R230 ABC fluid change questions..

[Conor]

So guys,

Planning on getting this done before I put down some miles over the next couple months.

1. Can I DIY this?
2. Do I need STAR as mentioned by some of the guys?
3. Does the R230 need a special tool for easy access of the return to the pump?
4. Am I missing any of the headlines?
   1. Buy two filters - one to flush and one for when full with clean.
   2. I see WIS says capacity is 3.5 litres. How many litres extra do I buy to flush? (+1 for the boot?)
   3. How do I energise the system to push the liquid through? Is that what STAR is for...? Or just ask a friend to sit in the driver seat and push the ABC button?
5. I have decided to go with Comma MVCH at £7.99 (Trade card) from Halfords - seems to be alright with others.

Thanks
Conor

 

[peterws1957]

I'm all for saving money Conor, but I would honestly have this done by an indie who is familiar with ABC and has STAR. Easy to get it wrong and flush garbage through the system causing future problems. jmo obviously.

 

[dionysus]

As above, leave it to an expert with the correct equipment and know how. Not a DIY job.

 

[Conor]

I'm all for saving money Conor, but I would honestly have this done by an indie who is familiar with ABC and has STAR. Easy to get it wrong and flush garbage through the system causing future problems. jmo obviously.

As above, leave it to an expert with the correct equipment and know how. Not a DIY job.

Fair enough guys, I was under the impression it was an easy DIY as lots of folk talk about it. I'm wondering now lol.

 

[Wighty]

Fair enough guys, I was under the impression it was an easy DIY as lots of folk talk about it. I'm wondering now lol.

Is there anything in the diy section ?
Or in here
http://mercedes-abc-drive-carefully.blogspot.com/2014/08/overview-abc-system-isthe-key-part-of.html

 

[John Laidlaw]

Some have done it Conor, but most not- Star will 'rodeo' it to flush which takes much less time and effort and ensures it's all out.
As Peter says, one slip of crud in (when for instance changing the filter) will give you a world of pain.
Also if you can get the chance to watch it's fun! (well until you see the colour of the old pentosin!)
If you use faceache you can access this

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1156240274428559

That was my indy doing the SL in 2016....

 

[LostKiwi]

You can DIY the following way:
Cleanliness is paramount!!!

Using a suction pump suck out the oil and refill.
Run the car and cycle through heights 8 or 9 times.
Repeat the above 2 more times.
Suck out oil, change filter and refill.

Whilst not as good as an indy job it's better than doing nothing.

If you want to run a rodeo on it pop up to mine and you can use my Star to do it.

 

[peterws1957]

You can DIY the following way:
Cleanliness is paramount!!!

Using a suction pump suck out the oil and refill.
Run the car and cycle through heights 8 or 9 times.
Repeat the above 2 more times.
Suck out oil, change filter and refill.

Whilst not as good as an indy job it's better than doing nothing.

If you want to run a rodeo on it pop up to mine and you can use my Star to do it.

Is Pentosin the only stuff to use LK?

 

[LostKiwi]

Is Pentosin the only stuff to use LK?

The spec is MB345.0

https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/345.0_en.html

 

[brandwooddixon]

On the W215 they get through about 19 litres of oil during the flush, is it the same with the R230?

 

[Submariner1]

As above, leave it to an expert with the correct equipment and know how. Not a DIY job.

Absolutely - nice drive to Southampton, MBS do it so £ reasonably.
Get this wrong and you are into a F**king Nightmare, And £000s
I bought a special tool to address the change in ABC filter housing. Top end return rather than bottom end return.
One accident now dumps all the crap straight into the pump.
Even still I let MBS do it, they were so impressed with this tool, they bought it off me.
And despite the huge hassle importing, I sold it.
Because I realised you need 2 people, and you just cant risk a mess up.

even with this tool, and that does it properly i.e. all the old Oil goes straight out and is instantly replaced by new oil.
It takes 13 or 14 litres to replace it all, and then one new filter.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Go to Alex Foti’s website. He has a DIY on fluid change. Perfectly possible to do yourself and no you don’t need STAR for it, just a willing helper.

 

[Conor]

Go to Alex Foti’s website. He has a DIY on fluid change. Perfectly possible to do yourself and no you don’t need STAR for it, just a willing helper.

Oh yea, I saw that and it doesn't look bad, it's on my document for when I start. I have decided to do it myself as it doesn't look bad. I have been doing plenty of research and picked up plenty of tips.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Just make sure you have someone raising and lowering the ride height setting while you’re pouring new fluid in, to cycle the old fluid fully out of the struts.

 

[Wighty]

Oh yea, I saw that and it doesn't look bad, it's on my document for when I start. I have decided to do it myself as it doesn't look bad. I have been doing plenty of research and picked up plenty of tips.

I’m sure you will detail it on a thread buddy , but I’d be interested to read about it (As will many others I’m sure ) when you get round to it

 

[flowrider]

When I had the ABC flush done my Indy said he only needed 4 litres as the fluid started running out clear and green quite quickly.

 

[alexanderfoti]

You need to do a rodeo to get the crap into suspension in the fluid and then actuate pitch/dive to actually pump the fluid out.

If you use the raise, lower buttons, you won't be exchanging all the fluid, only a portion in the top of the system (considering there are no returns from the struts etc)

You need 12L of fluid at a minimum unusually.

 

[rexemper]

Hmmm.

When I had the ABC filter and fluid change on my SL a while back, they only used 3L of oil. I think they said they'd only change what they could by draining it.

That was 2 years/17k miles ago.

Should I look to get the full rodeo version done this time round as its due??
What does that normally cost?

 

[Wighty]

Hmmm.

When I had the ABC filter and fluid change on my SL a while back, they only used 3L of oil. I think they said they'd only change what they could by draining it.

That was 2 years/17k miles ago.

Should I look to get the full rodeo version done this time round as its due??
What does that normally cost?

Are you near Ian at Star Services , Caversham, Reading , he would quote you