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I have been in the car business for over 30 years and one thing I have learned is never believe what you hear or see until you check it out.
We are not even talking about the same engine here. We are comparing AMG 63 5.5 liter v8 vs 4.7 liter SL550 v8 and they claim the part should fit
I appreciate the help received for this problem. The two members you mentioned obviously know what they are talking about however in this case the seller, mboemparts.com clearly states the part won’t fit my car and by the way, I replied the same way he did so before you make reprimands I suggest you look at all the facts
Unfortunately the part was installed last week and it was the wrong part but no refund.
Got the correct part and getting it changed Monday. I will try what you suggested and let you know
Take care
SLDoug
Hello Stevesl550. Thanks for your clear and in dept explanation of the R231 ABC system. I think I will send your write up to the mechanics to put them up to speed on the R231.
I agree with you all the way but here when you buy a part its yours, no returns or refund so I have to be absolutely Shure because the pump is $3700+ labor and the damper is only $ 396 and very little labor.
The correct pulsation Damper for my car was ordered and install is next Monday. I am betting on the damper because beside of the noise, my ABC is working perfectly.
The car is solid on the road with no difference in the sound whether I switch from comfort to sport mode or raise and lower the vehicle. Never had any codes appear on the dash and no codes on the Diagnostic machine. No leak, oil if fine and has a greenish color.
I will know next Monday, I’ll let you know
Take care
SLDoug
Trust all will go well for you when the pulsation damper is replaced. I'd tend to agree with your last post wherein you state no other problems other than the noise/vibration that led us all to the pump pulsation damper (again this too is an "accumulator" but, for some reason MB lists it as they do.....I would call it what it is if were me and name it the ABC Pump Accumulator.
Please advise what the final correct PN is ...............................for the SL550 pump pulsation damper so all of us with a 550 will have the correct PN on hand when we need the part.
Hello Ramg.Just to let you know that mboemparts.com is wrong. Further investigation show’s
that you and E55greasemonkey are correct, the part fits both cars but they still say no.
the part 0004 660 310 aka as 0004 6604 0087 is ordered and will be installed Monday.
No hard feelings
Take care
BTW I love the SL with ABC but, do not like it without.
Now my 2'nd SL550 with ABC (1'st was a 2015 and now the 2018.
I do not like the new R232 SL ( soft top ect)....love the R231 HT Conv and all the other unique features vs the new R232.
I plan to keep the 2018 long term....bought out my lease in 2020 and bought the MB 7 yr ELW so I'm covered for another 3+ yrs but, after that I will consider the Pump Pulsation Damper and the other 3 Accumulators (Front, Rear and Return) as periodic replace parts......still trying to figure out time or what mileage to replace.....New R231 ABC system has lots of improvements to the older R230 system and location of the Accumulators for the R231 a lot easier than for the R230 (still can't understand why your mechanic pulled all the lines off the valve block to replace the Accumulator he incorrectly diagnosed and replaced because as I understand the complete assembly can be pulled out complete by removing 2 mounting locations and relieving the hose hangers to allow the Accumulator to be accessed.
IMPORTANT to keep an eye on ABC fluid color and have MB change fluid and filter when color changes (INSURE you make sure the area around the dip stick is REALLY clean B4 you check fluid level as contamination is death to the system.....AND insure you note that the dipstick is marked one side for engine running and the other for engine off
Good luck and let us know what we feel will be a positive outcome to your repair
I will keep your advice in mind.This is my second SL550. First one was 2007 red with almost white interior. Sold it when it got to 145,000km or about 94,000 miles. Never had a problem with it but when I sold it was starting to give out a buzzing sound.
Presently I have 2013 SL with the AMG package and the original owner bought every single option listed. Got it at 64,000 km 5 months ago now going on 72,000.
This one is really stunning with an Obsidian black exterior and light beige interior. I don’t know why people buy so many features on their car like the Parktronic. I never use it. But it has an incredible Harmon Kardon premium sound system and those small tweeters sitting on both end of the dash have a special look.
