Want to scratch the SL55 itch but ABC...

Craiglxviii

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ajlsl600

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As you know Andy we took our ABC equipped SL to Bordeaux and I've also taken it to the wilds of Scotland (where the nearest supermarket was 80miles away). Both were about the same distance from home (though Scotland was the longer drive).
Didn't really feel worried either time. (and that in spite of changing a strut last year).


get you. but i get my fair share of bad luck on such matters and the experiences have made me over careful. and on a ten yr + older ,complicated car i found i was not prepared to get caught out. despite the low miles i did not know anything about the internal condition of components that benz seem to build to last the warranty period , this also why i cut open all my oil filters to inspect them.
 
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SteveX

SteveX

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Thanks guys, some more food for thought, so if ABC does go, and the fluid leaks or something all of the pressure out of the struts go I guess then it's sat on the deck and can't be moved?

How do those 'lowering links' effect it? Does it put any extra strain on the system?

The description suggests the front ABC struts have been changed and some other maintenance on it which sounded good.


Cheers.
 

flowrider

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Fluid loss means that the car can not be moved. Something as simple as a burst hydraulic pipe can lead to pump, strut or valve block failure.
 

Craiglxviii

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On the SL there are external bump stops. The car cannot be driven if fluid is lost, but it can be moved over short distances. It’s not sat totally immobile.
 

peterws1957

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Thanks guys, some more food for thought, so if ABC does go, and the fluid leaks or something all of the pressure out of the struts go I guess then it's sat on the deck and can't be moved?

How do those 'lowering links' effect it? Does it put any extra strain on the system?

The description suggests the front ABC struts have been changed and some other maintenance on it which sounded good.


Cheers.
The seller has obviously spent some money on it. The front struts have been replaced, hopefully with new or recon, so that's a good plus. You do of course have the option of junking the whole system and going to coil overs, although some consider this to be sacrilege;)
 

Craiglxviii

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The seller has obviously spent some money on it. The front struts have been replaced, hopefully with new or recon, so that's a good plus. You do of course have the option of junking the whole system and going to coil overs, although some consider this to be sacrilege;)
BURN THE HERETIC!!! Sharpen the torches and light the pitchforks!
 

00slk

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.......Where's my cross......
 

00slk

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I use mine ever day, I've had a strut let go and an ABC pump. Fortunately the car was in the garage having an mot when this was spotted so was replaced then and there. The pump leaked oil out over a week before we thought, 'Wheres this greeny/brown colour oil coming from'? 2 days later I told Janet to use another car while I transport this one to Giles. So it can be possible to drive with the pump leaking but only luck to have what we had and that was nearly a week of driving and no other damage. The pump seemed to only leak when the car was stationary.
My car also has lowering link which I think the only advantage is that it makes it look good on second lowest setting, I can see no other reason for them.
 

brandwooddixon

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Maintenance is the key.
Time and corrosion are the other bugbears.
On my previous CL I had a pipe go at the rear due to corrosion causing a pinhole, at 3000 psi it doesn't take long for the fluid to go.
The car can still be driven BUT you'll have little/no damping effect on the suspension and as the pump will run dry, it'll need replacing.
First port of call would be to have the system flushed and fluid renewed - if the fluid isn't green and clear then it needs changing and the darker that it is the less maintenance its had.
I know that the CL doesn't suffer quite the same issues as the SL, but in 120,000 miles of motoring I had 1 new pump, 1 new pipe to the rear of the car and the pulsation dampener replaced in 8 years of ownership.
 


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