Can anyone help? I have a 1998 SL500 that the battery went dead. Got it charged and got a new battery. Got everything reset. Checked ALL fuses-OK. Every time it is started, the warning light for the rollbar is on, windows are non functional, and the light switch for the top is on. Car runs great- I was told that I needed a 'computer controller' for over $2500! I can't afford that. Does anyone know the exact term of the name for the part I need, and an aftermarket source that is more reasonable? Thank you for any and all help.

The soft top control module is a dealer only item. Being as it is a late 129, I'd try the junkyard route, may be able to score one for less than a grand. Before any of that I'd want to be sure that is really the problem though.

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You should post this question in the SL section of this forum. You said everything got "reset". Can you synchonize the windows? 129 SL's over the years have several different versions of the soft top controller and roll bar controller which are all "reset" differently. I believe that in 1998 you can still read codes which will indicate where the fault in the system is. It is highly unlikely that just changing the battery has damaged the controller, they are not that fragile.

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Resistance is Futile.

I see a lot of these complaints every spring, when the SL's come out of the garage for the first time in months.

It's actually pretty simple. R129 roof control modules (RST) don't like low voltage situations or jump-starts!!! There is almost certainly fault code 128 stored in the ECU. Sometimes this code can be cleared, other times not. As long as this code is present, operation of the top is blocked. You'll need to have a shop equipped with SDS clear all the codes and see what happens.