SL/R231: ABC: Is noise during raise/lower normal ?
08-20-2019, 10:05 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
Received 52 Likes
on
41 Posts
1986 560SL, 2017 E300, 2018 Sl550, 2020 E350
ABC: Is noise during raise/lower normal ?
I'm re-posting to correct subject line (mistake in original ....ABS..... should have been ABC ...due to mistake probably did not reach correct audience)
Be great if some of you with ABC will perform a raise/lower operation and advise if you too hear what I hear as described here:
R231 2018 SL550.............When stationary if I cycle through a number of "raise and lower" operations I hear a slight "creaking" noise that follows the up/down movement.
Do others hear this as well ?
What might be causing it?
My dealers Hd Mechanic says "normal" but, the dealer doesn't have any other cars with ABC that can be compared only going by what he thinks is normal.
I sure would like to know if others hear what I hear and if not I want it fixed while the warranty is in force.
Steamroller and Wolfman have replied already in a general way but, sure would appreciate a few others to test and comment after testing.
THANKS in advance for responses.
Steve
Be great if some of you with ABC will perform a raise/lower operation and advise if you too hear what I hear as described here:
R231 2018 SL550.............When stationary if I cycle through a number of "raise and lower" operations I hear a slight "creaking" noise that follows the up/down movement.
Do others hear this as well ?
What might be causing it?
My dealers Hd Mechanic says "normal" but, the dealer doesn't have any other cars with ABC that can be compared only going by what he thinks is normal.
I sure would like to know if others hear what I hear and if not I want it fixed while the warranty is in force.
Steamroller and Wolfman have replied already in a general way but, sure would appreciate a few others to test and comment after testing.
THANKS in advance for responses.
Steve
08-20-2019, 12:42 PM
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Corona Del Mar, CA
Posts: 7,092
Received 3,458 Likes
on
1,969 Posts
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
08-21-2019, 09:50 PM
#5
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Corona Del Mar, CA
Posts: 7,092
Received 3,458 Likes
on
1,969 Posts
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Steve,
Today, I took my SL out for a drive and purposely raised and lowered the ABC several times, just for you. There were groaning and creaking sounds. As noted previously, my 2004 SL500 with ABC did this as well. As your mechanic stated, I do believe this is normal. If the raise/lower feature was used on a regular basis, like several times, every time you drive the car, it might go away, who knows? In the mean time, I am positively THRILLED with the performance of the wonderful ABC system and just love driving this car!
Best wishes,
StreamROLLER
Today, I took my SL out for a drive and purposely raised and lowered the ABC several times, just for you. There were groaning and creaking sounds. As noted previously, my 2004 SL500 with ABC did this as well. As your mechanic stated, I do believe this is normal. If the raise/lower feature was used on a regular basis, like several times, every time you drive the car, it might go away, who knows? In the mean time, I am positively THRILLED with the performance of the wonderful ABC system and just love driving this car!
Best wishes,
StreamROLLER
The following users liked this post:
rorywquin (08-22-2019)
08-22-2019, 09:37 AM
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: South Florida
Posts: 1,447
Received 328 Likes
on
292 Posts
2013 SL550 (Lux Sport), 2006 CL55 AMG (Muscle). S550 (Wife's Sedan)
StreamRoller ...
Surely you must be referring to that 'groaning and squeaking', (but still wonderful), ABS system....
Surely you must be referring to that 'groaning and squeaking', (but still wonderful), ABS system....
Last edited by bob55; 08-22-2019 at 11:35 AM.
08-22-2019, 10:30 AM
#7
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Corona Del Mar, CA
Posts: 7,092
Received 3,458 Likes
on
1,969 Posts
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Steve,
Today, I took my SL out for a drive and purposely raised and lowered the ABC several times, just for you. There were groaning and creaking sounds. As noted previously, my 2004 SL500 with ABC did this as well. As your mechanic stated, I do believe this is normal. If the raise/lower feature was used on a regular basis, like several times, every time you drive the car, it might go away, who knows? In the mean time, I am positively THRILLED with the performance of the wonderful ABC system and just love driving this car!
