W215 Airmatic retrofit possibility

[victorsanders]

Hi all... just wanted to run some ideas past a few of you on here... iv been looking into things to do with the ABC suspension on my CL600 BiTurbo and iv come up with an idea... the W220 and W215 share a chassis as you know... but what iv been looking into is changing the ABC to Airmatic. Before people tell me it’s blasphomy to get rid of ABC etc. I appreciate your opinion but I have already researched this to death. I’m just after some advice for the swap. The level sensors are the same parts for both chassis. The plugs for the ABC and Airmatic ecu, dash switches, sensors etc are identical, apart from the pin outs. Now, assuming the wiring harness is identical also, what’s stopping me from swapping out all the ABC system for Airmatic and just programming via DAS to say it has Airmatic instead of ABC ? any advice is greatly appreciated !

 

[whitenemesis]

I don't know if Star would allow you to program an "option" that never was?
Plus which Airmatic units will you use? Do the cars have the same weight distribution and overall weight?
Do you have room to fit the air reservoirs?

 

[victorsanders]

I don't know if Star would allow you to program a "option" that never was?
Plus which Airmatic units will you use? Do the cars have the same weight distribution and overall weight?
Do you have room to fit the air reservoirs?

I suppose I would have to see if that option is on there. I’m only assuming it is because of the W220 being almost identical in tech. I would just use all the parts that a W220 has. It’s the same chassis and the W215 ABC stuff is where the W220 stuff would go. So in terms of fitment, it’s a straight swap. It’s just getting the levelling part of it to work. Kerb weight is identical give or take a few kilos, weight distribution is not so much of an issue anyways due to the self levelling part. Which can also be adjusted via star.

 

[victorsanders]

Just found this whilst doing some research... it seems there is an option in Star to turn off ABC and switch on Airmatic... so now I just have to confirm that the wiring harness that would be used is the same...

 

[renault12ts]

I imagine the software in the 220 and the 215 is the same.

So, probably doable...but a lot of work. Someone with an intimate knowledge of both will probably chip in with better advice.

 

[whitenemesis]

Kerb weight is identical give or take a few kilos, weight distribution is not so much of an issue anyways due to the self levelling part. Which can also be adjusted via star.

Yes, I guess you can set the heights with STAR but the handling might be a bit off?
Have you explored how your insurers will view this conversion?
Really not trying to p!ss on your ideas, just wanting to flag up potential hurdles...

 

[alabbasi]

I think that it's an exercise in futility, unless every single part of your ABC suspension is in need of replacement, it would cost considerably more to do the switch over in terms of both parts and labor. I'm not sure that airmatic is more reliable than ABC, I have heard people gripe over ABC more, but I heard the same from people when I owned a 6.9 and the suspension on that car was utterly reliable, as has been the suspension on my S55.

 

[victorsanders]

Yes, I guess you can set the heights with STAR but the handling might be a bit off?
Have you explored how your insurers will view this conversion?
Really not trying to p!ss on your ideas, just wanting to flag up potential hurdles...

True, but I’m willing to try it... I don’t just want to give up on self levelling suspension and go for coil overs ... I’d like to try another Mercedes option .. plus I don’t think this has ever been tried ?! (From my research anyways) so it may be an answer for fellow 215 owners that also loathe ABC. I can’t see the insurers classing it any differently than a coil over conversion ... it will be using a suspension that was designed by Mercedes for that particular chassis. I’d have to have the conversation with them. No I understand. Hurdles are good! Might be things that I haven’t looked into yet !

 

[renault12ts]

You like a challenge...there was never a W215 4matic...but there was a 220 4matic.

 

[victorsanders]

I think that it's an exercise in futility, unless every single part of your ABC suspension is in need of replacement, it would cost considerably more to do the switch over in terms of both parts and labor. I'm not sure that airmatic is more reliable than ABC, I have heard people gripe over ABC more, but I heard the same from people when I owned a 6.9 and the suspension on that car was utterly reliable, as has been the suspension on my S55.

Maybe so, but the modified car scene would be non existent if nothing was ever tried ... my ABC hasn’t had a good life to be honest... and has gone out with an exceptional bang... my thoughts are that an air leak is much easier (and cleaner) to repair than the 10 litres of Pentosin that the ABC likes to dump every time it leaks (which usually happens with no warning).. parts wise I have worked out that I can replace the whole suspension for the same price as it would cost for me to repair my ABC. And if it doesn’t work then I can start again and sell the parts on. Il be doing all the work myself anyways so labour cost isn’t an issue.

 

[victorsanders]

You like a challenge...there was never a W215 4matic...but there was a 220 4matic.

I do like a challenge... I think you are referring to the 4Matic all wheel drive system? I’m talking about the Airmatic air suspension replacement over the hydraulic version in the 215

 

[renault12ts]

I do like a challenge... I think you are referring to the 4Matic all wheel drive system? I’m talking about the Airmatic air suspension replacement over the hydraulic version in the 215

I know what you are talking about...I've just added another challenge. A 4 wheel drive 215...what's not to like?

 

[victorsanders]

I know what you are talking about...I've just added another challenge. A 4 wheel drive 215...what's not to like?

I get what you mean now.. I like a challenge... but not a death sentence haha... maybe in the future il have a look into it ... depending on how successful this retrofit is haha

 

[alabbasi]

Maybe so, but the modified car scene would be non existent if nothing was ever tried ... my ABC hasn’t had a good life to be honest... and has gone out with an exceptional bang... my thoughts are that an air leak is much easier (and cleaner) to repair than the 10 litres of Pentosin that the ABC likes to dump every time it leaks (which usually happens with no warning).. parts wise I have worked out that I can replace the whole suspension for the same price as it would cost for me to repair my ABC. And if it doesn’t work then I can start again and sell the parts on. Il be doing all the work myself anyways so labour cost isn’t an issue.

