installing ABS on my new W201
 

hey people, i just bought a Mercedes W201 190 and there is no ABS installed on it, so im looking forward to install abs so i want an advice what should i do and buy, your help will be very appreciated

It is possible to do if you have a complete parts car of the same exact year / model sitting next to the target car. Even then it will be lots of work.

The larger question is why do you want to refit? ABS isn't a cure all and won't save you in every situation. And I'd suggest that the older system wasn't that good to start with compared to one that has had 30 years of development. ( Response time , programming.)

so your recommending not to do it, and it would be a waste of time and effort, and the results wont a lot better than it is?

and i want to refit it as i want shorter braking distance i dont want to slide away when i brake

Does it snow where you live?

I have a 99 w140,I used a jumper wire for years to turn off abs,and asr.I hate it.

I once installed factory A/C on a car which did not have it. Quite fun!

The way I did it was to read through the service documentation and FULLY understand the system. It included connections to the engine computer - need to understand all connections so you get it right!

Then I pulled all the parts off of a wrecking yard car, installed on my car.

I imagine you could do the same. If a more recent year, you may need to also swap engine computers. Older years had totally separate systems for everything. As the years went along, they integrated electronics - one computer would handle and record all diagnostic information for other units.

My advice? Do not waste your time or go buy a later W201 equipped with ABS, if available.

If you are hell bent on it, the electronic side of the system should be all separate (with separate ABS control unit electronic module) and fairly easy to string along the correct points.

Be aware, you will probably have to replace spindles up front that have a hole for the ABS sender and change hubs with the exciter wheel. W126s at least only have three channel ABS... so you would need a diff with the ABS sender hole and tone ring. I cannot tell you if you need to change the rear suspension up or not.

PLUS the brake hard piping is different due to the ABS motor...



Are you sure you STILL want to do this?

Are you locking up the wheels while braking at the present time? If not, ABS won't do anything for you since you are not your locking a wheel.

If you are locking up a wheel, an adjustable brake bias valve on the end of the car you are locking up would go a long way in helping things at low cost.

If you are regularly locking a wheel while driving in public traffic, ABS will only get you deeper into trouble to the point that nothing will save you.