Chaps,

I am looking at a 2003 CL55 and was told that the CL models (amg and non amg) have serious suspension issues, which seem to continue to require maintenance even after repairs - and it costs considerable money to fix.

Please advise.

Kind regards,

Orazio

Yeah, the ABC (Active Body Control) system has caused lots of headaches for some S, SL, and CL owners, AMG or otherwise. The most common problem, in my experience, is due to normal internal wear inside the tandem hydraulic pump. The particulate matter can find it's way into the pressure supply valves. This can cause the vehicle to lower itself while parked.

The fix for this can be as simple as filtering the system and installing a more efficient filter (~$400), or completely bleeding the system, then replacing the supply valves ($$$).

The other problem is external fluid leaks. Though less common than the contamination issue, it can get expensive in a hurry! Some of the pressure lines require several hours to replace, and the ABC struts cost ~$1200 each, so make sure to inspect the vehicle carefully before buying it.

I have the direct predecessor to the ABC system (ADSII) in my SL600 and have had nothing but problems with it. That system is physically virtually identical to the ABC system, so I'd imagine my experience will hold true as the ABC systems age.

Only reason I haven't just ripped it all out and installed standard shocks and springs is because, when it's working, the ride is like NOTHING else. Very supple and comfortable, but still has absolutely zero body roll and great handling. If it didn't work so well when it actually does work, I suspect more people would just ditch it and go to traditional shocks and springs.

It's probably the single most expensive thing on the car to maintain, but at the same time it's also probably the single best feature about the car when it's working. The tandem pumps regularly fail, the nitrogen spheres rupture, the height and pitch/yaw sensors malfunction. It's a PITA, but you pretty much have to accept it since it really isn't the same car without it.

I love the CLs, but have been afraid of the cost of owning one. After hearing a number of certified Mercedes mechanics tell me to be sure to buy an extended warranty if I did buy a CL. That was enough to scare me off.

__________________
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OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

My neighbor has a 2000 S430 with around 120,000 miles.(It is almost the same car as the CL) and he only ran into the suspension issue once at around 100k. How many miles are on this 2003 CL 55 ///AMG ?

__________________
2015 ML350 4Matic. Wifes DD
2015 GLK350 4Matic. My winter DD
2012 E350 4Matic. Road Trip car
2009 CLK350 Coupe Designo.Kleemann Tune For nice days/DD
2006 CL600. V12.Eurocharged Tune. Enough said
2005 CLK55 AMG Coupe.Kleemann Tune. For the sound and style
2004 CLK320 Cabriolet. 2005+ Interior swap. For the sunny Florida days & beach days

My 2000 CL500 is coming up on 80K miles.
The ABC pump is a major issue for all the early ABC Mercs.
Mine was replaced at 25K Miles.
Make sure if you do get the car to Flush the ABC fluid and get the "finer"
filter and you should not have any "Lowering" issues.
I have been lucky with mine and never had a problem.

And yes. There is nothing like a good working ABC system ride.

We had a customer that wanted to buy a ~50k mi. CL 600. We inspected the car and told him not to. Well he did anyway b/c the dealer threw in a warranty package. In a years time the warranty company has had to pony up about 10k$ on that car which has spent about 1/4 of the year the the shop.

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V8 rear subframe, Quaife ATB 3.06 diff

I thought the suspension system in the 2000+ S-class cars, along with the 2003+ E class cars, is a different variety of "ABC" that's based on the "airmatic" setup, and not the hydraulic setup found in SL and CL class cars?

Might be talking about two different things. I have not heard many bad things about the air suspensions, but based on my own experience and other people I talk to, the hydraulic setups are significantly more problematic. That might explain why your friend got 100k out of his S class suspension, and I've already spent several grand on my SL's hydraulic suspension when the car only has 35k miles.

Thanks so much for the wise and helpful advise.

The car in quesion has 55K miles ant the owner purchased a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty for his peace of mind which is transferrable and there are virtually no deductibles.

Kind regards,

Orazio

1995 E320
1993 500E the best of the lot
1997 S600C (sold) a PITA
2006 CLS55 (sold)
1996 C36 (sold)

I am looking for an S55 - 2003/2005. I found several local cars but all have ABC. I was told that some have Air-matic suspension. Is that correct and how rare are they?

Regards,

Orazio

Air-Matic was standard on the non-AMG S-Class cars, and ABC was optional. If I remember correctly, ABC was standard equipment on the AMG cars.

ABC is standard on all S600's as well.

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You are right, someone else also told me that all S55 AMG models have ABC.

So, how realiable is airmatic and what are the average maintenance/repairs costs in comparison with ABC?

I would have liked to have an S55 but after your recommendations I have decided to stay away from ABC. So, it will be an S series then.

Kind regards,

Orazio
Vienna, VA

95 E320
93 500E

In my experience, the two most common problems with the Air-Matic system are failed compressors, and leaky front struts. The struts can be repaired inexpensively ($300-400?), but the compressor will set you back about $1500? In many cases, the leaky struts cause the compressor to work overtime to meet the air demand, resulting in premature compressor failure, so having the struts inspected for leaks can save S-Class owners a costly headache. The inspection only takes a few minutes under the hood, but you've got to know what to look for. Sorry, but I'm not sure of the exact cost, since I let the Service Advisors work up the estimates. My job is to make sure the car is fixed correctly. I hope you find this information helpful.

Well that's a heck of a lot better than the potential problems you have with the ABC/ADS hydraulic setups:

-4 Nitrogen spheres at $100+/apiece
-4 Independently adjusted computer-controlled dampers at $400/apiece
-1 Computer-controlled Main Valve Block at $3k+
-1 Tandem hydraulic pump at $1500
-Scads of high-pressure hydraulic lines which will eventually spring leaks
-4 separate hydraulic struts at $700/apiece
-2 pitch sensors, and 2 yaw sensors, at $100+/apiece
-2 ride-height sensor/control units, at $1300+/apiece

And I'm not even including any of the computers or wiring, because those rarely fail. But all of the stuff I listed does fail at least somewhat regularly, with the most common failures being the hydraulic pump, the ride-height controllers, the nitrogen spheres, and the high-pressure lines.

Like I said before, I've dropped a good $3k+ on my ADSII system in a car that was only built in 2001 and has 35k miles on it. It's a complete disaster. And the worst part is, a lot of independent shops either can't or won't work on it, because the silly thing isn't self-bleeding and requires a complicated manual bleeding dependent on a "Suspension Rodeo" function that can only be accessed via an SDS system, which most indys don't have. I'm really praying this thing will finally give me some useful service life after these latest repairs, but if I had it to do over I wouldn't touch an MB hydraulic suspension again with YOUR 10-foot pole.