Best wishes,
StreamROLLER
Today, I took my SL out for a drive and purposely raised and lowered the ABC several times, just for you. There were groaning and creaking sounds. As noted previously, my 2004 SL500 with ABC did this as well. As your mechanic stated, I do believe this is normal. If the raise/lower feature was used on a regular basis, like several times, every time you drive the car, it might go away, who knows? In the mean time, I am positively THRILLED with the performance of the wonderful ABC system and just love driving this car!
Best wishes,
StreamROLLER
Trending Topics
08-22-2019, 10:40 AM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
Received 52 Likes
on
41 Posts
1986 560SL, 2017 E300, 2018 Sl550, 2020 E350
Hi "STREAMLINER" (Much apology for calling you Steamroller in earlier post !!),
Want to THANK YOU for performing the requested test that shows you found the same noises I noticed so I now feel all is well with my ABC.
Like you I love the SL with ABC and don't see any other car to replace it (I don't want a soft top convertible so the new SL is out for me).
As of now I plan on buying out my car @ lease end.
My only concerns (always had them) relate to the long term reliability of the system based on the experience R230 owners have had with valve block rebuilds, failed hydraulic lines, accumulator failures ect so I will be buying the longest term Extended Warranty available.
Wonder what you and other R231 owners with ABC who plan to hold onto the car think would be a good "preventative maintenance" plan for the ABC system; I think this is needed as MB does not have a published plan to follow.
I'm thinking of the following:
1) Raise and lower sequence periodically to insure strut piston doesn't develop a non full travel shoulder that will damage the "O" rings but, how often...maybe once a month perform 3 or 4 cycles?
2) Fluid and filter chance (seems this will prevent crud build up in the valve block) but, how often.....maybe every 20K or 30K miles ?
3) Should a "rodeo" be preformed when fluid and filter changed or should a "rodeo" be performed only when a major component changed?
4) Accumulator replacement (the accumulator bladders seem to be the most likely part to fail based on constant pressure changes/movement and wear) but, how often.....maybe @ 50K miles F & R and pump accumulators as well should be changed?
5) I see that MB has changed the type "O" rings used in the R231 vs R230 to a better "O" ring material so trusting that the better "O" ring material and regular fluid and filter changes will assure long valve block life ?
6) As to hoses not sure what to expect ?
7) Any other thoughts?
Be great to get some thoughts/inputs from other R231 owners with ABC
THANKS, Steve
Want to THANK YOU for performing the requested test that shows you found the same noises I noticed so I now feel all is well with my ABC.
Like you I love the SL with ABC and don't see any other car to replace it (I don't want a soft top convertible so the new SL is out for me).
As of now I plan on buying out my car @ lease end.
My only concerns (always had them) relate to the long term reliability of the system based on the experience R230 owners have had with valve block rebuilds, failed hydraulic lines, accumulator failures ect so I will be buying the longest term Extended Warranty available.
Wonder what you and other R231 owners with ABC who plan to hold onto the car think would be a good "preventative maintenance" plan for the ABC system; I think this is needed as MB does not have a published plan to follow.
I'm thinking of the following:
1) Raise and lower sequence periodically to insure strut piston doesn't develop a non full travel shoulder that will damage the "O" rings but, how often...maybe once a month perform 3 or 4 cycles?
2) Fluid and filter chance (seems this will prevent crud build up in the valve block) but, how often.....maybe every 20K or 30K miles ?
3) Should a "rodeo" be preformed when fluid and filter changed or should a "rodeo" be performed only when a major component changed?
4) Accumulator replacement (the accumulator bladders seem to be the most likely part to fail based on constant pressure changes/movement and wear) but, how often.....maybe @ 50K miles F & R and pump accumulators as well should be changed?
5) I see that MB has changed the type "O" rings used in the R231 vs R230 to a better "O" ring material so trusting that the better "O" ring material and regular fluid and filter changes will assure long valve block life ?
6) As to hoses not sure what to expect ?
7) Any other thoughts?
Be great to get some thoughts/inputs from other R231 owners with ABC
THANKS, Steve
08-22-2019, 01:45 PM
#9
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Land of 10,000 lakes
Posts: 9,993
Received 3,178 Likes
on
1,980 Posts
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Hi "STREAMLINER" (Much apology for calling you Steamroller in earlier post !!),
Want to THANK YOU for performing the requested test that shows you found the same noises I noticed so I now feel all is well with my ABC.
