Looking for a garage to rebuild my ABC valve block

[RyanSL500]

Hi all,

so might rear drives side has started to sag when standing on my R230. While at PCS it was discovered that the rear ABC valve block appears to be weeping. Having replaced the front valve block last year, I’d rather avoid paying C£1.5k again and discovered that there is a rebuild kit.

I’ve seen plenty of threads where people have rebuilt these blocks for very little. However, all these individuals have far greater mechanical skills than me so I’d rather give the car to someone who has the ability to do this.

Does any know of a garage who would do something like this in the Hampshire/southern area?

I’m aware that most garages probably wouldn’t want to do it as they wouldn’t be able to put a warranty on the work or guarantee that the problem will be fixed. So I’ll have to emphasise the point that it’s worth the gamble to save what will be over £1k!

 

[LostKiwi]

Ask MBS if they'd rebuild it perhaps?

 

[Wighty]

Or Ian at Star in Reading

 

[star]

It will only be a saving IF it’s fixed with repair kit?

 

[RyanSL500]

It will only be a saving IF it’s fixed with repair kit?

True. I’m not claiming to be an expert, but reading through the forums it does seem to be that 8/10 times, the failure on these valves tends to be because of perished O rings which I these repairs kits replace? The rear of the car sags after sitting for roughly 24 hours.

If it’s easy to identify what part of the Valve block is failing before doing the rebuild, then I would obviously take the advice of the professional rather than just what I’ve read! But I’m hoping these rebuild kits would solve the problem.

 

[mioba]

I would rather pay an experienced indy who has experience in repairing these with the repair kit to take on the job rather than a DIY.

 

[RyanSL500]

I would rather pay an experienced indy who has experience in repairing these with the repair kit take on the job rather than a DIY.

That would be ideal. Do you have any experience or suggestions with an Indy who could do this?

 

[mioba]

A couple of posts above have made recommendations.

Star at Reading and MBS.

 

[Frontstep]

Yes it requires someone who will examine as they disassemble rather than someone who will just "fit the kit"

 

[Flyinspanner]

Contact Welwyn Mercs.

 

[Philedge]

If it’s easy to identify what part of the Valve block is failing before doing the rebuild, then I would obviously take the advice of the professional rather than just what I’ve read! But I’m hoping these rebuild kits would solve the problem.

Its the lock solenoid that holds the fluid in the strut to stop the car dropping when its parked up. The lock solenoid uses a metal to metal seal to hold the fluid in, so changing seals wont do anything to help. The sealing faces probably just need a clean but a garage will spend much more time getting the solenoid block out and back in than they will cleaning the solenoid sealing faces.

If you can get the block out then a local hydraulic shop will likely be able to clean up the sealing faces for you if you cant get to a specialist

 

[JBell]

@Craiglxviii has kits for re-builds

 

[LostKiwi]

Its the lock solenoid that holds the fluid in the strut to stop the car dropping when its parked up. The lock solenoid uses a metal to metal seal to hold the fluid in, so changing seals wont do anything to help. The sealing faces probably just need a clean but a garage will spend much more time getting the solenoid block out and back in than they will cleaning the solenoid sealing faces.

If you can get the block out then a local hydraulic shop will likely be able to clean up the sealing faces for you if you cant get to a specialist

Good idea to use an hydraulic specialist.

 

[RyanSL500]

UPDATE: So due COVID-19, I decided to put the SL back into storage...As I know these cars don’t like sitting around unused, I got myself a C-Tek trickle charger to keep everything happy. As I approached the car in storage, I could see that the rear of the car has sagged again (no surprise there) but what I didn’t expect to find was a stain on the floor in front of the front passenger wheel. While doing some reading, it now seems that I have an ABC leak!! Anyway, there wasn’t much I could as all the garages were closed and there was no way I was going to start playing around with the system. So I bought some ABC fluid and just kept topping it up.