I also am going for the long term but too late for ext. warranty. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Regarding the removal of the valve block. I was right over the mechanics shoulder, and I do not think
you can get the pressure regulator without disconnecting the lines.
The valve block slides in on a 4-to-5-inch grooved channel and because of this it limited the play in the lines.
Thanks for the good luck wishes I will let you know how it comes out
I agree Re the 4-5" channel BUT, there are only the inner bracket bolt and the assembly bottom bolt holding the assembly in and once these are removed the assembly can be rotated to allow the pin on the outer side to be pulled out then the lines are only held in by clamps that can be unbolted/removed allowing the lines to move as the valve block/accumulator assembly is moved out. I believe designed such that the accumulator can be removed without removing all the lines from the valve block as all the hard lines terminate or are connected to rubber hosing to allow removal.
Take a look at the 1'st pic in your post above showing all the disassembly and note the bolted in clamp at the top of the wheel well as well as the 2 lines on the inside of the sassily that can be relieved
I believe you will see that the new R231 version was redesigned to allow easier service than was needed on the R230 that did require the lines to be removed for accumulator replacement.
Steve
Last edited by steve sl550; 09-15-2021 at 08:23 PM.
Reason: adding
Hi Stevesl550,
Sorry I did not get back to you sooner.
Work date was changed to Monday 27th at the last minute because my mechanic was away.
Don't worry, you will be advised as soon as the work is done.
Thanks for following up.
Regards
SLDoug
Hi Steve sl550
Well I am back from the dealership and the problem is fixed.
It was the pulsation Damper. For a 2013 R231 SL 550 part # 0004 6604 0087. Cost $ 396 cdn and about 1 hour labor because
they had a hard time getting it off the pump. The built in nut on the end of the damper broke off as it took a lot of torque to get it loose.
Having this problem of screeching and vibrations felt in the steering wheel for the last 3 months did not seem
to have damaged the the ABC pump.......for now.
Most of the people around me persisted that it was the pump and I am happy that I did not listen to them.
Thanks to all who suggested it was the damper.
Best Regards
SL Doug
Now please do us all a favor and see if you can retrieve the front accumulator that was incorrectly installed and if you can look in the open end and see if you can see the rubber diaphragm or insert a screwdriver in the open end and let us know how far in the screwdriver can be inserted. All with ABC systems are trying to determine when might be good time/mileage to replace the front, rear and return accumulators and your findings will be of good use.
Hello Steve,
If you are talking about that was installed by error 3 weeks ago, it's gone because the garbage pickup was the next day.
If you are talking about the one changed this morning, it's in bad shape as it was almost destroyed trying to get it loose.
Finally, it took 2 men and a special type of pliers with a chain to apply enough torque to get it loose. I suspect that my driving
the car for 3 months got it too cook on the pump
SLDoug
Was hoping for analysis of the old one (one from the front left wheel well so we might know condition and make assumption as to expected life of the accumulators.
No need for the pump pulsation damper as we all know that was bad and will file away that it failed at 72,000km so maybe as a PM (preventative maintenance item) we with ABC should consider swapping out @ 50K or so miles.
Following the R230 forum accumulator failures seem to occur @ 60-80000 miles and after 8-10 yrs so maybe as a PM front, rear, return accumulators and the pump pulsation damper should be changed as a PM @ maybe 70,000 miles.
Known fact the the diaphragms in the accumulators will fail with the tell tale being need to add fluid to the ABC tank (as the accumulator or damper fails there is reduced volume in the spheres so the system requires fluid and the pump works harder and if not all accumulators fail at same time putting more stress on the pump
I believe accumulator replacement about 1 1/2 hr each and the accumulators can be replaced without pulling hoses out of the valve blocks
So.....I'm thinking of once I see need to add fluid just replace all 3 accumulators and pulsation damper, change filter, fluid flush and rodeo will be good for another 70K miles???
I truly believe strut leaks and hose failures are caused by excessive pressure build up (failed accumulators causing the system to operate as a solid system without any hydraulic cushion.
