ABC SUSPENSION

[steve.link]

How often should the fluid in the ABC suspension be changed? Can't find any reference to this. My car is a 2014 W222 with 55K miles

 

[Larkone]

There is an extensive sticky write up on ABC at the top of this forum

ABC how it all works

This is worthy of the DIY section, it took ages to compile. http://mercedes-abc-drive-carefully.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/overview-abc-system-isthe-key-part-of.html

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

 

[Wighty]

How often should the fluid in the ABC suspension be changed? Can't find any reference to this. My car is a 2014 W222 with 55K miles

Don’t you have air suspension?

 

[Submariner1]

How often should the fluid in the ABC suspension be changed? Can't find any reference to this. My car is a 2014 W222 with 55K miles

Max every 40K, personally would do every 20K.
VIP to change Filter too.
Note the newer (2009 > ) abc reservoir has a funny, namely the feed is reversed. You need a special tool to avoid the dirty fluid reentering the system, when you Rodeo the car.

 

[Richard Moakes]

Will be doing mine very soon, once I replace the rear accumulator. Current fluid does not look good (dark), got 15L of CHF11S ready along with special tool and new filter.

Doubt it’s ever been changed in just over 100K miles and 16 years

 

[Malcolm Johnson]

I change mine and filter every 10 k.

Will add i pump out the fluid through clear plastic tube using the pump while simultaneously filling the reservoir with new fluid. i have someone raising and lowering the the car, when the fluid color changes through the clear tube i know i've flushed through. Then filter change. Yes there will be residual but doing every 10 k without rodeo doesn't disturb anything. The cost is just fluid and filter

 

[Submariner1]

I change mine and filter every 10 k.

Will add i pump out the fluid through clear plastic tube using the pump while simultaneously filling the reservoir with new fluid. i have someone raising and lowering the the car, when the fluid color changes through the clear tube i know i've flushed through. Then filter change. Yes there will be residual but doing every 10 k without rodeo doesn't disturb anything. The cost is just fluid and filter

Does yours have the bottom return? i.e. without your tube it would contaminate the new fluid.
I bought a tool in the USA like an ally tube with an o ring seal that has a clear hose on its end.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0038/2563/1278/products/mercedes-flush-tool-2_1400x.jpg?v=1574204628

Does just raising and lowering produce a reasonable flow?

 

[Submariner1]

Will be doing mine very soon, once I replace the rear accumulator. Current fluid does not look good (dark), got 15L of CHF11S ready along with special tool and new filter.

Doubt it’s ever been changed in just over 100K miles and 16 years

At 40K mine was still clear, well a sort of light green

 

[alexanderfoti]

every 3 years/40k is what we recommend and what I do on mine.

 

[Malcolm Johnson]

With reference to the question re flow, my clear plastic tube has a metal tube attached which i attach to the return pipe which would feed into the filter and tank. I let the pump below the tank do the work and push the old fluid out. always ensure new fluid is full in the tank as this is being sucked into the system.
the clear plastic lets me see the colour change. internet shows a video of this process. .

 

[jbtibor]

Hello all Could someone recommend a garage in Wiltshire-Swindon area to check and fix my 2009 CL500 for a possible ABC fluid leak? Other than a Mercedes dealer.

 

[SL63 Mark]

Hello all Could someone recommend a garage in Wiltshire-Swindon area to check and fix my 2009 CL500 for a possible ABC fluid leak? Other than a Mercedes dealer.

I am quite near you, I go to Star motors in Reading, or MBS in Southampton. Both recommended. I use MB Salisbury too, I have never had a problem with them. But for your problem I would steer clear of MB.

 

[ajlsl600]

There is a useful indie in Clevedon. Do you have abc oil on drive where car parked?

 

[jbtibor]

There was no oil or other leak on the drive in the morning.
The car was MOTd and failed with I quote "Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))"
I was told oil is dripping from the shock absorber onto the suspension arm.
I checked 6 hours after getting home, the car wasn't moved and there was still no oil under the car, not even the condensate from the aircon. There's no warining or error displayed by the car.
I'll check again in the morning.

However, I need a new MOT by the 14th and I need to have the car checked before that.

Reading is within reasonable distance. Is the Clevedon indie Avantgarde Automotive? Thank you both.

 

[ajlsl600]

If you have a serious leak on a strut, it beggars belief that you don't see oil on the floor. Have a good look yrself. Craig on her can advise on replacement struts and one of indies mentioned shud be able to sort a pipe leak. Good luck.

 

[SL63 Mark]

If you have a serious leak on a strut, it beggars belief that you don't see oil on the floor. Have a good look yrself. Craig on her can advise on replacement struts and one of indies mentioned shud be able to sort a pipe leak. Good luck.

I disagree. Any shock absorber fluid leak is an MOT fail. I had a MOT fail on my R230 for the same reason. There was no oil on the ground.

Easy enough to pass the test, just wipe it off, and re-test. Re-fill the ABC reservoir if necessary. I never had to.

No need to fit new struts, unless it is dropping oil. Most owners do this for years. Depends how bad the leak is. Better still, wipe off the oil before the test.

 

[ajlsl600]

If leak develops that cud be big time inconvenient esp if front and drops on front wheel arch. The reason I asked. If no leaks but level drops in tank yr accumulators have leaking diaphrams

 

[brandwooddixon]

Unlikely to be ABC fluid as with an operating pressure of 3000 psi, any leak in the circuit will be very noticeable (think clouds of vapourised oil).
It's possible that the strut is leaking from the standard shock absorber that it contains.

 

[Wighty]

There was no oil or other leak on the drive in the morning.
The car was MOTd and failed with I quote "Nearside Front Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak (5.3.2 (b))"
I was told oil is dripping from the shock absorber onto the suspension arm.
I checked 6 hours after getting home, the car wasn't moved and there was still no oil under the car, not even the condensate from the aircon. There's no warining or error displayed by the car.
I'll check again in the morning.

However, I need a new MOT by the 14th and I need to have the car checked before that.

Reading is within reasonable distance. Is the Clevedon indie Avantgarde Automotive? Thank you both.

Yes it is Avantgarde at Clevedon

 

[jbtibor]

If you have a serious leak on a strut, it beggars belief that you don't see oil on the floor. Have a good look yrself. Craig on her can advise on replacement struts and one of indies mentioned shud be able to sort a pipe leak. Good luck.

Hi @ajlsl600 there a few Craigs here, which one should I ask for parts?