Softop Woes

[Arju]

Went to the dealership two weeks ago for an oil change and replaced the battery as well. Turns out a warning light (displaying a rollbar) turned on. Dealership said a module ahd to be replaced...

Control Module: 39 PST
MB Part: 129 820 31 26

Cost: $1511.00 ( )

Denied it, took the car home. The dealer pulled the error codes and gave me a printout.

DTC Memory

134 Power soft top control module N52

135 Power soft top control module N52

128 Power soft top control module N52

I fooled around with the softop button and managed to get the hardtop off and the softop works normally now. Only problem is the light is still on... now what???

What can I make of this... Don't want to get the shaft for a high dollar repair if it can be avoided.

Also... the softop is 7 years old and is worse for wear. The rear windows have cracks in them and the material is rough around the edges. Is there a cheaper alternative to dealership rape?

[bobterry99]

If the rollbar warning light was off when you gave the car to the dealer and was on when they returned it, surely they damaged the soft top/roll bar controller and are responsible for replacing it.

The codes they found indicate real trouble. If they can not be cleared by the dealer, then your only recourse is to purchase a replacement. You should be able to get a much better price than $1500 though, even if you have to pay for a new one. There is one other solution: just pull the bulb for the warning lamp out of the instrument cluster and take care not to roll the car over with the bar down, since it may no longer deploy automatically.

You can have just the rear part of the top replaced. Many upholstery shops can do the work, so you need not pay the dealer's rates.

[Arju]

Well the light was on before... my mistake before.

So the car can be driven jsut fine but if I roll over I = dead?

Will the top still work fine though? Is this only related to the safety mechanism behind the rollbar deploying? That's my idea sinced the rollbar always comes up when the top is put down or up without the hardtop.

Damn.

Where can I look for the part? Mercedes Shop? I don't want to pay border tax though

[bobterry99]

"Will the top still work fine though?" Try it and find out! Will you die if the car rolls over and the bar does not deploy? Who knows, but perhaps you'd be so despondent over totaling a '97 SL500 with two-tone leather that you would wish to be dead anyway!

Call Phil at Mercedesshop to price a new one, and you might try Sports and Imports (770-416-7575) in Atlanta for a used one.

[Arju]

No need for that tone... its just going to take a couple days to get the time to take the car in. Obviously me/my Dad will just leave the rollbar up all the time, top or no top.

I'm showing interest for the safety of me, my father and the car so relax.

And I can't order from the States... I usually get gouged at the border with our importation taxes.

[CDNC36AMG]

Arju, where in Ontario are you located?

My mechanic in the Hamilton area tends to be quite good at sourcing parts at a reasonable price.

[Arju]

I'm in Aurora... north of Toronto like 20 mins. (10 in an SL )

[CDNC36AMG]

Originally posted by Arju
I'm in Aurora... north of Toronto like 20 mins. (10 in an SL )

So, like, 25 minutes from Hamilton as the SL flies.

I guess all I can suggest is that you find a local independant mechanic who regularly services MBs....I never use the dealer myself.

My mechanic is likely too far to be convenient for you but I can pass the name on if you wish.