Hello T.. I was browsing around and fell on your video - Back in 2004 I bought an SL55 Amg in Los Angeles and I gave it to Brabus I asked them to go all the way out and build me a KV8 (it cost me over $100K to do it, over and above what I paid for my new SL!) -The car was featured in many race magazines and also TV advert for a tire company - it was used by Brabus at all the top show as their show car - The car at that time was an animal and nothing could stay with me when they wanted to race me you name it they raced me - Just a little history I'm 72 years old and cut my teeth on a Jag 1957 120XK driving hell for leather down dark country road in the UK ( Mad Brit) wet and dark (did a little time on the track - but never had the money to do it seriously) I actually came to US by importing cars here in 1976 ! - ANYWAY, the point of this note is when I had my 2004 KV8 driving it fast through hard corners & slow bends I hated how it would skip or jump at high speeds sometime (scary) I had the suspension lowered kit on and 19/20 offset wheel and low profile tires but it still didnt cut it for me .. I always wanted to fit the sway bars and do what you have shown on your video but they where not available at that time .... Later I heard the 2007 SL550 changed the suspension set up !! not sure if that's true and if it does it do the job !! .. So you say it took you four days to do this installation - Well, me for one, wanna say thanks for sharing this info - I truly appreciate what you have accomplished and sharing it with us all - Many thank

Such an awesome project. Can't wait to see how it drives. At the dealer the extended warranty companies all stopped selling policies to ABC cars due to the insane cost. We had cars with 20k in suspension repairs alone before 100k. Granted those are dealer prices but still. Many children were sent to college on those repair bills, we loved those cars as technicians. The tech is great but man when it breaks, its crazy expensive. Great video, btw. Alex

I've had ABC in all 3 Benz that I've owned (SL600, SL63 & S600) and there is literally 0 difference between sport and comfort modes on the 600 models, on my SL63, there was a little difference. BTW What Tavarish is doing here is a pretty big deal, this is something that would make V12 Mercedes cars great again!

I had this done on my SL55, as the SL is my daily... I didn't have the time to do this myself, the cost for all of this insane work + a few new parts? the ABC system itself, It was $800 my end + the ABC system, so we were all very happy and they even reprogrammed the ECU so I won't get the ABC warning. Honestly, this job has made this car absolutely incredible. I have had ZERO issues since and the 113k is easy to work on... and my car is running 630bhp running a custom side exhaust (SLR Goals) My car weighs 3980lbs as well...

Tavarish is like my friends grandpa we called jack that could work on any car and fix anything. He always said "it really wasn't that bad".....now I know how bad it really was. Dude you kill it and blow me away with your knowledge. Keep it up

Tarvarish, i am utterly amazed at the knowledge, skills, energy, and patience you and other folks have for this work. You learned and completed the work in 4 days! Insane!

I cannot recommend your channel enough. Great work - I very much appreciate your endeavor. Thanks.

Tavarish, I just finished re-watching this vid. You did a real good job on this one. I really liked how the video was put together and how long this project took. The half hour length was a great gift. Keep up the great content! Thanks man

Dang I'm impressed with your skill I am a professional mechanic and have worked on these cars before I couldn't see anyone who doesn't do this for a living take on a project like this. Good job I'm subscribing.

I have a CL (which is more or less the same) and this video is bloody gold!!! I am currently working on my ABC system and Thank you so much for doing this. Please keep working on this car👍🏼

Best video you've done yet! Loved the detail and quality video. Thanks for talking tech, even the spring rates.

Many don't know how much work goes into these particular type of videos.. good work well done, keep it up mate

What a fantastic achievement you have done.I have never enjoyed any build or transformation on any video as much as this.

Tavarish, this was an excellent build and a excellent episode. Great job bro!!

this is one of the coolest videos i've seen on youtube. i've watched it 2 or 3 times in its entirety. nice job.

Tavarish , this is a VERY VERY INVOLVED project! I used to think that all MB owners were snobs who wouldn't want to get their hands dirty and work on their cars themselves! watching your videos made me discover that I was wrong!

