Alastairp
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2022
- Messages
- 314
- Reaction score
- 491
- Location
- West central Scotland
- Your Mercedes
- 2005 CLK200 coupe (now gone) 2011 R230 SL350 2014 C220 estate
Vario roof problems from last year on (January) 2012 R230 SL350.
First problem was roof opened but would not close. Roof would close the following day. Investigated by independent specialist - all fault codes cleared and roof seemed to operate again.
Same problem recurred shortly thereafter - fault code indicated microswitch S127/1 fault. Part replaced and roof seemed to operate normally
Took the vehicle home and opened the roof - roof stopped in the half open position with boot lid raised. Drove into my garage and left completely stuck in this position for several days, then it operated normally to permit roof to be closed.
Took vehicle back to independent specialist - they operated roof at their workshop and it stopped in the half open position again.
Left it with them. They subsequently informed me that the hydraulic fluid level was slightly low, but they could find no leaks - topped up fluid and operated roof several times and told me vehicle should now be OK.
Roof stuck half open at home again and would still not operate after several days. Returned to independent specialist who could not look at it right away. Left with them for several days, then they called to say that the roof was working normally. They had it going up and down numerous times. They wouldn't charge me as they hadn't done anything, but thought it might have just had some kind of airlock following the fluid top up and it just needed to be cycled several times to sort this.
Roof operated fine thereafter, but has recently resumed misbehaviour by stopping half way through the opening sequence, then not cooperating with any further switch operation, either to close or open. Roll bar function not operating either. I just switch off ignition walk away and fume.
Functionality usually comes back the next day, permitting the roof to be closed.
I now dare not open the roof as I anticipate failure during the opening process so just use the vehicle as a coupe but would like to get to the bottom of this so had booked the car back with indy. Naturally, the roof was working fine in this period....
When I took the car in, I showed them the roof operating and it stopped part way through the opening procedure as it often does.
Perfect - leave it with us and leave the engine running with the roof in the stalled position.
They called back later to say that when they came back to the car, the roof worked fine and when checked with Star there were no fault codes showing. They ordered and changed the pump relay as a precaution (it was only about £8) and I collected the car (they didn't charge me anything) and suggested that if the roof stalled again, the only thing they could suggest would be to change the hydraulic pump £2k+ from MB or ~£700 for refurbished unit with 1 year warranty.
With hindsight, I suspect the pump has been changed previously as the padding and cover for the pump/motor assembly is missing. In the pile of previous owner invoices, there are invoices for roof seal replacement so there may have been previous water ingress leading to subsequent pump damage. I now suspect that the pump may have been replaced with a second hand one as it does look a bit scruffy. This replacement may have been a little low on oil when fitted (see above) causing additional strain on the replacement pump perhaps leading to the problem currently experienced?
In summary:
Roof stalls during the opening process - I don't recall it doing so during the closing process
No fault codes indicated on Star- definitely not flaps or sensor related
"Vario roof in operation" message in dash display, even when roof is stalled - no error message
After switching off ignition, roof assembly slides into boot after a few minutes when hydraulic pressure is automatically released. Roof will not function until the next day.
I have recently found that if the engine is left running, it seems that the roof can be closed after several minutes
Any advice appreciated
New pump? Reconditioned pump? Just use as fixed head coupe?
First problem was roof opened but would not close. Roof would close the following day. Investigated by independent specialist - all fault codes cleared and roof seemed to operate again.
Same problem recurred shortly thereafter - fault code indicated microswitch S127/1 fault. Part replaced and roof seemed to operate normally
Took the vehicle home and opened the roof - roof stopped in the half open position with boot lid raised. Drove into my garage and left completely stuck in this position for several days, then it operated normally to permit roof to be closed.
Took vehicle back to independent specialist - they operated roof at their workshop and it stopped in the half open position again.
Left it with them. They subsequently informed me that the hydraulic fluid level was slightly low, but they could find no leaks - topped up fluid and operated roof several times and told me vehicle should now be OK.
Roof stuck half open at home again and would still not operate after several days. Returned to independent specialist who could not look at it right away. Left with them for several days, then they called to say that the roof was working normally. They had it going up and down numerous times. They wouldn't charge me as they hadn't done anything, but thought it might have just had some kind of airlock following the fluid top up and it just needed to be cycled several times to sort this.
Roof operated fine thereafter, but has recently resumed misbehaviour by stopping half way through the opening sequence, then not cooperating with any further switch operation, either to close or open. Roll bar function not operating either. I just switch off ignition walk away and fume.
Functionality usually comes back the next day, permitting the roof to be closed.
I now dare not open the roof as I anticipate failure during the opening process so just use the vehicle as a coupe but would like to get to the bottom of this so had booked the car back with indy. Naturally, the roof was working fine in this period....
When I took the car in, I showed them the roof operating and it stopped part way through the opening procedure as it often does.
Perfect - leave it with us and leave the engine running with the roof in the stalled position.
They called back later to say that when they came back to the car, the roof worked fine and when checked with Star there were no fault codes showing. They ordered and changed the pump relay as a precaution (it was only about £8) and I collected the car (they didn't charge me anything) and suggested that if the roof stalled again, the only thing they could suggest would be to change the hydraulic pump £2k+ from MB or ~£700 for refurbished unit with 1 year warranty.
With hindsight, I suspect the pump has been changed previously as the padding and cover for the pump/motor assembly is missing. In the pile of previous owner invoices, there are invoices for roof seal replacement so there may have been previous water ingress leading to subsequent pump damage. I now suspect that the pump may have been replaced with a second hand one as it does look a bit scruffy. This replacement may have been a little low on oil when fitted (see above) causing additional strain on the replacement pump perhaps leading to the problem currently experienced?
In summary:
Roof stalls during the opening process - I don't recall it doing so during the closing process
No fault codes indicated on Star- definitely not flaps or sensor related
"Vario roof in operation" message in dash display, even when roof is stalled - no error message
After switching off ignition, roof assembly slides into boot after a few minutes when hydraulic pressure is automatically released. Roof will not function until the next day.
I have recently found that if the engine is left running, it seems that the roof can be closed after several minutes
Any advice appreciated
New pump? Reconditioned pump? Just use as fixed head coupe?
I put the original battery back in to see if the roof would work. It didn't 
Never figured this out.
