SL55 AMG, SL63 AMG, SL65 AMG (R230) 2002 - 2011 (2003 US for SL55 and 2004 for the SL65)

SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Coilover conversion Final Review! It's a must

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Old Jul 14, 2015 | 03:38 AM
  #26  
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SL55 F1 Audi R8 V10 spyder Range Rover Sport
OK I understand. Thanks for that & all your threads
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Old Jul 17, 2015 | 04:39 AM
  #27  
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SL500 R230
I have Done The coilover conversion also:-)
It's so nice to know that my car has no ABC anYmore^^






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Old Jul 17, 2015 | 08:40 AM
  #28  
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SL55 F1 Audi R8 V10 spyder Range Rover Sport
Hi XK77 Got to say your car looks fantastic. Did you use KW?? What sway bars did you use?? How long ago did you do the conversion. How do you find it in comparison to ABC.
Any ifo & specs you can give me would be greatly appreciated
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Old Jul 17, 2015 | 09:16 AM
  #29  
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SL500 R230
Hey my Friend. Yes i use The KW V3. I try to use the swaybars from The sl65 BS but it was a Little bit difficult to find out if it will fit in my car. So in The end use The swaybars out of an normal sl350 without ABC Suspension.

I do the conversion one year before. At the beginning i Drive the car without swaybars. It was Horror. Then the new Saison in this year begin and i put the swaybars in it.

In my opinion it is a Lot better than ABC. Of course in some points You can not Lie to Yourself.

I Would do the conversion again!
I feel saver on the road. The car İs much sportive now.
I hope i Can help a Little bit
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Old Jul 18, 2015 | 03:22 AM
  #30  
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SL55 F1 Audi R8 V10 spyder Range Rover Sport
Thanks for the quick response. I'm not very technical so can you tell me if there are variations of KW3 & if so which one did you use??. I've just had to replace the front right strut & this has now shown a problem with the back left strut strut. Also I need a new ABC pump. I have bought rebuilt parts from service@exclusiv-automobile.de . as Arnott appear to have stopped supplying these for some reason. It has saved me about 50% on what I would have paid Mercedes for the parts. The back Left & ABC pump are on the way to me now so hopefully they will be fitted next week. The next time I have a problem I will do a conversion as the cost of replacements are stupid. Ive had my Sl55 now for 6 years & I intend keeping it for a long time as I enjoy it so much
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Old May 16, 2016 | 12:58 AM
  #31  
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SL55 AMG R230
Originally Posted by JadAwada
Those are some pics. The car is low, and looks sporty. But just to mention that my coilovers have H&R springs for the R230.

I'll take pictures for each side today, and upload them
I just had mine done at Rebuild Master Tech in Florida to make my sl55 into a coilover conversion. I love the way my car looks now but their are 2 things I don't really like about my car right now; 1 was that it was way to low to the ground. It was only about 4.5 in. ground clearance in the front bumper to the ground. I had to take it to Midas to get it raised a little now at 5.2 in. They did a nice job to raise it. They said they couldn't raised the front anymore because the coil will get more expanded and wear out the coil in short time. I couldn't take back to Rebuild Master Tech because I am in a different state for now. With the ABC system had no issues because I always had it on the highest level because where I live had some terrible roads. My front ground clearance is about 5.2 in. and back is about 7.6 in. Before with the ABC system front was 7.1 in. and back was about 8.5 in. on the highest level for ground clearance. 2nd issue I had was that the car rides really stiff and you can feel every single bump you hit. It's like driving a corvette. If I knew these 2 issues, honestly I would stuck back to ABC system. I really didn't realize how stiff the rides are, it's a huge difference riding experience from ABC to coilover conversion. I hope in the future there much smoother coilover conversion kit out there. They installed high-end bilstein shock absorbers on my car.

My question to you, how does your car ride? What is your measurement from the ground to your front bumper for ground clearance?
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Old Sep 2, 2020 | 02:18 AM
  #32  
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Are the sl 350 suspension parts strong enough to carry sl55 amg?

Originally Posted by JadAwada
With all the problems I expected to have, I expected that this conversion will make me regret making it one day.

Now that the car is converted since 2 months, drove it for more than 1500 KM.

The car doesn't feel much stiffer than the hydraulic for those who are afraid.

But guess what.. The SL55 with the coilovers is more responsive, a drifting car, a joy to drive, a car that makes perfect sideways. The active body interferes in the car's stability, however coilovers let you play the way you want. And noticed much better handling.

On a scale of 1 to 5.. I'll tell anyone that this conversion is an upgrade that you will need to enjoy your ride.

