Sure, we have done a dozen of those" with none calling back with a problem. Now the car is happy as a clam.

 

My guess, it's a good idea to own more than one car, especially if it's an old Mercedes. I own two old Mercedes, an R129 V12 and an R230 V12 for summer. I bought the R230 with 153,000 km on it, and shortly after at 160,000 km the hydraulic pump started leaking. I changed it and also changed all the accumulators, the fluid, the filter as preventive maintenance. That was in 2017, now it's done about 175,000 km (I prefer to drive the R129). But since then it's had absolutely no problems.

I bought it because of the ABC, not despite it (and of course because of the engine). My son has a R230 with the 3.7 liter engine without ABC. That doesn't make the car that slow, but it really lacks everything that makes a R230 what it is. The car is not driven over the winter, the picture shows the difference in vehicle height after 6 months.

 

Thanks for all the inputs. Yeah, I used to have several cars on the farm I used to have until my wife went mad. To many cars was one of the reasons for that. Now I live in an apartment with only space for one car in the garage. Thinking maybe to wait with the sl until the next wife and get a c207 400/500 in the meantime.
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Rubber hoses like to be daily driven. That said I drive once a month and put around 500-2000 miles a year on the car- 6 years of ownership and no issues. Knock on wood. Knock on wood. Knock on wood.