@ 4 X 1.5 hrs total labor + parts job should be about $1,000 +/_ and if figured over 7-8 yrs pretty reasonable at $200/yr effectively
Oops....forgot parts:
3 accumulators about $600 ($200 ea), pulsation damper $200, filter and fluid $200...so $1,000 in parts
So.....Total maybe $2,000 ($1,000 labor and $1,000 parts) total after 8 yrs or so
Any other thoughts??
Last edited by steve sl550; 09-27-2021 at 03:55 PM.
Reason: added
I had an older 2007 sl 550 with 145,000 km on it with no repairs except for brake pads and tires.
I prefer to fix it when it fails because we just do not know how long they could last.
Thanks for all your help with this Steve
Best Regards
SLDoug
… will file away that it failed at 72,000km so maybe as a PM (preventative maintenance item) we with ABC should consider swapping out @ 50K or so miles.
…
Any other thoughts??
The pulsation damper on my 2013 SL63 failed after 8 years but only 21k miles. Perhaps premature failure but I honestly do think that both time and miles play a part.
The pulsation damper on my 2013 SL63 failed after 8 years but only 21k miles. Perhaps premature failure but I honestly do think that both time and miles play a part.
If we find pulsation damper failures time related once more data compiled as the 2 posts above indicate both 2013s maybe the pulsation damper is the most critical to replace "time wise" vs just mileage.
Pulsation damper failure may be related to heat issue (being on top of the engine ?
So this looks like the thread to get opinions on ABC. I've heard that the R231 ABC is more reliable than prior years. I've seen way too many posts about ABC problems with the R230s.
I'm pondering moving up from a 2013 SL (w/o ABC) to a 2017 or newer SL. My dilemma now is whether I should consider one with ABC. I test drove a 2017 with ABC about a year ago, but the drive was way too short and so I couldn't really tell the difference. They're relatively rare on the regular SLs, but they're out there and I'm looking at one now that's loaded, including ABC.
So this looks like the thread to get opinions on ABC. I've heard that the R231 ABC is more reliable than prior years. I've seen way too many posts about ABC problems with the R230s.
I'm pondering moving up from a 2013 SL (w/o ABC) to a 2017 or newer SL. My dilemma now is whether I should consider one with ABC. I test drove a 2017 with ABC about a year ago, but the drive was way too short and so I couldn't really tell the difference. They're relatively rare on the regular SLs, but they're out there and I'm looking at one now that's loaded, including ABC.
Is ABC worth the added maintenance headaches?
Absolutely!
We had two R231's with ABC and one on springs. ABC pays you back with an improved driving experience every time you get in the car and there have been more or less zero issues on the R231 for the last 9 years.
This has been discussed literally as long as the car has been out so there are lots of similar threads on this forum. The nay sayers used to say let's just wait and see; well, now the R231 has been discontinued and barely a blip.
Nothing like the R230's which experienced major pump failures as little as 2-3 years in. If a $150 pulsation damper makes noises on an 8 year old car I would call this a non-issue. A flat tire will cost you more...
Ummm Wolfman, a slightly optimistic view I think.
- Pulsation damper replacements, parts and labor, are in the $400+ range, a bit more than a flat tire I think.
- At least one member posted about a complete failure of his R231 ABC system necessitating hose and pump replacement, etc.
- A few (4-5 that I’ve seen) posts have been about the need to replace leaking ABC shocks for $$$$, as the parts are strictly MB dealer only.
- And finally, as you yourself have pointed out I believe, ABC was a not-so-common option on the R231s vs standard (or much more common) on the R230s, hence automatically a difference in the volume of complaints.
I’m certainly not complaining about the ABC in my R231 SL63 but neither have I ceased to mentally save for some expensive repairs in the months/years to come.
Well,
He "the Wolfman" may be, to some extent right, my R230 ABC system had ZERO problems in more than 10 years I've owned the car, so you should be ok since apparently the "new" ABC system is an improved one....
09-15-2021, 12:13 PM
