Mercedes ABC suspension - how to change hydraulic fluid+ what happens if you don’t do this.

This is a detailed video explaining why you should regularly change the hydraulic fluid in your Mercedes ABC (active body control) hydraulic suspension.

The Mercedes ABC hydraulic suspension was an engineering marvel, but gets a lot of bad press primarily because of the cost of fixing the system if things go wrong.

If you own a Mercedes with the ABC hydraulic suspension, it is imperative that you regularly change the hydraulic fluid. If you are thinking of buying one - be sure to take a white swab and check the colour of the hydraulic fluid...and always look for a comprehensive service history. Once this fluid becomes discoloured (e.g. dirty) you risk damaging expensive components in the system and shortening its life.

A DIY hydraulic fluid change can cost as little as £100 - £150 or you can pay between £200 - £300 to have it changed by a professional. The 2nd half of this video shows how to do a basic fluid change with no special equipment. It takes less than a hour and could end up saving you a fortune!

0:00 Intro.
0:50 Mercedes SL 350 can also have hydraulic suspension
1:17 Originally Mercedes said the hydraulic fluid didn't need changing
1:30 Mercedes introduce a new finer 3 micron filter to combat dirty fluid
2:35 Why hydraulic fluid changes from green to black
3:05 What happens to the ABC pump if you run dirty fluid
3:30 What triggers the white and red 'ABC Visit workshop' lights on your dash
4:51 Dirty fluid can cause car to sag on one corner.
5:19 First thing to check if you are thinking of buying an R230 Mercedes
6:00 How to check colour of hydraulic fluid
6:33 Which hydraulic fluid to use
7:30 How much fluid you need to do a fluid change
8:25 Which filter to use and the cheapest place to buy
9:19 Which method to use when changing the hydraulic fluid
10:23 Pressure reservoirs (accumulators) are important
11:07 What happens when an accumulator fails
12:00 Hydraulic fluid is hydroscopic and can rust pistons in the pump
13:30 Difference between a ABC fluid change and a full ABC system flush
14:18 What you will need to change your fluid
15:45 Disconnecting return pipe and removing the old filter
16:50 Time taken and cost to change the ABC pump
18:00 Starting the engine and pumping out the old fluid
19:15 To Rodeo...or not to Rodeo
20:15 Eventually fluid colour changes from black to green
20:39 Don't over fill the system!
22:10 Pros and Cons of Fluid Change vs Fluid Flush
23:06 Checking the level on the dipstick
24:00 Job done - contact details