Now fast forward to May/June. I got in touch with MBS in southampton and explained my problem to them (the leak and sagging at the rear) and booked it in to get looked at. I took it down and it appeared that there was fluid all over the under carriage of the car. So it was almost impossible to see clearly where the leak was coming from. So the guys down at MBS steam cleaned the bottom of the car and I took it away to bring it back to them a week later (I’m still topping the ABC fluid up when needed every other day or before I drive it). When I took it back, two fairly bad leaks were identified. One at the rear of the car and one at the front by the valve blocks. The suspects being the O rings near the banjo bolts. After a couple of visits to get the O rings changed (Mercedes sent the wrong parts the first time round) and just over £100, the car is happy and level, with no more leaks!!! I can’t recommend MBS in Southampton enough!! Very friendly, honest people there who are clearly passionate about these cars!!!

 

[EmilysDad]

Excellent! And very easy on the wallet!

 

[LostKiwi]

UPDATE: So due COVID-19, I decided to put the SL back into storage...As I know these cars don’t like sitting around unused, I got myself a C-Tek trickle charger to keep everything happy. As I approached the car in storage, I could see that the rear of the car has sagged again (no surprise there) but what I didn’t expect to find was a stain on the floor in front of the front passenger wheel. While doing some reading, it now seems that I have an ABC leak!! Anyway, there wasn’t much I could as all the garages were closed and there was no way I was going to start playing around with the system. So I bought some ABC fluid and just kept topping it up.

Now fast forward to May/June. I got in touch with MBS in southampton and explained my problem to them (the leak and sagging at the rear) and booked it in to get looked at. I took it down and it appeared that there was fluid all over the under carriage of the car. So it was almost impossible to see clearly where the leak was coming from. So the guys down at MBS steam cleaned the bottom of the car and I took it away to bring it back to them a week later (I’m still topping the ABC fluid up when needed every other day or before I drive it). When I took it back, two fairly bad leaks were identified. One at the rear of the car and one at the front by the valve blocks. The suspects being the O rings near the banjo bolts. After a couple of visits to get the O rings changed (Mercedes sent the wrong parts the first time round) and just over £100, the car is happy and level, with no more leaks!!! I can’t recommend MBS in Southampton enough!! Very friendly, honest people there who are clearly passionate about these cars!!!

@Cole@MBS is a member here. I'm sure he'll be delighted to read that!

 

[Cole@MBS]

I’m very happy to read that, even more as it was one of my jobs

Pleased it’s cured it Ryan, don’t forget we have your trays here still!!

 

[Conor]

UPDATE: So due COVID-19, I decided to put the SL back into storage...As I know these cars don’t like sitting around unused, I got myself a C-Tek trickle charger to keep everything happy. As I approached the car in storage, I could see that the rear of the car has sagged again (no surprise there) but what I didn’t expect to find was a stain on the floor in front of the front passenger wheel. While doing some reading, it now seems that I have an ABC leak!! Anyway, there wasn’t much I could as all the garages were closed and there was no way I was going to start playing around with the system. So I bought some ABC fluid and just kept topping it up.

Now fast forward to May/June. I got in touch with MBS in southampton and explained my problem to them (the leak and sagging at the rear) and booked it in to get looked at. I took it down and it appeared that there was fluid all over the under carriage of the car. So it was almost impossible to see clearly where the leak was coming from. So the guys down at MBS steam cleaned the bottom of the car and I took it away to bring it back to them a week later (I’m still topping the ABC fluid up when needed every other day or before I drive it). When I took it back, two fairly bad leaks were identified. One at the rear of the car and one at the front by the valve blocks. The suspects being the O rings near the banjo bolts. After a couple of visits to get the O rings changed (Mercedes sent the wrong parts the first time round) and just over £100, the car is happy and level, with no more leaks!!! I can’t recommend MBS in Southampton enough!! Very friendly, honest people there who are clearly passionate about these cars!!!

What a great result... as I started reading this, I thought it was going to be a sorry story, but glad it's all been sorted now.

 

[Wighty]

I’m very happy to read that, even more as it was one of my jobs

Pleased it’s cured it Ryan, don’t forget we have your trays here still!!

Good job buddy , do you keep parts of customers cars (trays in this case) so they have to come back