Like you I love the SL with ABC and don't see any other car to replace it (I don't want a soft top convertible so the new SL is out for me).
As of now I plan on buying out my car @ lease end.
My only concerns (always had them) relate to the long term reliability of the system based on the experience R230 owners have had with valve block rebuilds, failed hydraulic lines, accumulator failures ect so I will be buying the longest term Extended Warranty available.
Wonder what you and other R231 owners with ABC who plan to hold onto the car think would be a good "preventative maintenance" plan for the ABC system; I think this is needed as MB does not have a published plan to follow.
I'm thinking of the following:
1) Raise and lower sequence periodically to insure strut piston doesn't develop a non full travel shoulder that will damage the "O" rings but, how often...maybe once a month perform 3 or 4 cycles?
2) Fluid and filter chance (seems this will prevent crud build up in the valve block) but, how often.....maybe every 20K or 30K miles ?
3) Should a "rodeo" be preformed when fluid and filter changed or should a "rodeo" be performed only when a major component changed?
4) Accumulator replacement (the accumulator bladders seem to be the most likely part to fail based on constant pressure changes/movement and wear) but, how often.....maybe @ 50K miles F & R and pump accumulators as well should be changed?
5) I see that MB has changed the type "O" rings used in the R231 vs R230 to a better "O" ring material so trusting that the better "O" ring material and regular fluid and filter changes will assure long valve block life ?
6) As to hoses not sure what to expect ?
7) Any other thoughts?
Be great to get some thoughts/inputs from other R231 owners with ABC
THANKS, Steve
Want to THANK YOU for performing the requested test that shows you found the same noises I noticed so I now feel all is well with my ABC.
Like you I love the SL with ABC and don't see any other car to replace it (I don't want a soft top convertible so the new SL is out for me).
As of now I plan on buying out my car @ lease end.
My only concerns (always had them) relate to the long term reliability of the system based on the experience R230 owners have had with valve block rebuilds, failed hydraulic lines, accumulator failures ect so I will be buying the longest term Extended Warranty available.
Wonder what you and other R231 owners with ABC who plan to hold onto the car think would be a good "preventative maintenance" plan for the ABC system; I think this is needed as MB does not have a published plan to follow.
I'm thinking of the following:
1) Raise and lower sequence periodically to insure strut piston doesn't develop a non full travel shoulder that will damage the "O" rings but, how often...maybe once a month perform 3 or 4 cycles?
2) Fluid and filter chance (seems this will prevent crud build up in the valve block) but, how often.....maybe every 20K or 30K miles ?
3) Should a "rodeo" be preformed when fluid and filter changed or should a "rodeo" be performed only when a major component changed?
4) Accumulator replacement (the accumulator bladders seem to be the most likely part to fail based on constant pressure changes/movement and wear) but, how often.....maybe @ 50K miles F & R and pump accumulators as well should be changed?
5) I see that MB has changed the type "O" rings used in the R231 vs R230 to a better "O" ring material so trusting that the better "O" ring material and regular fluid and filter changes will assure long valve block life ?
6) As to hoses not sure what to expect ?
7) Any other thoughts?
Be great to get some thoughts/inputs from other R231 owners with ABC
THANKS, Steve
The following users liked this post:
rorywquin (08-22-2019)
08-22-2019, 01:55 PM
#10
MBWorld Fanatic!
Don’t know if the eight 231’s in the United States with ABC constitute a good sampling of reliability!
08-22-2019, 03:17 PM
#11
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Land of 10,000 lakes
Posts: 9,993
Received 3,178 Likes
on
1,980 Posts
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
It is a rarity but will be in the thousands over the years (approx. 7-8% of the roughly 26,000 US sales; same as B&O's). Any expensive option will be more rare but in my experience is that if a problem occurs, the forums will be the echo chamber for it. Bad news always travel faster.
08-22-2019, 03:27 PM
#12
Member
A good point to bring up, and certainly reading the r230 forum could scare some away from ABC. But I still think the the scarcity of ABC problems posted here is a valid indicator that the system in the r231 with the 3 micron filter and other changes is more reliable than the original r230.