I really enjoy your videos. You are a very patient man putting these parts together.

Tavarish the best car youtuber out here !!!! Only if he could finish a car !

I think this video is the best work I've seen you done and believe it will be the platform that launches you to 1 million subs. Keep up the good job my friend.

Love this channel. You walk the walk Tavaris with a little talk along the way.

Absolutely incredible work! I can honestly say, I couldn't do this to a car on my own!

Great job on the project. Its good to see a good vid with a finish. Can't wait to see how this settles and handles.

I enjoyed your video and you are no hack. I appreciate the work you put into this project. I've been through many repairs that were much more involved that I realized. You could add AC to your garage. You spend enough time in there, so it's totally worth it!

My E46 M3 uses Pentosin CHF 11s in its smg actuator pump unit. Cool to know another car that uses it for interesting functions!

Great job. Well worth the wait. Now I can't wait until the drive and next mod. Makes me want to tackle my suspension overhaul this weekend.

Can’ wait to see the transmission changeover to a manual. Keep up the good work! Very interesting!

First time I've watched your video in it's entirety due primarily to my interest in this particular shape SL , the dreaded Mercedes ABC Hydraulic suspension system and last but not least the AMG factor. My friend has a car like this. Ultimately I was very impressed with your workmanship, communicative detail, ingenuity, gusto, drive and determination. Amazingly and unlike your peers, you could easily have split this into a four part video yet you chose to compile the project in one video, albeit, with clever editing , with a clear easy to follow formulated captivated structure. Needles to say I subscribed and look forward to future blogs or should I say definitively, in your case, tutorials.

Amazing video. What a challenge to tackle by yourself. Congrats on getting it done and of course on hitting the 100k mark!!

Been following you since you for a while. Excellent topic bc suspension always go on MB resulting in expensive repairs. Great job with the swap! And CONGRATS on reaching 100K subscribers.

I would rank the degree of difficulty much higher than 8.5. More like a 14. Amazing job you did. i can't see many people wanting to take on that task.

Good work on this video- I was a bit worried when you kicked off your channel full-time that you really were in over your head. I kind of held up hope based on your old conversions that you could actually make things happen instead of just breaking stuff. After seeing this, I'm convinced that you definitely know what you're doing, so I look forward to future build vids.

Freddy, Arnott Industries will pay you $300 each for the struts! And they pay the shipping. Also, please send me your valve blocks instead of trashing them. I’ll pay shipping.

Loved the video. I am an 05 CL600 owner and actually love the ABC and don't mind replacing parts on it, but I was going a different route on the suspension on this car coils would be the only way, no airbags on my CL. Can't wait for the test drive video.

Love it! I was just cruising your channel last night for recent episodes on this car wondering if you got the manual swap done. wall to wall Lamborghini stuff and no AMG content and I was a little disappointed :-) thanks for another great video!

Awesome vid man! Major props for doing all the work yourself! The car looks great!

I have to change the sway bars on my Volvo XC90. Have hesitated to do so until now. After watching this video I know I won't be doing it. It also requires securing the engine and a lot of surprises along the way. Congrats to you.

Excellent video! Swapping that damn ABC is the best move you made on that car. I had an R230 SL500 and half the shit you had on that table I had to replace...some even twice! I went 911 and never looked back.

I've been debating picking up an SL500 but hesitate due to the extreme expense of the ABC system... If your replacement system is practical, it would remove my doubts...Great project and great skills to accomplish it.. , one of your best videos and that's saying alot.

Great job on the suspension. I can't wait to see this car with a manual transmission. Now that's going to be a challenge.

I finally folded and subscribed, so I can get notified on the next good video and man was the timing perfect. Im surprised no shop specialise on this very mod. It seems to bring the proposition of owning these cars up front especially if its a solid car mechanically...

Great video! This was a very ambitious project and I’m impressed with your explanations. Can’t say I’d take this on personally, but you inspire me to take on bigger projects than I might ordinarily. I prefer videos on your higher-end cars. Keep up the good work.

