2004 SL500 Hardtop Issues

[KevinZ]

Hello,

I purchased the car new and have had very few issues. The hardtop would sometimes rattle, but the dealer made some adjustments to tighten it up.

Today, for the first time, the hardtop stopped in the middle of retraction even though I used it in both directions earlier in the day and all week for that matter. When I examined the problem more closely, the passenger side small panel that flips up during retraction was not flipping stiff to meet the sensor. The panel is loose and because it cannot firm up to press the sensor, the top stops in the middle of retraction. A workaround is to have someone hold the panel so that it presses against the sensor and all is well.

I don't want to mess with this top unless this is a known area of weakness and a solution to fix it. I am somewhat mechanical, but I am seeking advice before attempting to work on it.

Thanks,

Kevin

[Pete Geither]

Have you looked at the other side to see if they are the same ? Is a spring broken off or missing ?

[KevinZ]

There isn't enough to see. It all looks normal to me and I don't want to take it apart with the top half retracted, so I guess I'm headed for the service department.