There were about 14,000 r231s sold in the US 2013-2019, with about half of those in 2013 and 2014. How many were equipped with ABC I don’t know, but very few maybe 1 or 2%? But all AMGs are ABC equipped. And ABC is standard in Canada, with sales of 1,500 units 2013-2019. Then there’s MBC, the same suspension with a camera, introduced in the S Class in 2013 as an option. S class sales from 2013-2019 were 117,000. How many were built with MBC again, I don’t know, but it wouldn’t take a very high percentage to give you several thousand vehicles. So altogether three thousand cars at least. Not very many still, and a seven year history is not a long one, but still I think its enough that I wouldn’t let the r230 ABC problems deter me from getting it on an r231 if I wanted that option.
There were about 14,000 r231s sold in the US 2013-2019, with about half of those in 2013 and 2014. How many were equipped with ABC I don’t know, but very few maybe 1 or 2%? But all AMGs are ABC equipped. And ABC is standard in Canada, with sales of 1,500 units 2013-2019. Then there’s MBC, the same suspension with a camera, introduced in the S Class in 2013 as an option. S class sales from 2013-2019 were 117,000. How many were built with MBC again, I don’t know, but it wouldn’t take a very high percentage to give you several thousand vehicles. So altogether three thousand cars at least. Not very many still, and a seven year history is not a long one, but still I think its enough that I wouldn’t let the r230 ABC problems deter me from getting it on an r231 if I wanted that option.
08-22-2019, 03:32 PM
#13
Member
Agree with Wolfman, who got his post in while I was still writing mine - bad news seems to get amplified in a forum setting. By the way, how many posts do I need to submit before ditching the “Junior Member” label?
Last edited by allfortheunion; 08-22-2019 at 03:39 PM.
The following users liked this post:
rorywquin (08-22-2019)
08-22-2019, 03:43 PM
#14
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Land of 10,000 lakes
Posts: 9,993
Received 3,178 Likes
on
1,980 Posts
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
A good point to bring up, and certainly reading the r230 forum could scare some away from ABC. But I still think the the scarcity of ABC problems posted here is a valid indicator that the system in the r231 with the 3 micron filter and other changes is more reliable than the original r230.
There were about 14,000 r231s sold in the US 2013-2019, with about half of those in 2013 and 2014. How many were equipped with ABC I don’t know, but very few maybe 1 or 2%? But all AMGs are ABC equipped. And ABC is standard in Canada, with sales of 1,500 units 2013-2019. Then there’s MBC, the same suspension with a camera, introduced in the S Class in 2013 as an option. S class sales from 2013-2019 were 117,000. How many were built with MBC again, I don’t know, but it wouldn’t take a very high percentage to give you several thousand vehicles. So altogether three thousand cars at least. Not very many still, and a seven year history is not a long one, but still I think its enough that I wouldn’t let the r230 ABC problems deter me from getting it on an r231 if I wanted that option.
There were about 14,000 r231s sold in the US 2013-2019, with about half of those in 2013 and 2014. How many were equipped with ABC I don’t know, but very few maybe 1 or 2%? But all AMGs are ABC equipped. And ABC is standard in Canada, with sales of 1,500 units 2013-2019. Then there’s MBC, the same suspension with a camera, introduced in the S Class in 2013 as an option. S class sales from 2013-2019 were 117,000. How many were built with MBC again, I don’t know, but it wouldn’t take a very high percentage to give you several thousand vehicles. So altogether three thousand cars at least. Not very many still, and a seven year history is not a long one, but still I think its enough that I wouldn’t let the r230 ABC problems deter me from getting it on an r231 if I wanted that option.
2019 1047
2018 2126
2017 2940
2016 3722
2015 4060
2014 5030
2013 7007
08-22-2019, 03:51 PM
#15
Super Moderator
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Land of 10,000 lakes
Posts: 9,993
Received 3,178 Likes
on
1,980 Posts
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
08-22-2019, 04:22 PM
#16
Member
Thanks for the correction. I got the figures from carsalesbase.com and did a quick sum but somehow typed a completely different number.
And it turns out the answer to my question is 75!
And it turns out the answer to my question is 75!
