Too good to be true?

[gramey]

Worst case - pump fails soon... MB now do a refurb for £500 2yr warranty.

I think lots of people still think that they (ABC) are mega expensive, and it frightens them unnecessarily.
(In the grand scheme of things)

Stop it with the £500 scenarios you'll be leading me to believe I can afford to run one at that rate.

 

[LostKiwi]

Stop it with the £500 scenarios you'll be leading me to believe I can afford to run one at that rate.

It's not the £500 is the problem.... It's the £500 and £500 and £500 and....

 

[SH0X]

I know most on here are purists but im my experience dont knock it till youve tried it.

Ive been running aftermarket wheels for years as have many many other people. To most this is a no no.

Ive never run coil overs so cannot comment on how they work or run. But many of the hard core car enthusiast do on low to high performance cars as Im sure youre aware.

The SL350 comes on springs right, I dont see why the sl500 cant go over to coil overs?

I havent watched the video yet BTW

Ive had the MK1 Cayenne turbo on air suspension & the MK1 Range rover sport SC also on air suspension and although the took bumps well and were smooth like the SL ...I cant say I noticed much difference to a BMW X3 (less refined than an x5 remember ) which is on rubbish SE springs - once you get going - yes a little clunky but that may be because its a 4x4 but im comparing 4x4 on air to 4x4 on springs.

Or alternatively
I had my M3 e46 stock at the same time as the SL and I cant say I noticed a HUGE risk taking worthy difference in ride. I also had my V6 CLC and the SL500 just felt more powerful & heavier (which is was) but no night and day HUGE noticable difference.
I did drive several cars back to back on a weekly basis (I owned a few cars in one year, I was all over the place)


infact scrap that. I may upset a few people here...
But heres something to consider.
I had my e60 M5 in that same year same time as having the SL500.
Driving the e60 M5 felt slightly more comfortable on stock setup compared to my SL on 19s. I Cant say I noticed any improvement or major difference in driving the 2 cars back to back. So why are we so bothered about retaining the air suspension? Is it really superior to new set of springs?

I also think a harsh ride can be compensated by tyre choice. And isnt coil over suspension adjustable?

In a sporty car like the SL I dont mind a bit of a raw ride. It adds to the feel.

If I had the choice of springs or worries. I would go for springs.

Those aftermarket conversions could very well save the SLs.
Is a solution to a problem which could write off wanting to own one of these great cars.

Im sure the smart folk will buy them up at sub £5k and convert them and wait for them to rise in price when people realise they can be converted/bettered by thinking outside the box & having an open mind to things. As a side note. E46 M3s are now around £12k.

Sorry for long post ! But its all information you can take it and do your own research with

how to swap front strut very quick confidence giving vid

EDIT: JUST WATCHED the videos posted above about the Black SL55. Super video shows alot of work being done )inc general work) on the car great for seeing how the car is put together and YES he says its a worthwhile and perfectly DOABLE mod / potentially could be cost effective too.

 

[Wighty]

I know most on here are purists but im my experience dont knock it till youve tried it.

Ive been running aftermarket wheels for years as have many many other people. To most this is a no no.

Ive never run coil overs so cannot comment on how they work or run. But many of the hard core car enthusiast do on low to high performance cars as Im sure youre aware.

The SL350 comes on springs right, I dont see why the sl500 cant go over to coil overs?

I havent watched the video yet BTW

Ive had the MK1 Cayenne turbo on air suspension & the MK1 Range rover sport SC also on air suspension and although the took bumps well and were smooth like the SL ...I cant say I noticed much difference to a BMW X3 (less refined than an x5 remember ) which is on rubbish SE springs - once you get going - yes a little clunky but that may be because its a 4x4 but im comparing 4x4 on air to 4x4 on springs.

Or alternatively
I had my M3 e46 stock at the same time as the SL and I cant say I noticed a HUGE risk taking worthy difference in ride. I also had my V6 CLC and the SL500 just felt more powerful & heavier (which is was) but no night and day HUGE noticable difference.
I did drive several cars back to back on a weekly basis (I owned a few cars in one year, I was all over the place)


infact scrap that. I may upset a few people here...
But heres something to consider.
I had my e60 M5 in that same year same time as having the SL500.
Driving the e60 M5 felt slightly more comfortable on stock setup compared to my SL on 19s. I Cant say I noticed any improvement or major difference in driving the 2 cars back to back. So why are we so bothered about retaining the air suspension? Is it really superior to new set of springs?

I also think a harsh ride can be compensated by tyre choice. And isnt coil over suspension adjustable?

In a sporty car like the SL I dont mind a bit of a raw ride. It adds to the feel.

If I had the choice of springs or worries. I would go for springs.

Those aftermarket conversions could very well save the SLs.
Is a solution to a problem which could write off wanting to own one of these great cars.

Im sure the smart folk will buy them up at sub £5k and convert them and wait for them to rise in price when people realise they can be converted/bettered by thinking outside the box & having an open mind to things. As a side note. E46 M3s are now around £12k.

Sorry for long post ! But its all information you can take it and do your own research with

how to swap front strut very quick confidence giving vid

EDIT: JUST WATCHED the videos posted above about the Black SL55. Super video shows alot of work being done )inc general work) on the car great for seeing how the car is put together and YES he says its a worthwhile and perfectly DOABLE mod / potentially could be cost effective too.

