How about an update. I just got the Strutmasters' kit and have yet to install it. VVK-USA apparently has a kit with sway bars. Writing them, they will sell the sway bars separately for about $1000.

 

how did your conversion work out? Kit plus anti sway bar?
THAnks

 

Quick question, can the original struts be sold? trying to recuperate some costs.

 

$300 ea. Shipping paid by Arnott. Arnott Pays Cash for Cores - Arnott® Air Suspension

 

The link from first post is dead. Where can I buy the set?
I have a friend who installed a few years ago to his SL500 R230 coilovers set of mixed w211, r230 (SL350) and bilstein suspension parts. Runs great with sway bars for budget about USD1200.

 

The link from first post is dead. Where can I buy the set? I have a friend who installed a few years ago to his SL500 R230 coilovers set of mixed w211, r230 (SL350) and bilstein suspension parts. Runs great with sway bars for budget about USD1200.

can you tell me what parts are needed to buy?

 

@tonyhill32, try this link
ABC (Active Body Control) Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 2003-2006 (R230) Base ABC Hydropneumatic Suspension Parts

I visited Strutmaster.com and they seem to have the kit for $1690 without the steering pump and sway bars.
Also another option is the sport version at a higher price via VVK
https://vvk-usa.myshopify.com
Hope this helps

 

The whole story for an SL55, including sway bars:

 

Seyath-
You have me sold. Price is way down to $1500 including the error fixer. If still true that Arnot buys cores, this is a no brainer is except - are you still running on them and still happy?????

 

Seyath, the original poster hasn't been around for the last 6 years. He only posted twice on this forum, then disappeared.

FWIW, IF you're dead set on doing the conversion, do yourselves a favor and do it right, with sway bars.

Without them your car may well work fine in a straight line, but not in a turn at any speeds above 10 mph. It will dip into the turn to the point of nearly scraping your side. Plus I'm not sure how safe it will be in a panic stop, with the nose dipping under the other car.

 

Thank you Dudeman. Appreciate the sound advice. One of my rear lines blew rather explosively and getting the line out after 15 hours of hard labor was truly impossible without a lift. I see the conversion my only alternative. I can sell the struts for $1200 and the tandem pump for $700, netting $200. The pump was required because the line blew and the conversion kit requires good lines to use their end caps. Strut masters is dead set against sway bars for some reason and states they

 

VVK-USA offers a complete delete kit, including a new power steering pump, sway bars, and adjustable coil-overs for about $3900. Send Arnott your old struts for $300 ea (that's $1200 for those without a calculator), so your net cost is $2700 (plus labor).

 

Good advice. Thank you.

 

Here is the first installment video of the simple way to do the VVK coilover conversion. No need to completely remove the crossmember. Always remember to replace the motor mounts when doing this unless they have very low miles on them.

Part 2 will be ready in 1-2days, and part 3 is the easiest part; bolting the coilovers in!

 

Here is the first installment video of the simple way to do the VVK coilover conversion. No need to completely remove the crossmember. Always remember to replace the motor mounts when doing this unless they have very low miles on them.

Part 2 will be ready in 1-2days, and part 3 is the easiest part; bolting the coilovers in!

 

Hello From Canada
When will next parts be ready...interested in the full VVK suspension kit for R230 SL500 and any installation problems you encountered...Also, any ideas on a good installer close to Toronto to Kingston area. My 2005 baby has only 34,500 miles on the clock. My front 2 hoses center low (that go to each strut) show signs of weeping a bit and I don't know if I can get a hydraulic repair center to attach new hoses to the metal pipes on either side.

 

Hi J. did you already email us?

 

Here’s the Silver’s Neomax Coilovers and also the power steering pump for the conversion of you decide to remove the ABC pump.

https://www.goldelementautoworks.com...215-cl500-cl55



https://www.goldelementautoworks.com...s-r230-03-11-1

 

I am seriously considering ordering the VKK kit with sway bars.

It seems their product is the right spend for our cars, being of very good quality coilovers, with the sway bars front and rear. I'm not putting coilovers in my car without decent sway bars.

The time to fit the coilovers, it seems to me, is when the ABC system is working. Mine is - sort of - but here is my logic and I'm most interested in other members' opinions. And particularly feedback from anyone who has fitted the VKK kit.

1) The system is full of aging and critical high pressure lines which can rupture and leave you stranded miles from nowhere. Not being able to limp home is a serious negative.

2) In six years' ownership, I've had to replace my pump (which I think is faulty anyway), replace all four accumulators, rebuild both valve blocks, fluid flush and a couple of high pressure lines. Not too bad and I am not complaining about the cost. It's that life is too short to be constantly maintaining the thing. All the high pressure lines will eventually have to be replaced. One of my struts is leaking. They are very expensive down here, and how long until the other three go?

3) Reports are that the handling is improved with this kit and the ride is nearly as good. I expect to lose the magic-carpet ride as it is now though, as I am riding on new accumulators.

