Suspension & Steering
Active Body Control (ABC)
ABC is a hydraulic suspension running at 200 bar. It is superb when maintained and expensive when neglected, and the difference between the two is fluid condition.
Signs you need this
- "Visit workshop" ABC warning on start-up
- One corner sagging, or the car sitting low at rest
- Hydraulic fluid leaking at a strut or under the engine
- Harsh ride, body roll, or bouncing over bumps
How we approach it
We service ABC systems the way the factory intended: filter and fluid changed on schedule, struts resealed or replaced when they weep, pulsation dampers replaced when they lose their charge, and the tandem pump inspected for the shaft seal leak that contaminates everything below it. Debris from a failing strut circulates and destroys valve blocks, so the order of repair matters. We flush thoroughly and pressure test before returning the car.
What the job includes
- 01ABC pressure and fluid condition assessment
- 02Strut reseal or replacement, front and rear
- 03Tandem pump and shaft seal replacement
- 04Valve block, accumulator and pulsation damper service
- 05Complete system flush with correct MB hydraulic fluid
- 06Pressure test, level calibration and road test
Common questions
Is ABC worth keeping on an older SL?
If the system is healthy, absolutely — it is a large part of what makes an R230 feel the way it does. If it needs everything at once we will price the repair honestly and let you decide.
How often should ABC fluid be changed?
Every 40,000 miles or so, with the filter. It is the single most effective thing you can do to avoid a five-figure ABC bill.
Let us take a look at it.
Call and describe what the car is doing. We will give you an honest assessment before any work begins.
7492 Slater Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 · Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm
Related services
Suspension Systems
AIRMATIC, Active Body Control and conventional suspension diagnosis and repair.
AIRMATIC Air Suspension
Sagging corners, a car on its bump stops, or a compressor that never stops running.
Shocks, Struts & Springs
Conventional suspension refresh — dampers, springs, mounts and bump stops as a set.