Did the same thing on my ls460. One air strut went bad and it's 2k to replace it. So I converted it to coilovers and don't regret it. Especially worth it if you have ABC.

That setup looks awesome! We own the 402,000 miles E55 AMG and might be doing this conversion to it as well!

That ABC is the reason I bought a SL-350 (2005, in Europe). It would give me nightmares. Kudos for this project, amazing job.

100k followers props ! Keep on doing what you love 👏

Quality content, and great production. Been keeping me entertained for the past year, keep it up man EDIT* just finished the video and I have to add that you got balls of steel for taking on such a project

Looks like it was a tough job... Nice work..looking forward to your first thoughts after your test drive

Been there done that .. definitely not an easy job and i got it done with jack stands..(5 days) but being stranded on the road 3 times with busted abc lines makes you do crazy shit like this. GOOD JOB

I like your concept. You really wrenched on this beast. Looks great.

I picked up an 03 CL600 with a ruptured damper line awhile back and looking for extra accumulators to get it by just in case. All while gathering parts for the same type of coil over swap (Yellow Speed) on down the road. I plan on using factory sway bar mounts/LC arms (W220) parts and PS pump up front. When you said "Leverage" I had to laugh, that 19MM bolt under that Tandem pump on mine needed a 1/2" Socket with swivel & 10" extension hooked to a breaker bar and 4 foot pipe before it let go. On the V12 its accessed through the engine cradle by the front of the control arm mount.

I’m truly humbled watching this video. My desire for this car is still high but see this gives me a heads up on what I’m getting into if I decide to get one.

Just did this to my CL55 and couldn’t be happier. Thank you for the video inspiration.

I absolutely love the ‘going back to basics’ with the suspension on the SL. You have removed such a big future failure and its satisfying seeing all the parts being junked. I’m all for weight saving in cars. Cars are far too complicated for their own good. Great project dude.. keep up the good work

looks dope, glad to see you working on it again

Best video you have had in a long time. BRAVO.

Doing this same conversation on my 04 sl55, thanks for this great video!

Enjoyed this video to the very end! Awesome job dude!!

When you said everything you wanted to do to the SL I thought you were mad and ver ambitious But man, that thing is getting on really nicely Congratulations

Nice job! Watching you do this project really shows your abilities. Keep wrenching, and posting..... BTW props to the HFT tools haha, hope they pay you some

Nice job Tavarish! Based on the hours and complexity, research, and labor, I would say you need update the job to a 10. You are being being modest in retrospect, but this IS beyond an average DIYer as you really got into a number of learn more as you go situations! But thanks for the patience and perseverance.

You have an amazing garage, I’d never leave home because I’d just be wrenching all day long!

dude.. randomly found one of your vids.. and damn!! the amount of effort and knowledge you show is awesome! you got a new sub! :)

Congratulations on 100k!

If I had money to burn like you I would do this to my 02 cl55. I've more dances with the ABC system than I care for. You have EVERY tool to do anything to your sl. Great work man.

Wow Tavarish, you got the "bug" and you got it bad!! Welcome to the club!!

love seeing a youtube car channel that does their own work and doesn't sub out....sorta like roadkill of foreign cars...nice work!

Wow Thanks for posting this!. Awesome material!!

wow!! amazing work brother! great material! big big BIG Like! keep it up man

Amazing work Tavarish! Great video

I'm in the process of doing this to my CL 500, I've got the coilovers in, i'm about to do the tandem pump swap next free weekend, then I need to get the lines out and sway bars in (a lot easier job on the front than on the SL!) but the rear is the same story.

Love the channel man. I have to say, I am big fan of ABC but ... great that you put this out there. Cheers!

Look fantastic well done...really enjoyed this episode

Gratz on 100K! You deserve 10x more :)

Great video...I don't own a Mercedes but appreciate the effort and detailed description. As Edd China says, "never give Up"! Also, I'm not sure if you're using a headlamp but they really help in tight spaces.

