Problem with '04 SL350 R230 Roof

[Yianni1066]

Hi all,
So, after not using the car for a long time, I hooked it back up, and started the car. As it was a nice day, thought put the roof down. Pushed the button and it started. Then stopped mid operation. So boot open and a roof pointing toward the sky.

So, pushed the button for it to close, but nothing.

I turned the car off, pulled out the key, nothing. Pulled the battery connections and reconnected. Nothing

Tried multiple combinations and timjngs, but nothing.

Called the RAC. To at least get the roof down and lock the car. Couldn't leave it like that.

Anyway, the RAC guy noticed a ticking, tapping noise, coming from the rear, drivers side. He said that a relay was broken. I asked him if that was the reason the roof wasnt working. He said no.

Anyways, after a couple of hours, he managed to close the roof. He just tried lots of differing combinations and resets. But in the end, when it eventually closed, it wasn't done manually. The car did it.

His conclusion, that the roof motor works and something electrical has gone. But if it is the motor, then I am looking at big money, more than the car is worth.

Anyone have any advice. I am no longer going to Mercedes about problems, the car is simply too old and they charge fortunes!

I am in North London, so any recommendations of good mechanics/auto electricians, would also be appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[peterws1957]

Doubt it's the motor. The roof has endless switches and relays to work. Don't panic - best to get a local indie to put on Star to diagnose where the fault is. Someone on here should be able to advise a good place to go in your area.

 

[Wighty]

Wayne Gates in Harrow will sort it

 

[Bay Leaf]

Could have been the auxiliary battery low on charge.

 

[LostKiwi]

Could have been the auxiliary battery low on charge.

Unlikely as it won't even start to move the roof and will post a message like "Electrical Consumers offline".

 

[Yianni1066]

Unlikely as it won't even start to move the roof and will post a message like "Electrical Consumers offline".

The batteries were disconnected and I checked them with a meter before I tried to use the car. the starter battery was low and I charged it for a day.

 

[SL63 Mark]

A second vote for Wayne Gates Harrow. Take it there they will advise. There is too much to go wrong for us to guess.

 

[flowrider]

Another vote for Wayne Gates in Harrow. It won't cost more than the cars worth to fix the issue, its likely a faulty switch.

 

[Yianni1066]

Ok, so I'm thinking I should call Wayne Gates in Harrow.

Thanks all, i appreciate it!!

 

[peterws1957]

"Electrical Consumers offline".

Probably the most common message ever to be seen on an Sl350 dash.

 

[Yianni1066]

Probably the most common message ever to be seen on an Sl350 dash.

I have to say, seen it a million times in all the years I've owned this car. I pretty much ignore it, unless something else is going wrong.

 

[LostKiwi]

Probably the most common message ever to be seen on an Sl350 dash.

Not just the 350 either!