SLK Boot lid catch adjustment

[dan f]

Hi.
My boot has never really closed well as I would like, as in, it needs a fair bit of force to get it to close/lock.
Thing is, when you use the roof, i.e. put the roof down and then up again, it makes the problem worse.
I have tried adjusting the catch any which way I can and still it does this.
I have got it to the stage where it feels great if you just use the lid as a normal boot, and it closes easily, however if you operate the roof, when you try the boot afterwards, it is like it is sitting too far back on the catch and will not close.
I have refrained from doing the roof again, since I have got it closing/locking OK as a normal boot at the moment.

Question is: What is the trick to get proper adjustment of the lid? Or is proper alignment a stealer only job?
I look forward to your responses.
Regards,
Dan.

 

[gary350]

Not sure if you have a R170 or R171 but the same applies. When my R170 boot would not close I smeared the catches with engines blue (a sort of dye) then gently closed the boot lid, checked the marks left on the dye then realigned the catch to central. It is possible to gently tug the boot lid as it is very mobile, as the car was then new so I gave it back to the dealer for a more longer lasting fix. To stop any damage the catches need to be spot on.

gary

 

[dan f]

Not sure if you have a R170 or R171 but the same applies. When my R170 boot would not close I smeared the catches with engines blue (a sort of dye) then gently closed the boot lid, checked the marks left on the dye then realigned the catch to central. It is possible to gently tug the boot lid as it is very mobile, as the car was then new so I gave it back to the dealer for a more longer lasting fix. To stop any damage the catches need to be spot on.

gary

Hi.
Yeah, sorry, it is a 2002 R170.
I do intend to work on it a little more this weekend first though as the boot lid can be moved forward on its hinges a little too.
If that fails then it will be back to the stealer with it.
Cheers,
Dan.

 

[dan f]

All sorted now.
Took a lot of patience, but worth it.