4) I reckon that the wrong kit - low cost coilovers and no roll bars - would probably devalue the car. The right kit - like the VKK would probably add value to the car. With all I know about the R230 and ABC now, if I was buying one now, I'd buy one with the right coilover system so as not to have to worry about the ABC.

5) If you take out the ABC then the R230 suddenly seems pretty robust and trouble-free. Leave out the normal things - tyres, brakes, batteries, filters, fluids etc and you're left with a few - but not many - specific trouble spots. Engine mounts, roof hydraulic cylinders, boot lock and auto tranny electroplates, all of which aren't too hard to manage.

6) I paid $55,000.00 for my 500 in 2015. They are now being advertised here for $60,000.00 - $90,000.00. Going up. Not down!

7) I can sell many of my good parts leftover on eBay and get some money back.

Any opinions gratefully received.

Tom

 

Over the last couple of years there have been countless threads outlining ABC failure either at a strut level or complete system meltdown. Opinions get thrown around, engineers get flamed and the topic of converting the ABC system to a standard coilover suspension gets mentioned, acclaimed but never fully explored. Everyone always talks about someone who knows someone who has done the conversion but no questions are ever answered.

My car is a '03 SL500. I have been running coilovers for 5000 miles now so I'll answer any questions once and for all and let's see if we can make a sticky out this thread for future reference.

First of all, let's start with the ABC system.
Yes, it will fail. There are no "if's" but rather "when". The design isn't particularly brilliant and the pressure generated by the hydraulic fluid far exceeds what the seals on the struts and the pump are designed to handle. Hence once it fails, if fails massively. Furthermore, replacing all 4 struts, pump, block and lines will not only exceed the cost of a used SL in today's market, but it will inevitably also fail.

Where do you get the conversion kit?
StrutMasters SL500 Kits
There are two kits available.
The first is the Coilover system for $1595.
For an extra $200 you get a light fix module. The module is a series of resistors that will block the warning from the ABC sensors to the Comand system. That way rather than a flashing red warning that you cannot disable, you simply get a "Warning: ABC Display Malfunction" message that you can click through. Considering Mercedes charges over $2000 for each hydraulic strut, do yourself the favor and get the light fix module.

Do I need to modify anything?
No. The kit is a direct bolt on. They include the hardware to cap off the ABC lines at the struts. Other than that the coilovers mount at the same points your original suspension does.

Is there a kit available for my 55/600/63/65?
Unfortunately there aren't any kits available out there for the different R230 versions.

Is there a sway bar available?
If anyone has it, I have yet to find it. Would the car ride better with one? Absolutely. Does it ride well enough for me not to care? Absolutely.

How does it ride?
Let's start off the bat and say it: coilovers will never ride as smooth as a hydraulic suspension.
Once the ABC is off, you begin to realize just how heavy the chassis is.
The ride is tight but comfortable. The rebound on the coilovers is noticeable but not unlike an E500. All in all, it makes for a comfortable ride that is predictable under hard driving.
I have driven the car from New York City to Arizona with no trouble whatsoever and have logged on over 5K miles as of today.

Do i have a need to keep the ABC/Power Steering Pump?
The R230 has a tandem pump that operates both the ABC and the Power Steering system. A new pump is $1360 from Genuine Mercedes and even a used specimen will fetch upwards of $700 at a junkyard.
Luckily for you, once the conversion is completed there is no need for a tandem pump anymore.
I sourced a power steering pump from a 2001 S500 without ABC for less than $100 (any year W220 without ABC should do it).
Two out of the three mounting bolts line up perfectly and the stock lines from your R230 can be rerouted with minimal work.
Extra bonus: You get to use regular power steering fluid from Autozone or Walmart rather than having to track down CHF 11S at $30 a liter.

So there it is.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask away and I will do my best to answer.

Thanks for the great information. i have a 2004 SL500. Should I consider the conversion before failure?

 

Well, I've been vacillating for ages and have decided to stick with the ABC for now. I've done the pump, fluid and filter, all four accumulators, rebuilt two hoses:

Rebuilding the main ABC line - AKA the 'car...

This is the main line that goes from the pump to the pulsation dampener/valve block union on first generation ABC R230s. I don't know if it's the same on ABC2 cars. This line is in two pieces. The first piece has two separate flexible sections. Mine wasn't leaking but I decided to rebuild it...

www.benzworld.org

Rebuilt both valve blocks and aside from a minor strut leak it's all tip top now.

All of what I have done is well within the limits of the home mechanic.

The most important maintenance to avoid failure I think is to inspect all the hoses regularly; any that are sweating should be changed as a precaution.

It's hard to know which cars are going to be worth more - those with fully maintained ABC or those with quality coilover conversions. I'm thinking the former for now.

 

It's hard to know which cars are going to be worth more - those with fully maintained ABC or those with quality coilover conversions. I'm thinking the former for now.

Without question, low milage stock maximizes the resell pool and $$.

But one of the happiest days in my life was when I discovered my car had already been converted to a Strutmaster set-up.

