Did you get your sway bar kit from VVK? I would assume that they'd send the proper sway bar links to clear the sump. I am waiting my kit at the moment. I took off all the abc parts and struts already and put a new power steering pump. I am kind of nervous about the fitments for the sway bars though. I spoke to VVK and they were not 100% sure either So we'll see.
No , im in the UK and trying to do a budget job on this , maybe i'll have to get a VVK bar but lets see how this goes first . Mines an SL350 version from the lower spec car , ive also removed all ABC , changed the pump and coded out the worst of the messages too . Im currently doing the Drop link job so this is a current problem im trying to solve . I think if i was starting again id make a Solid Nylon bush with a steel tube and an M14 Bolt in the centre, the rest of the drop link needs an M14 bolt to the Sway bar , same on the ball joint but it has the Hex drive that prevents use of a rose joint !!
No , im in the UK and trying to do a budget job on this , maybe i'll have to get a VVK bar but lets see how this goes first . Mines an SL350 version from the lower spec car , ive also removed all ABC , changed the pump and coded out the worst of the messages too . Im currently doing the Drop link job so this is a current problem im trying to solve . I think if i was starting again id make a Solid Nylon bush with a steel tube and an M14 Bolt in the centre, the rest of the drop link needs an M14 bolt to the Sway bar , same on the ball joint but it has the Hex drive that prevents use of a rose joint !!
how did you code out the abc warning lights? Thanks!
It looks great! Congrats! Did you fabricate those links or you bought them? If so I might need those adjustable links for myself too. VVK sway bar didn't clear the SL55 sump so I got sl350 sway bar but I have feeling I need an adjustable links. I haven't finished the installation yet. Thank you!
I fabricated them , M14 Rose Joints and M14 Threaded bosses let into some Decent quality steel tube , i bought a used pair of CLS front drop links and cut the lower sections off them - they have the same Hex detail on them but were only £20 the pair off e-bay . Why didnt the VVK bar clear your sump , Sean says he makes a specific SL55 one , the SL500 only has a shallow sump ?? My only issue is at full Droop the roll bar sits up in the V of the sump , otherwise theres a good 1" of clearance at ride height , in fact the lower you go the better it gets !!
I'm interested in installing the coil over. I got Leland's SL65 and plan to do wide body as well as turbo upgrade and coil over. Anybody knows great shop that will do this in Chicagoland or even WI area
Realizing I am much more than a day late on this. But my baby. 03 SL 500 with 9600 original miles (I am the only owner) finally blew the hoses on its front pressure reservoir and considering the age of ALL the rubber hoses I am considering either replacing ALL the rubber hoses OR installing a coil over system .
Can you please offer an opinion and a recommendation - if you were in my situation...
Realizing I am much more than a day late on this. But my baby. 03 SL 500 with 9600 original miles (I am the only owner) finally blew the hoses on its front pressure reservoir and considering the age of ALL the rubber hoses I am considering either replacing ALL the rubber hoses OR installing a coil over system .
Can you please offer an opinion and a recommendation - if you were in my situation...
Many thanks in advance
Ron Martin
Tampa
Just have the hoses rebuilt by a local hydraulic hose shop. that's what i did. i also had them weld AN fittings on the end of each hard line section that way in the future i can easily remove/replace the rubber section of each line when it is bad without having to remove the entire line. to properly put in sway bars you have to lower the subframe. it is a big job. if everything else is fine just replace the hoses that are weeping on the ends. that is the signal they are going bad. it is possible you need to replace your accumulators too. when those go bad it puts a lot of extra stress on the hoses
Yep, nothing beats the ride and handling of a properly maintained ABC system. I like what carguy has suggested regarding the fittings on each end of the hoses.
I'd encourage you to go ahead and replace the accumulators if they're original parts. it's what I did when I got my 08 with 28,000 miles on it a few years ago. Better safe than sorry, they will fail eventually and if you don't catch it early the metal shaving can destroy a good part of the entire system. $1,000 now or potentially $4,000 later. JMO...................
The ABC system requires constant maintenance, the coilovers dont. You will have plenty of other repairs to do on this car. If you like the ABC system and like spending money, keep it and keep fixing it. If you want to lower the maintenance cost and such, coilover is the answer.
I find it funny that I have hydraulic equipment that is over 50 years old with original hoses pumps cylinders etc, but Mercedes stuff doesn’t seem to last a fraction of that.
