CL500 ABC

Boydonegood

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Hi all

Was after some advice. Anyone own a CL that actually uses or notices any difference with the ABC button activated??
Now I'm not no Michael Schumacher, but not exactly Driving Mrs Daisy. But I can hand on heart say I really don't notice, (or realise what I should be noticing) any difference

So, am I missing something good? or should I be glad with the fact it gives a nice warming glow from the red light when switched on?!

I do turn it on everytime prior to loading the Jamarouqi CD. But for what reason I truly don't know. It's just something I think I'm meant to do?!?!

Cheers
 

television

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Your ABC is always activated, the button when pressed puts in into the sport mode or it raises the car, its in your hand book, If you have another button that raises the car then the button you are referring to is the sports mode when the LED is lit
 

whitenemesis

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If you enable the Sport mode it just changes how quickly the car stiffens the suspension when it detects roll. In normal driving you would be hard pushed to notice the difference.

If anything like ADS (the airmatic version of your hydraulic ABC) the car is constantly making adjustments in reaction to driving style and road conditions.
 

television

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If you enable the Sport mode it just changes how quickly the car stiffens the suspension when it detects roll. In normal driving you would be hard pushed to notice the difference.

If anything like ADS (the airmatic version of your hydraulic ABC) the car is constantly making adjustments in reaction to driving style and road conditions.

No it does not, it stiffens the suspension up all round and makes for a harder ride in the sports mode (led lit), not just for any rolling, quite different from air suspension
 
OP
Boydonegood

Boydonegood

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Oh thanks guys

So it's more than a hand warmer from the red led until the heated seats warm up?!

Yeah I do have another switch that raises and lowers the car so as yas say it must be for the sports. Does anyone use it? I really notice no difference at all

Cheers.
 

television

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Oh thanks guys

So it's more than a hand warmer from the red led until the heated seats warm up?!

Yeah I do have another switch that raises and lowers the car so as yas say it must be for the sports. Does anyone use it? I really notice no difference at all

Cheers.

Certainly on the 230 there is not that much difference,, on the CL that followed yours, the CL216 then a marked difference

From the sales book.

At the touch of a button you can change the damping and springing from sporty to comfortable.
 

Mic

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The effect so far as I can tell, on my SL, from the driving seat, is that with Sport mode activated the car is stiffer on the suspension, hardly noticeable for the most part, but importantly the car remains very ''flat'' when driving hard on windy roads, bends generally and r'bouts.
The real benefit is on smooth road surfaces......which are of course something of a rare animal these days.

Mic
 

whitenemesis

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The effect so far as I can tell, on my SL, from the driving seat, is that with Sport mode activated the car is stiffer on the suspension, hardly noticeable for the most part, but importantly the car remains very ''flat'' when driving hard on windy roads, bends generally and r'bouts.
The real benefit is on smooth road surfaces......which are of course something of a rare animal these days.

Mic

Pretty much as MB describe it Mic.

"While active suspension has the potential to actually lean a car into every turn (like a bicycle or motorcycle), Mercedes-Benz engineers use its interplay of hydraulic, electronic and mechanical parts to reduce body roll by 68 percent, still providing the driver with helpful feedback through the vehicle chassis. A comfort/sport switch on the dash can make it 95 percent reduced roll if the driver prefers sportier handling."
 

television

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The thing is unlike air suspension there is next to no roll on any setting with ABC as the hydraulic system contains nothing that can be compressed.
You would be very hard pushed to detect any difference.

I have had the system for some 7 years coming up, it is set very different on AMG cars where different struts are used
 

whitenemesis

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AMG set-up is 40% stiffer at all settings, apparently :cool:
 

television

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The whole point is that the car would need to be fitted with an inclinometer to test, the OP could not detect any difference, I could hardly detect any change on the 230 that is the same age as the OP#s car, but a marked difference on the 216
 

brandwooddixon

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I can tell the difference between normal and sport settings on mine. Perhaps it's because I've kept to 18" rims.

Around town, I'll admit that the difference isn't so great. The ride is slightly harsher over poor surfaces, but it really only becomes noticeable at speed when cornering, or when coming to an abrupt halt.

The best example of its effect that I've had was when driving along thre A66 towards Keswick. There's a series of crests and dips and in normal mode, at a certain speed you seem to hit what can be best called a resonance frequency which can make you feel a little seasick. Switching to sport stops it dead.
 

Will Barber

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Oh thanks guys

So it's more than a hand warmer from the red led until the heated seats warm up?!

Yeah I do have another switch that raises and lowers the car so as yas say it must be for the sports. Does anyone use it? I really notice no difference at all

Cheers.
Had to have a chuckle at your post BDG.

I was just looking at what floats yer boat…. Bentley Turbo-R (I work for Bentley as their main technical author), Fireblade with nitrous (I run a Rickman framed S+S Silver Saxon Kawasaki 1200 turbo), and I’ve just bought a 2005 CL500.!
Don’t worry, I’m not a beaver leaver :lol:
 

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