I hear you. But that would be like trading cake for corn bread. The problem is that air suspension leaks are more common and harder to detect so your not buying anything with the conversion except an inferior system with more hassles. In most cases, it's an ABC hose that lets go where you lose 10 liters of fluid. It happened to me and it cost me $30 to rebuild the hose at a hydraulic shop. Since I replaced the house and all the ABC accumulators about a year ago, my system has been super reliable.

 

[victorsanders]

I hear you. But that would be like trading cake for corn bread. The problem is that air suspension leaks are more common and harder to detect so your not buying anything with the conversion except an inferior system with more hassles. In most cases, it's an ABC hose that lets go where you lose 10 liters of fluid. It happened to me and it cost me $30 to rebuild the hose at a hydraulic shop. Since I replaced the house and all the ABC accumulators about a year ago, my system has been super reliable.

I see where you’re coming from... the only thing that leads me to believe this will be an upgrade is that the newer versions of CL’s all went with air suspension and the ABC was dropped... Mercedes did this for a reason... and there’s nothing stopping me from upgrading things as I go so that they’re more reliable than stock .. I could add shut off valves and leak detectors in case anything goes south... I could add an arduino powered monitor to keep an eye on the system ... hmmm the old brains ticking now ... I do agree that the ABC hydraulic is more likely to outperform the air suspension .. but it’s 6 of one and half a dozen of the other... I’d rather an air leak than an oil leak... at least that way it doesn’t threaten the pump failing because of a leak... especially if I add thermal cut offs, or an aftermarket air pump etc

 

[alabbasi]

I see where you’re coming from... the only thing that leads me to believe this will be an upgrade is that the newer versions of CL’s all went with air suspension and the ABC was dropped... Mercedes did this for a reason... and there’s nothing stopping me from upgrading things as I go so that they’re more reliable than stock .. I could add shut off valves and leak detectors in case anything goes south... I could add an arduino powered monitor to keep an eye on the system ... hmmm the old brains ticking now ... I do agree that the ABC hydraulic is more likely to outperform the air suspension .. but it’s 6 of one and half a dozen of the other... I’d rather an air leak than an oil leak... at least that way it doesn’t threaten the pump failing because of a leak... especially if I add thermal cut offs, or an aftermarket air pump etc

Now that i'm older, when i think of such ideas, I try to put labor hours to all of these initiates and see if it adds up. You also got to decide if you want to own this car forever because nobody would touch it with a 50 ft barge pole after you made the conversion, should you ever decide to sell.

 

[Stratman]

If you ever intend driving it on public roads have a word with your insurance company first, see how keen they'd be to give you cover.

 

[markjay]

If you ever intend driving it on public roads have a word with your insurance company first, see how keen they'd be to give you cover.

Insurance cover is now mandatory everywhere, i.e. not just when driving on public roads....

 

[markjay]

Hi all... just wanted to run some ideas past a few of you on here... iv been looking into things to do with the ABC suspension on my CL600 BiTurbo and iv come up with an idea... the W220 and W215 share a chassis as you know... but what iv been looking into is changing the ABC to Airmatic. Before people tell me it’s blasphomy to get rid of ABC etc. I appreciate your opinion but I have already researched this to death. I’m just after some advice for the swap. The level sensors are the same parts for both chassis. The plugs for the ABC and Airmatic ecu, dash switches, sensors etc are identical, apart from the pin outs. Now, assuming the wiring harness is identical also, what’s stopping me from swapping out all the ABC system for Airmatic and just programming via DAS to say it has Airmatic instead of ABC ? any advice is greatly appreciated !

It's probably doable, but I think you are over-optimistic regarding the 'plug-and-play' compatability of the existing wires.

If there's one think I've learnt about MB wiring... is that the car's wiring is unique to the options. If the car didn't come with AirMatic, then the AirMatic loom won't be there and the wires you do have won't work.

That's my guess, anyway.

So if embarking on this project, I would start work under the assumption that every bit of wire will need to be custom-made and retrofitted.

 

[m2287]

I see where you’re coming from... the only thing that leads me to believe this will be an upgrade is that the newer versions of CL’s all went with air suspension and the ABC was dropped... Mercedes did this for a reason... and there’s nothing stopping me from upgrading things as I go so that they’re more reliable than stock .. I could add shut off valves and leak detectors in case anything goes south... I could add an arduino powered monitor to keep an eye on the system ... hmmm the old brains ticking now ... I do agree that the ABC hydraulic is more likely to outperform the air suspension .. but it’s 6 of one and half a dozen of the other... I’d rather an air leak than an oil leak... at least that way it doesn’t threaten the pump failing because of a leak... especially if I add thermal cut offs, or an aftermarket air pump etc

I’ve had a w220 on air and a w220 on ABC as well as a w215 on ABC.

Air is a downgrade, a massive downgrade, it doesn’t self level through corners, it also takes way longer to raise/lower the car (maybe 10-15 seconds to do either) I strongly advise you to drive a w220 on air before you do this.

ABC pumps and valve blocks can be rebuilt on the cheap, especially if you are mechanically minded as you say you are (parts are less than £100 posted). Pipes can also be rebuilt for under £50 and to a higher standard than OEM.