Best video yet!! Keep up the good work bro 👍

That's one hell of a project dude... Nice work!

Much respect for this type of content.

well done. a lot of things to learns and carry out in 4 days

Very nice job! Best vid you ever did!

In 20+ years ive never met anyone across multiple manufacturers with the exception of off road 4X4 usage that didn't regret swapping out the factory hydrolic suspension for a conventional spring/shock combo. Cornering/ breaking in particular suffers the most.

Nice work, Tavarish! I doubt I'll be doing this mod to my 2004 SL55 simply because the ABC system works really, really well. In normal mode it's almost as compliant as my 300CE cabriolet was, and in sport mode the car is remarkably flat in the twisties. On the other hand, the warranty company might prefer to pay for the conversion rather than fix the ABC if it craps out completely.

I'm so glad I subscribes to your channel, I'm about to buy one of these cars and I've heard about problems with this ABC things left and right. I'm definitely doing the same thing you did but I might just wait until my own system breaks

Mr. T. you continue to impress me with your hoospa, huevos, brass ball mechanical ambitiion and success. I know you were exhusted, but would've beeeeen nice to see a pic of the hydralic system you removed.

What a beautiful car!!! You did such a good job unbelievable

Very well done! I think this is one of my favorite videos that you have made. Perhaps I will soon tackle the swap on my XJ8-L (swapping air suspension for standard spring/strut). Keep up the good work man!

HEY, TAVARISH.. EVEN THO IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR WAS A MESS, I AM SOOOOOO GLAD THAT YOU TOOK THE PROJECT ON AND KICKED IT'S ASS WHICH MADE IT THAT MUCH BETTER! DAM GOOD JOB MY FRIEND!! ***DEF ONE OF BEST VIDEO'S IV SEEN IN A LONG TIME*** JUST BY THE WAY YOU DESCRIBED EVERYTHING FROM START TO FINISH, ALSO AM AMAZING JOB HOW YOU DESCRIBED EVERYTHING FROM PARTS TO PRICING!! BEAUTIFUL JOB DONE! OKAY, NEED TO FINISH WATCHING THE REST OF THE PROJECT/BUILD I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE FINISH PROJECT!

Tremendous job ! Thanks for posting !

Having driven plenty of R230 SL350's some with ABC but most without, I can report that the ABC makes very little difference to the ride. In fact smaller profile wheels 17" rather than 18" or 19" improve the ride far more than the ABC. Additionally, with ABC there is the sport option but as Tavarish says selecting it makes virtually no difference. The most important thing to remember is these are very pretty cars that were designed to be GT's rather than sports cars. If you want to go fast buy a sports car. If you want to waft about in a comfortable, well made, smooth piece of German engineering than buy an SL. They make you feel great, everybody thinks you are loaded and the roof mechanism never fails to delight.

Tovarisch , you are a genius , for not being a proffesional with long time experience ! well done !

Congo on 100k subs! Keep it going!

Great video.. loved every minute. I have a w221 s63 with the hydraulic suspension.. so far i've had to replace the abc pump at 40k and a pressure dampener at 73k (extended warranty). Still, I feel the ride quality is worth it imho.

FINALLY. I missed this series!

Dude my 04 s55 w220 Amg system just took a crap need to get mines hooked up! Real good info

Man o Manischewitz you have some pretty big Huevos Rancheros to take on a job like that. I was like WTF is going to do ? You need a NO FEAR t-shirt too! Great job dude!

Awesome mod man!!! It looks amazing! And I bet that it'll ride better!!! Also, it would be pretty cool if you could have an animation/indicator of the weight reduction/how much it weights with every weight-reduction mod

The IR receiver in the door handle gets its connector solders broken over time, take em out and re-solder them.

Super impressed, and great job. Liked and subscribed!

What a fantastic video!! Am considering one of these cars, and like he said, they're cheap because of that ABC issue. This conversion seems to be a great answer to that problem!! Well done!!

your dog just chillen back there'

Great work! Not many will ever attempt this.