ABC advice please.

[lordgaz]

Hi all, I am hoping to come back to the Mercedes fold having defected to Jag for a year
I’ve just been to see an immaculate 2003 Merc, 80,000 miles Full Merc history, and all repairs by Merc..
I’m just a little spooked by ABC suspension (only had airmatic til now). It seems it has been a very well maintained ABC (seen all the receipts), but I noted a dip in revs when moving the height from normal to high (2 presses of the button)... is this normal, or a sign of possible actuator issues (it raised up almost instantly)..
Fluid had been changed 2 years ago and now is black.. again, does it just need a change and normal?


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[flowrider]

Black fluid isn't good, my fluid was changed 2.5 years ago and is still green. (Low mileage car).

 

[alexanderfoti]

No need to worry. It's normal. Lifting a car takes a fair bit of energy

Unless it's done 60k in those last 2 years I wouldn't change it. I tend to recommend every 2-3 years and 38k depending on usage scenario.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Black fluid isn't good, my fluid was changed 2.5 years ago and is still green.

New fluid has a tint of black to it. How is op looking at the condition? Can you take a picture of it on a clean tissue from the disptick?

 

[lordgaz]

Thank you.. is there a recommended fluid change period? (Ps.. I meant accumulators not actuators!)


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[alexanderfoti]

Thank you.. is there a recommended fluid change period? (Ps.. I meant accumulators not actuators!)


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MB say sealed for "life".

I recommend 2-3 years /38k

 

[flowrider]

My indi recommended I leave the fluid until 3 years old as I only do about 2k miles a year.

Can the OP inform us of the miles covered since the last fluid change.

 

[lordgaz]

New fluid has a tint of black to it. How is op looking at the condition? Can you take a picture of it on a clean tissue from the disptick?

Hi.. I took a syringe full out of the reservoir to check (I should have photographed it).. it looked pretty dark to me.. all I have left is a droplet in the syringe, and that droplet on a tissue

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[lordgaz]

My indi recommended I leave the fluid until 3 years old as I only do about 2k miles a year.

Can the OP inform us of the miles covered since the last fluid change.

Hi .. about 7000 miles since it was changed October 2017


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[alexanderfoti]

Pretty hard to tell, but it doesn't look horrific on the tissue.

 

[LostKiwi]

Pretty hard to tell, but it doesn't look horrific on the tissue.

Agreed - looked ok to me on the tissue

 

[lordgaz]

No need to worry. It's normal. Lifting a car takes a fair bit of energy

Unless it's done 60k in those last 2 years I wouldn't change it. I tend to recommend every 2-3 years and 38k depending on usage scenario.

It was the info above (from the ABC troubleshooting guide) which spooked me..

Please would some ABC owners on this forum be willing to run this test on their vehicles and report back about any rpm drop results? (Press the ride height button quickly twice and listen for a dip)?



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[alexanderfoti]

The accumulators are only there to help with immediate pressure demands (like a large undulation or speed bump) Where the pump will not be able to keep up. There is not enough stored pressure in the accumulators to lift the car. Think about it, they are the size of a small melon, half filled with gas, half with fluid.

The total fluid stored in them is much less than the struts need to move to lift the car 2 inches. The ram are approx 2.5 inches in diameter.

I disagree with the information posted above.

All accumulators wear in time. I always change them on a new to me ABC car as it gives the system a break from pressure spikes which can break hoses etc, especially when old.

When they are completely gone, you will see a brief red ABC warning on the dash when hitting a bump etc.

 

[Craiglxviii]

My car will drop RPM for a second or two when raising for the first time. I’ll ditto Alex’s comments.

 

[Philedge]

You cant get the energy to lift the car from nowhere. The accumualtors store the pumps energy so its the pump that lifts the car with the intial split second pressure draw coming from the accumulators before the pump does the rest and recharges the accumulators.

If your not sure about the fluid then change it. If you know which fluid is in the system, get a fresh bottle and compare samples. Bottom line is the fluid is lubing £1000s worth of parts and its false economy to run with potentially crappy lube.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Rev dip is normal.
Colour on the tissue looks ok too

 

[lordgaz]

The accumulators are only there to help with immediate pressure demands (like a large undulation or speed bump) Where the pump will not be able to keep up. There is not enough stored pressure in the accumulators to lift the car. Think about it, they are the size of a small melon, half filled with gas, half with fluid.

The total fluid stored in them is much less than the struts need to move to lift the car 2 inches. The ram are approx 2.5 inches in diameter.

I disagree with the information posted above.

All accumulators wear in time. I always change them on a new to me ABC car as it gives the system a break from pressure spikes which can break hoses etc, especially when old.

When they are completely gone, you will see a brief red ABC warning on the dash when hitting a bump etc.

Very interesting to know you change the accumators - Are these a DIY job (and do you change all 3 or just the main 2) - Do you use MB products or aftermarket - And could you advise your expected cost (seems a good idea, if I am to buy this car to at least make a change of fluid, and consider changing the accumulators as a preventative maintenence)

 

[alexanderfoti]

They can be. But on older cars they often rust onto the lines....

They are approx 150 each. Only available from mb. There are 4 in the system, including the pulsation damper.

I would charge approx £750 Inc parts, labour, bleeding and CHF11s for that job, assuming nothing gets stuck etc.

 

[lordgaz]

They can be. But on older cars they often rust onto the lines....

They are approx 150 each. Only available from mb. There are 4 in the system, including the pulsation damper.

I would charge approx £750 Inc parts, labour, bleeding and CHF11s for that job, assuming nothing gets stuck etc.

Alexander - Sounds resonable! I would not discount a visit, though I am in darkest Herefordshire - it would be quite a trip (having seen where you are!) - You're in my contact book now.

What gives me some confidence with this car, is it has been very well maintained, and has 100% mercedes maintenance. Out of all examples of this particular vehicle, I have seen over the past 3 years of looking, it is one of the best examples - If it is ok with you, could I PM the details of it so you can see/give opinion?

 

[alexanderfoti]

Feel free to!

There are lots of indies that may be closer to you. Whereabouts in Herefordshire?

Maybe we can recommend some good indies near you?