Some thoughts and ideas:

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??

 

The R231 has been around 10 years now. I follow several MB related forums and your problem is the first I’ve read about on a R231.

Maybe MB have fixed the issues that the R230 had and you have been unlucky.

I suppose what I’m asking is if ABC maintenance is an issue on the R231.

I do very low mileage in mine 17,000 in 4 years so do not expect to have to worry about it soon (fingers crossed).

 

If we find pulsation damper failures time related once more data compiled as 2 recent posts in a different thread indicate (both are 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 ?

 

I’m just wondering about how much of an issue it really is.

Could it be unique to the 2013 model or even unique to V8s (anything about issues on earlier R231 models). Maybe there was a part upgrade in the 2014 model.......who knows.

Where is it located on my lowly (according to some) V6 - presumably in the same place?

 

If memory serves, we had a pulsation damper replaced on our 2013 SL.
The SA considered it a fix for a noisy suspension rather than a repair of any significance, similar to noisy roof.

Since we only had the car for 30 months and less 25k it was neither old or had any amount of miles.

Since it looks like the part number was superseeded, it may have been also an issue with the part.
Personally it makes perfect sense to stay on top of maintenance (fluids, lubrication, earlier schedules) but preemptively swapping working parts seems to be a bit overdone…

 

My car has done 17500miles and had 4 full services. I guess I’m staying on top of it .