I think the US market are the main users of Spring conversions because they don't have the same access to independent specialists as over here .
I did a bit if reading a while ago on spring conversions and they seemed to be all for earlier years (2003 and earlier ?),
I must admit I would consider a spring conversion if I ever bourght one because that is the only way I could afford to avoid ABC problems (and sleep at night )

 

[LostKiwi]

The drawback to any coil set up compared to ABC is the A bit - active.
ABC monitors each wheel and the movement of the car and actively adjusts suspension accordingly. Body roll in comfort mode is limited to 1.5 degrees. In sport mode it's just 0.75 degrees. Similarly the system compensates for acceleration and braking by limiting squat and dive .All this while keeping the ride supple and relaxed. Press on with an ABC equipped car and it's a revelation. The suspension firms up as required ensuring contact patches remain consistent and optimal. The faster you go the more you realise it can go faster still round those bends.
Also don't confuse ABC with air. It's not.
It's closest relative is the computer controlled Citroen XM oleo-pneumatic systems called Hydactive2. There is no air in the system.
Springing is provided by nitrogen filled gas spheres and ride height is controlled by hydraulic rams in each strut. F1 found active suspension to be so much superior to traditional suspension it was banned.
It is obviously complex and complex usually means expensive to repair but in the UK there areca number of very competent Indy's that understand the system and its intricacies who can help keep those costs under control.

I can totally understand anyone who wishes to go to coils but the car was designed with ABC and to be fully enjoyed that system should remain in place if possible. A coilover system will be at best a compromise.

 

[gramey]

It's not the £500 is the problem.... It's the £500 and £500 and £500 and....

And there in lies the rub, £500 ok, another £500 ok'ish, after that I would be starting to cry again.

 

[Wighty]

And there in lies the rub, £500 ok, another £500 ok'ish, after that I would be starting to cry again.

I know what you mean , when you hear John Laidlaw say that he bourght a well sorted SL500 on an 08 plate and then paid near 7k (I think) in the year or so after you need a strong stomach to get involved

 

[gramey]

I can't MOT or HPI this as it doesn't recognise the registration number shown on the car but I do like the look of this - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/183709637165

 

[Blobcat]

I can't MOT or HPI this as it doesn't recognise the registration number shown on the car but I do like the look of this - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/183709637165

Why is the roll bar deployed?

 

[flowrider]

Why is the roll bar deployed?

I guess the seller thought it would look cool.

 

[flowrider]

I can't MOT or HPI this as it doesn't recognise the registration number shown on the car but I do like the look of this - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/183709637165

This is the VIN WDB2304742F023809

 

[gramey]

This is the VIN WDB2304742F023809

Ok so LO02YPK, apart from two dodgy years in 2009 and 2014 MOT history is pretty good to be fair. Last owner has had it since August 2015.
I assume that with the AMG instead of it being £500 increments it's £750+ increments.

 

[flowrider]

Ok so LO02YPK, apart from two dodgy years in 2009 and 2014 MOT history is pretty good to be fair. Last owner has had it since August 2015.
I assume that with the AMG instead of it being £500 increments it's £750+ increments.

No AMG parts, which stands for All Money Gone, are double the price.

 

[LostKiwi]

No AMG parts, which stands for All Money Gone, are double the price.

I thought it had religious connotations.
The holy trinity of performance, noise and cost all summed by All Mighty God!!!

 

[John Laidlaw]

I know what you mean , when you hear John Laidlaw say that he bourght a well sorted SL500 on an 08 plate and then paid near 7k (I think) in the year or so after you need a strong stomach to get involved

Your recollection is spot on Wighty
Of course to give the balanced view , who’s to say that after all that it was in fact the best sorted SL500? (Maybe it kept emptying the next owners wallet?)
As you’ve also read, maybe my lack of appreciation, but I wasn’t over fussed on the ABC- felt it was over hyped . Probably me....

 

[John Laidlaw]

Ok so LO02YPK, apart from two dodgy years in 2009 and 2014 MOT history is pretty good to be fair. Last owner has had it since August 2015.
I assume that with the AMG instead of it being £500 increments it's £750+ increments.

That is a cheap SL55..
I remember my detailed deployed the roll bar on my SL500 and he nearly **** himself!

 

[Wighty]

Your recollection is spot on Wighty
Of course to give the balanced view , who’s to say that after all that it was in fact the best sorted SL500? (Maybe it kept emptying the next owners wallet?)
As you’ve also read, maybe my lack of appreciation, but I wasn’t over fussed on the ABC- felt it was over hyped . Probably me....

I've got a mind like a steel trap buddy

 

[Blobcat]

That is a cheap SL55..
I remember my detailed deployed the roll bar on my SL500 and he nearly **** himself!

I had an installer fire the pax airbag on a XC60 Ovlov he did **** himself, and I nearly did with the nearly £2k bill for the new dash top and airbag.

 

[John Laidlaw]

I've got a mind like a steel trap buddy

FX58 LYP, I note the next owner has done just over 5k in the near 3 years since it left me..
MOT history also looks clean....maybe it’s sorted?

 

[gramey]

That is a cheap SL55..
I remember my detailed deployed the roll bar on my SL500 and he nearly **** himself!

I know the mileage is high for an SL as most are pampered second or third cars but the mileage doesn't particularly bother me as if they're getting used surely they're either going wrong less frequently or the owner is keeping up with the maintenance?
The bit that bothers me is I would hate to sell my sole, and worse my motorcycle, to buy it only to find it was about to start spitting out some very large bills.
Sadly the not so good reviews about the seller, although they're not all bad, appear to relate to their less than comprehensive warranties.