R230 SL55 AMG coilover suspension?

[PhenomStaR]

Can you buy an after market coil over suspension kit for the r230 SL55 AMG?

 

[LostKiwi]

Yes but why would you want to?

 

[ajlsl600]

I researched this a few yr ago. And yes u can for v8. No kit as far as I know for v12. If you want v8 sound that OK otherwise. Aggro and costing better look sl350 /400.
And I understand why. If you have Europe recovery, or unlimited funds keep ABC but otherwise on older, high mileage motors ABC can be a huge headache and personally I would do it if my ABC system was starting to cause dramas. Pump, strutt, valve blocks accumulators, old pipes ect. Sitting in back of recovery half way thru Italy not my idea of relaxing hol!!!!!!

 

[Wighty]

If you went that route you could sell your ABC suspension on eBay for more than the cost of the coilover kit .
I think companies that do it are Yellowspeed , Strutmaster ?? (From memory , so may be well out )

 

[PhenomStaR]

I am just frustrated from always issues relating to suspension. Recent one has been rats or mice eating the wires in the boot and the suspension has stopped working and all sorts.

I think it would be easier to replace the suspension now to coil-over setup. It would improve the drive and handling of the car as well.

A contact or company that sells the suspension would be great if you could forward some details on here. Many thanks.

 

[Wighty]

I am just frustrated from always issues relating to suspension. Recent one has been rats or mice eating the wires in the boot and the suspension has stopped working and all sorts.

I think it would be easier to replace the suspension now to coil-over setup. It would improve the drive and handling of the car as well.

A contact or company that sells the suspension would be great if you could forward some details on here. Many thanks.

It won’t improve the drive or handling buddy , but it will be a cheap long term solution .

 

[Wighty]

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr...on-kits//RK=2/RS=y.BvG9qLzjAm9_G61kgkgGVUHPI-

 

[Wighty]

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr...s-cl500//RK=2/RS=Gxm2I4cV_K9MEpKggHkMdBspqCs-

 

[Wighty]

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr....173249//RK=2/RS=OWGQxYuwJ3XXpm.NaEFho.HcWG4-

 

[LostKiwi]

I am just frustrated from always issues relating to suspension. Recent one has been rats or mice eating the wires in the boot and the suspension has stopped working and all sorts.

I think it would be easier to replace the suspension now to coil-over setup. It would improve the drive and handling of the car as well.

A contact or company that sells the suspension would be great if you could forward some details on here. Many thanks.

Definitely will not improve ride and handling.
ABC is pretty much the ideal ride/handling solution as it automatically limits body roll, pitch and squat ensuring wheels are always at the optimal angle to the road.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Not sure I agree about no improvements to ride or handling.
There are coilovers and coilovers, and several good manufacturers.
With some, you can dial in ride height, spring rate inc progressive, damping including stiffness, bounce and rebound rates.
There is a whole lot to play with if you get good kit.

 

[V6Matty]

Not sure I agree about no improvements to ride or handling.
There are coilovers and coilovers, and several good manufacturers.
With some, you can dial in ride height, spring rate inc progressive, damping including stiffness, bounce and rebound rates.
There is a whole lot to play with if you get good kit.

You also need someone that knows what their doing to set them up too, that’s the hardest part in my mind

 

[Wighty]

You also need someone that knows what their doing to set them up too, that’s the hardest part in my mind

That rules me out

 

[LostKiwi]

Not sure I agree about no improvements to ride or handling.
There are coilovers and coilovers, and several good manufacturers.
With some, you can dial in ride height, spring rate inc progressive, damping including stiffness, bounce and rebound rates.
There is a whole lot to play with if you get good kit.

If coil overs were better why do MB use air and ABC on SL/CL/S Class when they could make the cars cheaper by using coils and dampers?

 

[umblecumbuz]

If coil overs were better why do MB use air and ABC on SL/CL/S Class when they could make the cars cheaper by using coils and dampers?

I think Matt has given the main reason here.
Imagine setting up every individual car equipped with coilovers,
For an owner, once set up, the system can be excellent. For a manufacturer it could be a nightmare.

 

[ajlsl600]

I am just frustrated from always issues relating to suspension. Recent one has been rats or mice eating the wires in the boot and the suspension has stopped working and all sorts.

I think it would be easier to replace the suspension now to coil-over setup. It would improve the drive and handling of the car as well.

A contact or company that sells the suspension would be great if you could forward some details on here. Many thanks.

Not going to improve, just allow you to stop thinking about ABC.

 

[McDonald]

Coilovers won't help you avoid rodent infestation, they'll just eat different kit. I can only imagine the mayhem they might cause among the consumer electronics.

The ABC suspension gives a superb ride. Maybe yours was malfunctioning before the gnashes went in. I wouldn't let anyone install an alternative on my car. I certainly wouldn't pay them to do it.

 

[LostKiwi]

I think Matt has given the main reason here.
Imagine setting up every individual car equipped with coilovers,
For an owner, once set up, the system can be excellent. For a manufacturer it could be a nightmare.

The same settings once chosen could be used for all cars.
I don't see that being a reason.

 

[umblecumbuz]

The same settings once chosen could be used for all cars.
I don't see that being a reason.

Fair point.
On the other hand, within a single model, spring rates vary even with small changes in spec from one car to the next - hence the many colour codes and charts needed when replacing a broken spring. I would guess that the same regime would apply if coilovers were used by manufacturers.
Changing a spring is a lot simpler than balancing coilovers corner to corner. Great for the individual, but not so good for a production line.

 

[LostKiwi]

Fair point.
On the other hand, within a single model, spring rates vary even with small changes in spec from one car to the next - hence the many colour codes and charts needed when replacing a broken spring. I would guess that the same regime would apply if coilovers were used by manufacturers.
Changing a spring is a lot simpler than balancing coilovers corner to corner. Great for the individual, but not so good for a production line.

You only need balance coilovers if they have adjustable spring platforms. With a fixed platform in production the springs could be calculated the same way as always. A fixed platform effectively becomes a strut as per normal cars.
And this is my point. If springs and dampers were better than ABC Mercedes could save s lot of money per car by using them. To persevere with ABC there must be benefits in ride and performance.
Certainly ride is very good with ABC. It's based on the system used by Citroen which was always praised for its fabulous ride and was also adopted by Rolls Royce. With the additional control by electronics to remove roll, pitch and squat it also has superb handling. If you recall, active suspension was originally fitted to F1 cars and they were devastatingly effective on the track, to the extent it was banned.