 

I am hearing Neomax is better. Any thoughts?

Silver's NEOMAX Coilovers Mercedes SL Class (R230) 2003-2011

Perfect replacement for your failed ABC system or ABC delete. Fits SL500, SL550, SL600, SL55 AMG, SL63 AMG and SL65 AMG models. To defeat ABC light on dash, remove both ABC fuses from fuse box under hood, you can clear the error message by hitting the menu button on the steering wheel, or most...

silvers-na.com

 

This is the kit I was considering.

I'm very happy I fixed my ABC but if I was going coilovers I'd look at V8 & V6 R230 Mercedes 30-Way Adjustable Coilover Kit with Adjustable Sway Bars and Power Steering (SL500, SL550, SL55 AMG, SL63 AMG, SL350)

There are pages of discussion on whether you need sway bars or not. Personally I would consider them an essential safety measure which makes the VVK kit attractive.

 

This is the kit I was considering.

I'm very happy I fixed my ABC but if I was going coilovers I'd look at V8 & V6 R230 Mercedes 30-Way Adjustable Coilover Kit with Adjustable Sway Bars and Power Steering (SL500, SL550, SL55 AMG, SL63 AMG, SL350)

There are pages of discussion on whether you need sway bars or not. Personally I would consider them an essential safety measure which makes the VVK kit attractive.

Sway bars have nothing to do with safey. They keep the car flat when cornering. Reducing that ability to roll over actually makes the car easier to slide as now the tire sidewall is the only thing "giving" and moderating the lean angle. So a hard cornering car with swaybars will lean less and the tires will actually lose traction earlier than a non swaybar equiped vehicle that can lean more before the tires break loose.

 

As mentioned, I kept my ABC thankfully but anyone considering the coilovers would do well to read all the threads, especially Are the anti-sway bars a must after coil-over conversions? - MBWorld.org Forums

There are some alarming reports of unpredictable behaviour under emergency manoeuvres without the sway bars. They're fitted to coilover cars for a reason.

 

As mentioned, I kept my ABC thankfully but anyone considering the coilovers would do well to read all the threads, especially Are the anti-sway bars a must after coil-over conversions? - MBWorld.org Forums

There are some alarming reports of unpredictable behaviour under emergency manoeuvres without the sway bars. They're fitted to coilover cars for a reason.

Not all cars come with swaybars and you seem to think they do a lot more than they really do. They are not a necessary thing for safety thats for sure. Most cars with swaybars will spin much easier than they do without bars. You remove the ability of the car to lean to the suspensions max extension and now can only lean (comparatively) on the tires sidewalls. I know this is an old thread but mis-information should be stopped.

 

I just purchased my 2009 SL550 in April/22. It had 50,000 miles and is a very nice car. It had no leaks when purchased but after I drove it home (500 miles) it had developed a leak in the RR. I had already planned on removing the ABC system and after some research decided on the RMT system with sway bars and new power steering pump.
This was a big job but the final result was well worth it. The sway bars appear to be original MB (probably SL350) and the links as well, lowering the K members was not that difficult. The car has a great stance and handles very well. Ride is not quite as compliant as with ABC but it is a heavy car and still rides OK.

 

Mine is in the shop getting the pump switched out for a power steering only. The pump itself seems to be OK it's an ABC line that's the issue.

No problems to report with the Strutmasters set up so far. I do not expect the car to handle similar to the Porsches I've had so I drive accordingly.

 

I will add to my post, when I did the strut conversion I still had the ABC red warning and even though the car ran and drove well, things like the cruise control did not work. I purchased the Strutmasters Module and now the light can be turned off and all systems are working.

 

Where does your height sit now? I was told by Strutmaster 27" is the target. My rears are 27, front is 26 and I do get the occasional rub. We're looking into a spacer or a new set of springs from them.

That module is mandatory as far as I'm concerned and cheap at twice the price.

 

26"" Front and 27" rear to center of wheel openings. I have not had any rubbing or body contact. maybe you need stiffer springs?

 

Is this the right place for a 2004 sl 600 question?

 

Welcome to the forum @John7 - please take a moment to read the information on the link below. It explains how to update your user profile so that your car's details and your location appear on each post below your avatar. This is good information for others to know when trying to help. It also has good information about how the forums are organized and how to use the search feature:

Find your Forum Section, Navigate & Search

Yes, a MY2004 SL600 is an R230 and this is the forum for that. If your questions are regarding coil-over suspensions, then feel free to post in this thread. If not, then start your own thread for your questions.

 

I have an 03 SL 55 and want to do the conversion, but I am stuck on which company to use. I read too many mixed reviews. I am curious though, on the power steering pump, is the fluid still coming from the original PS reservoir?

 

I've got Strutmasters, overall it's been good. They aren't adjustable and ride a little low in front. Someday I might add a 1/2 inch spacer. I'd look at the Neomax since they are adjustable.

The power steering pump switch out is the easiest part.