For all those who are still afraid, the SL350 suspension for me wasn't a downgrade, it provided me what I needed, and for 2 months not a single problem. No hoses to blow lol!!!
Are the sl 350 parts strong enough? Weight, speeds, breaking,...?
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Old Sep 2, 2020 | 05:57 PM
  #33  
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From: Dawesville, West Australia
2006 E55, 2006 SL55, 2006 LS7 Ute
My RMT coil over with anti roll bars install is perfect, ride, ride height, all perfect

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Old Sep 4, 2020 | 01:17 AM
  #34  
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From: Dawesville, West Australia
2006 E55, 2006 SL55, 2006 LS7 Ute
[QUOTE=trabots;8148203]My RMT coil over with anti roll bars install is perfect, ride, ride height, all perfect]

Just to clarify, my "perfect" means a bit rougher ride than ABC in 'sport' but entirely in keeping with my former 'hair dresser's' car being turned into a 700-800 bhp sports car. To each their own but I now have the satisfaction that the ABC will never cost me money ever again. I may be a 68 yo geezer but I still like to mash the pedal.

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Old Dec 21, 2021 | 08:28 PM
  #35  
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2004 SL55 AMG
So, no concerns about the sl55 being 450 pounds heavier than the SL350?
Also, is ride height adjustable on RMT shocks?
Finally, did front sway bar fit (without mods/grinding/hitting oil pan) and does it seem heavy enough to do the job?
Thanks,
Tom
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Old Jan 26, 2022 | 11:15 AM
  #36  
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2004 SL55 AMG
Originally Posted by Tomcat SL
So, no concerns about the sl55 being 450 pounds heavier than the SL350?
Also, is ride height adjustable on RMT shocks?
Finally, did front sway bar fit (without mods/grinding/hitting oil pan) and does it seem heavy enough to do the job?
Thanks,
Tom
See above questions...also I am installing the Neomax shocks with 24 firm/soft adjustments...and recommendations to get close to the original factory ride-quality feeling?
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Old Jan 26, 2022 | 11:59 AM
  #37  
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Do y'all live in an area where it is mostly flat? The greatest benefit of ABC to me is the ability to raise it up because with a 1/2" lower stance, I will grind on every little thing on the lowest setting. How has a permanent level setting of coilovers been to live with in that regard?

Last edited by 6_Myles; Jan 26, 2022 at 12:07 PM.
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Old Jan 26, 2022 | 01:25 PM
  #38  
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There are certainly benefits to the ABC system, but for some the cost, maintenance, and having a system that can and will leave you stranded is not worth it.

My car is very low and I never hit the bumper or exhaust tips. The only time this happens is when it needs to go on a rollback . When the abc drops that’s when the damage occurs for me.


I don’t live in a hilly region though.
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Old Jan 28, 2022 | 10:06 PM
  #39  
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From: Dawesville, West Australia
2006 E55, 2006 SL55, 2006 LS7 Ute
Here is my 2006 SL55 with coilovers and swaybars installed after 2plus years. I agree with Jad Awada, my car is now much nicer to blast around in. It corners flatter and doesn't feel any stiffer than 'sport' mode. My E55 has also been converted and I have the same impressions with it.

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Old Jan 29, 2022 | 08:11 AM
  #40  
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2004 SL55 AMG
Originally Posted by trabots
Here is my 2006 SL55 with coilovers and swaybars installed after 2plus years. I agree with Jad Awada, my car is now much nicer to blast around in. It corners flatter and doesn't feel any stiffer than 'sport' mode. My E55 has also been converted and I have the same impressions with it.
Looks great!
I visited and loved Perth, Fremantle, and Margaret River...never got to Dawesville. Visited Royal Perth Yacht Club when Australia had the America's Cup.
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Old Feb 4, 2022 | 06:03 PM
  #41  
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2004 SL55 AMG
My installer and I are in the middle of my coilover (Silver;s NEOMAX) and VVK sway bars.
Did you guys just remove the reservoir and leave the “heat shield” (outlined in red in attached picture). We cannot see a way to remove just the front part of the heatshield, is there some bolt we are overlooking. We may just hack/trim at the yellow line to get rid of the reservoir and attached heat shield.

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Old Nov 30, 2024 | 01:50 PM
  #42  
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2006 SL55 AMG
did you need to get a bracket for the power steering pump? if so, please send me the part #. The single power pump i purchased did not have the bracket. thanks in advance.
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Old Nov 30, 2024 | 08:39 PM
  #43  
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2004 SL55 AMG
Originally Posted by Ajai Thomas
did you need to get a bracket for the power steering pump? if so, please send me the part #. The single power pump i purchased did not have the bracket. thanks in advance.
As I recall, my installer trimmed/cut the original bracket heat shield off (and painted the raw cut black) to get rid of the (now unnecessary) original reservoir mounting location and leaving the power steering pump mounting location.

Last edited by Tomcat SL; Nov 30, 2024 at 08:41 PM.
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