Yes you’re right, It’s very rare that these systems fail. I can’t imagine why these companies would spend thx money to develop these coilover packages when these systems last for hundreds of thousands of miles.
All 3 r230 I own have failed , 43,000 miles , 67,000 miles and 107,000 miles.
between accumulators valve blocks, pumps and hoses it’s a maintenance item. I’m glad yours is good,.
Many thanks "carguyshu", While I am trying to make this VERY difficult decision on trying to retain/rebuild my OEM ABC system - or move on with a coil over system, I am trying to familiarize /learn the ABC system to anticipate what is the more intelligent approach. Seems the weakest link in the ABC chain for OLDER R230s (mileage NOT withstanding) is- AGING RUBBER ! and the various rubber sections in the entire system...remembering 3000PSI.on the rubber links.
This begs the question - Did you consider using braided stainless steel brake lines as replacement for the various rubber links?
IF I decide to refurbish and retain the ABC system .. I would like to make it a bit better than original.
BTW, I am not familiar with the AN connectors.can you illuminate for me?
Pressure side hoses that are exposed to heat are the ones that fail. Return lines there typically aren’t issues with especially ones not in the engine compartment. These aren’t just rubber hoses they have a braided core.
The best thing you can do is protect them from heat by wrapping them. Here’s a pic showing the fittings welded on and the heat wrap I put on all the hoses. All I have to do in the future is detach the flexible rubber part of the line and have that part rebuilt. This was cheaper than buying new from Mercedes’ too.
Many thanks for your reply.
After reading MANY lengthy lines on this site, BENZWORLD, and other sources, there seems to be more given complaints and questions about the ABC system without practical well-thought-out solutions on the system. We all know the ABC system is well engineered - but poorly constructed for logical maintenance and lasting repairs.
Your input is the first one I have found, that really attempts to rationally resolve some of the aspects of maintaining the ABC system for the R230 community!
Having flown for many years, I have learned that not all well engineered systems are finally produced in a quality lasting manner.
Since one primary reason of MBWORLD is to share useful information. I propose that the R230 owners take on an "informational project" to pool practical ABC information into ONE area - that is easily accessible, without having to spend hours to obtain useful information.
Perhaps a layman's compendium containing simple easy to understand diagrams of the ABC components - with amplification of what each component does - along with the high and low pressure contained therein- along with known high failure parts would help all ABC drivers.
We all should know to flush, change filters, and RODEO the systems frequently. (I do this every year on my 9600mile car) but AGE seems to be the real culprit along with heat.!.
Yes the hose life expectancy is a function of age & heat. The accumulators should be replaced every 10 years or 100k MAX. To get out all of the fluid it’s best to open the bleeder valve near each strut that way you for sure get all the old fluid out.
Realizing I am much more than a day late on this. But my baby. 03 SL 500 with 9600 original miles (I am the only owner) finally blew the hoses on its front pressure reservoir and considering the age of ALL the rubber hoses I am considering either replacing ALL the rubber hoses OR installing a coil over system .
Can you please offer an opinion and a recommendation - if you were in my situation...
Many thanks in advance
6 months before I bought it..Done in Florida 6
Ron Martin
Tampa
With that low miles and if been garage kept and out of weather for years..Fix it..the early models had issues..Some at low miles some hi.just never sure when..my 2003 SL500 Had the VVK full set up put on it 6 months before I bought it....Titanium springs Aircraft aluminum blocks heavy front an rear sway bars..Invoice was $5300..you can get cheaper kits..It is a great adjustable set up but it is not as smooth as original..depending on adjustment..One thing I do like is I raised the back 1 1/2 inches higher than front changes whole looks..Anyway keep it orignal.
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Thanks Paul,
Please explain what you mean by "keep it original". Are you saying do NOT install coil overs and repair the OEM ABC system? While keeping the nice ABC system intact. IMO at its age and complexities, it would constantly require repairs and maintenance costs and wind up as a money pit !
I have read damn near every thread on this site and BenzWorld by R230 owners. Nearly every thread describes continuous ABC problems with several revisits to the shop. When new, it WAS the latest and greatest suspension system on the road. However, the Mercedes engineers must have never met the folks that deal with the realities of aging on parts and systems.
While I LOVE my car for its design and technical advances, the quality of some materials is - IMO poor.
I have owned about twelve Mercedes (and obviously love them), but some beg for improvements, guess that Mercedes went to Porsche for the 500E is a good example.
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
So we'll see. 
