R129 280SL roof problems following a flat battery - help!

[wiggy964]

Hi, I am new to the forum and have been a very contented MB owner having only swapped from Porsche last year but my car has developed a problem which has me stumped. I'd be very grateful for any opinions!

My battery went flat overnight. I replaced it the following day. I have reset my windows as per the owners manual but still, when I turn on the ignition to positions two and three (engine running at three) both the roof control and the roll over bar switch remain illuminated (steady light, not flashing) and my roof will not fold away. My windows open a little, as they should, when I open the doors. I have disconnected and reconnected the battery, checked all fuses relating to the soft top and the roll bar and can see nothing wrong. A look under the spare wheel confirms that the hydraulic reservoir is just half full. Does anybody have any ideas please? I should add that the problems started when my battery went flat and before I put the new battery in.

I've assumed it is electrical but it may be anything but that I guess

The car is a 1995 SL280. Any and all help much appreciated.


MB SL280
Subaru Outback H6-3
Reliant Scimitar GTE

[stats007]

Once you've re-synced the windows and rollbar (you need to BAS / ESP if you have that as per the manual) then you might need to close the roof manually first which is also explained in the manual.

[iwrock]

Sounds like you need to re sync the rollbar as well. Have you tried the procedure in the manual to re sync the rollbar?

[wiggy964]

Thanks for your thoughts on this.

My first problem is that the roof was up when my battery went flat and there is no procedure in my manual which describes lowering the roof manually. I am very reluctant to force the roof but I did go as far as releasing the connections above the windscreen and unlocking the roof storage compartment before chickening out.. It has been suggested that in order to reset the roof I may need to fold it away completely. If so does anyone know of the correct way to do this?

Secondly I agree that the roll bar needs to be reset. There is no section in my manual covering this. I have held the roll bar button in the "up" and "down" positions for periods of 2, 5 and 10 seconds without any change. I've repeated the window resets, repeated the roll bar procedures in between and have done so with the ignition in all three positions - again without result. If anyone knows any other reset method I'd love to hear it.

I have spoken to Mercedes and they just asked me to bring her in but my wallet is already shaking at the thought - I have yet to see a report where any MB dealer has been able to resolve this issue correctly without considerable trial and error and the obvious accompanying expense!! Certainly the mechanic I spoke to was not able to suggest anything at all......

[stats007]

The roof is easy to close manually - the latches just undo in the windscreen pillar, the rear section can be undone from the boot - or if this is already open you just need to open the tonneau cover with the tool in the kit. The roof then just needs pushing back into its compartment - simple. This is all explained in the manual (well in the last two European SLs I've owned it has been). If you can't find it then there's an online version I can track down.

[wiggy964]

Thanks for the information. I have been through my manual over and over but there is nothing on taking the roof down, only on putting it up manually.

I will give it a go. I hadn't realized (and I am glad you pointed it out) that the rear section of the hood can be released from the boot. It was when I got to that stage yesterday that I got stuck. My manual does say that if I erect the roof manually it is not possible to get the rear section to engage properly with the tonneau cover / lid. I will have to wait for some dry weather - hopefully this weekend. Thanks again for your input - much appreciated.