I just received delivery of a 1993 300ce cabriolet from Mercedes Benz in Naples Florida to New York. PPI by AIM. Car was rated as in great shape with all sorts of pictures including the top down. Note sold AS-IS with a note of the only problems being scuffs on the top and an ashtray that didn't close. Car was delivered 7/10/11 ,five minutes later top won't budge, the tombstone rear headrest are up like trees,the top light flashes and beeps periodically at will. The dash and rear passenger/console switches for the tombstone headrests light up intermittently. I am in need of help. I did contact Naples MB saleman who said they it was working during the PPI. If someone can suggest a simple fix that will be fine. Otherwise I will be speaking to MB ,the Florida Attny General and others. Thanks in advance.

Please tell me you didnt buy a convertible 90s Benz without verifying all 8 top cylinders on this model have been rebuilt? If not, there is no recourse for not doing your own due diligence .

Dont do your homework, get screwed. Simple.

Also, have you ever considered that the top worked a week ago, and not today? And may very well start working tomorrow, either full or part-time? How long have you been a Benz owner? An owner of 2 decade old Benzes? Comes with the territory.

If you're going to point and shoot by taking someone's word 1000 miles away without your own verification, be prepared to deal with the consequences.

__________________
former: 83 300D, 97 C230, 93 400E

current: 08 C300 Luxury , 92 500SL

Remove the trunk interior panels and inspect the fluid level. The inspect the limit switches and make sure they are all connected. Check for binding as well. Also check for fluid leaks.

Unless these cars are much different than the 129 SLs, electronic top controller could also be at fault. Has it been replaced/rebuilt?

The top will do funny things if it's not getting enough voltage. Perhaps the car sat too long, and the battery is drained or old?

Lots of variables here. Either verify repair history, or start by checking battery and alternator. If checks out, check for leaks and check the switches as Don suggested, using his instructions.

It's got to be one of those

__________________
former: 83 300D, 97 C230, 93 400E

current: 08 C300 Luxury , 92 500SL

The top won't function if the roll bar (tombstones) are raised. You need to lower them. Try the switch. Until you solve that the top won't move.Also as others have mentioned you need good power. Start the engine to rule out a low battery

Thanks to all for your response especially (Will) brutally honest. I over looked that part. I researched and researched via this site and others. The PPI group did not speak to this. Moving rihgt along ,I removed the trunk liner and see the fluid resivoir is below the min mark. Could this be the problem? I hope so. I will be running to the MB dealer at 9:00 am. The car runs and battery seems fine. Your thoughts guys. Thanks

As other people have said you won't be able to lower the top until the rear headrests have been lowered. I suspect that the headrests may have automatically deployed during transportation due to the rear wheel(s) being off the ground. It's suppposed to do that by design. The headrests are spring loaded in order to be deployed as a safety measure. they are manually raised and lowered hydraulically. Once you top up the reservoir check the manual for the procedure to lower the headrests - then find out where the fluid is going. You have at least one and probably more leaking cylinders. there are 8 for the top and one for the headrests. there are plenty of resources on line for tracking down leaking cylinders - but be aware it is not an easy job.

__________________
1990 300CE-24 (Gone but not forgotten)
2002 SLK 32 AMG
2002 ML320 (Gone)
1995 E320 Cabriolet

the fluid at the dealer is $25 a quart depending on their markup. You can use the Febi brand fluid (same exact stuff, same bottle and all)

Get those head rests down and then to operate the top make sure the engine is running. The hydraulic system sucks a lot of power and does not like losing volts. The top controllers can sometimes be a pain to deal with. My top did not like me interrupting the sequence. I had to let it run all the way through before putting the windows down or it would complain the next time around.

Thank goodness I live in an area where the dealers are "reasonable". I pay $15 a litre for the MB fluid. The FEBI fluid is typically $10 a litre elsewhere.

__________________
1990 300CE-24 (Gone but not forgotten)
2002 SLK 32 AMG
2002 ML320 (Gone)
1995 E320 Cabriolet

Has anyone connected a MB pulse scanner & read codes from the system?

Did the headrests JUMP up or go up slowly?

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

I will be taking the car to a mercedes indy within the next 3 days. The rear headrests went up quikly.
The convertible top switch lights up and beeps as I drive. Is this any type of clue?

A few basic questions...

Disconnect and reconnect the battery?

Have you checked all the respective fuses ?

Have you tried to lower the rear headrests with the switch on the dash?
Does the dash switch illuminate/flash?

Have you unlatched the two front latches, pushed the roof up and see if the console top switch is steadily illuminated?
Then pull the top down and relatch and see if the console top switch illumination goes out ?

Cycle all the windows up and down a few times.

As "The Don" previously posted the system can be a bit quirky if the sequence has been interrupted.

__________________
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...c/GOWIDE-1.jpg
1971 280SL ROADSTER
1988 300CE TWIN TURBO WIDEBODY
1994 E320 CABRIOLET
1999 C43 AMG
2005 G55K AMG
2008 CLK63 AMG BLACK SERIES

I have unlatched the handles and pushed up on the top
The headrest switches do not light up
I have pressed on the headrest switch (up) for up to 1minute and then push for down -no change

I have recyled the windows up and down.
I did not disconnect the battery though-- will try that shortly
Others have mentioned the fuses---but no one has identified their location--the fuse box cover does not indicate any fuse for the convertible top system.
I have gotten conflicting information on a strap fuse in front of the battery---some say its for the top others say it's for the rear window defroster. HELP!!!!

The rear headrests or rollbar does not go back down with the dash switch and the dash switch is not illuminated- right? The rollbar is in the up position, and has been from the moment you received the car?

As said above, the rollbar deploys automatically when the system senses unusual rear suspension travel. There are two switches on the rear spring links that trigger in that unusual event. Those switches must be reset if they have triggered, before the rollbar/rear headrest/tombstones will lower by the dash switch.

Check those switches.

I've attached a diagnostic checklist for the R129 soft top, which is very similar to ours. I can't find the pdf of the MB service supplement for the Cab; I'll keep looking.

Attached Files

Soft Top Troubleshooting_AD77.30-P-5000A.pdf (72.6 KB, 355 views)

I have not seen a rollbar just the rear headrests. the headrests were up when the driver took the car off the carrier.
Where are the switches you mention around the axle?