andaya

Ever see a ML430 with a regular sunroof? Now, ever see a ML430 with a SKYVIEW roof?? Forget the driver having all the fun, let your friends in the back enjoy the sun as well! WOW!! I have a themeanest1999 Mercedes Benz ML 430 (convertible) for sale. It has 56k miles, which are mostly hwy miles. The car is immaculate condition, it’s in perfect shape and runs very smooth. I had a 120 point check and everything is perfect ( I have the receipt) The car is garage kept. Oil change every 3000k miles to keep a lasting engine. The car is fully loaded especially it has the ultimate SKY VIEW sun roof! MUST SEE! CD player along with CD changer, leather seats, AC, power doors and locks, tinted windows ( all) , lots more! This car is fast V8 engine.

PICTURES: http://www.sxpress.com/~jim/ml430

I don’t have the recently picture with racks on, but if you send me an email I will send you pict with full racks.

selling it:
http://cgi.ebay.aol.com/ebaymotors/a...item=599461238

mbtech208

Nooooo! Not a Lamella roof! The next time I have to repair a stuck Lamella roof, I'm going to fake stomach flu and go home early.

sosh

Your Skyview roof is a detriment not a plus. If you want to sell that thing I would not brag about it!!

andaya

Maybe you just had a bad experince with it.

sosh

Never owned one with this roof as my salesman strongly suggested I not order it, Dealership has taken a number of these equipped vehicles back due to rattles, leaks, and the mechinism jamming. Had an 00 model as a loaner once with the Skyview and it jammed on me. Had the same vehicle a couple of months later as a loaner again and it was placarded "roof disabled do not attempt to operate" Understand that dealers are subtracting value from trade ins with this roof as they are hard to sell.

Flashman

Webasto, the company that developed the panoramic sunroof for the new C230 Sports Coupe and new Porsche Targa developed the lamella roof for MB. In their web site, they call it "a high point in the roof systems division".

http://www.webasto.de/home_e/Uber_un...schichte_e.htm
and
http://www.webasto.de/home_e/Produkt...hsysteme_e.htm

They also have a nice page on the C230's Panorama Sunroof:

http://www.webasto.de/home_e/Produkt...hsysteme_e.htm

andaya

As long as I had had this car, I had never had any probelems at all, not once.
I guess I take care of it, grease it, oil it, etc.
Thanks for all the info, but I'm quite happy with some sun over my head over the summer time :P

sosh

Its probobly not the maint you have done but pure luck. Odds are you will have a problem and most likely when it begins raining it won't close

shoobie

Got our new '00 ML430 with skyview in Feb. '00. After having the car for just a month, it busted at 3/4 open, and the dealership took more than 7 weeks to receive parts from Germany and install a completely new system. Since then, we use it regularly with no trouble.

Can't say the same for the front driver window. We had the switch replaced once, but the window has stuck again, and the dealership took 5 weeks to receive parts - we finally go in next week for repairs...

Amazingly, the ML430 has been less trouble than our '01 CL500, which we got rid off after 6 months.

** Thinking "Lexus" for New Year's Resolution **

My ML

i owned an ml320 with skyview and there was no probelms with it and owned it for 6 years

sin0822

i got in on an 01 430 and it still works even after breaking a glass with still glass in its threads. Also my car crashed and frame damage resulted and the roof hasnt leaked.

Crazy MB Rob

Ahh, The SKYTOP aka Lamella Roof!
It's quite amazing that when you take the headliner down and sunroof bucket out... there actually IS NO ROOF.
Aside from the various problems with the roof going...CRUNCH while opening or closing; I think the main problem with all sunroofs, wiper cowls, drains is..... WATER LEAKS. EEEEK. I'll admit, it's an impressive view...but you couldn't give me one...I would not take it.

Crazy MB Rob

Ok, I lied. I would take one, but I would get a custom made tinted glass roof for it... that would never open.

Stiggs

I wonder if Andaya's ever broke?

steveplacker

Is ther a manuel way to "crank" it open and shut? Mine jamed and closed itself and now won't make a sound or open.

Crazy MB Rob

If it doesn't leak and is closed all the way, DON'T OPEN IT, you may risk it never closing again.
But, if you like living dangerously and taking un-neccessary risks....
I believe if you take down the overhead control panel (dome light/sunroof switch complete unit), the sunroof motor is above that. Your vehicle SHOULD come with a hex/allen key tool to manually turn the motor (either in close or open direction). Stick the tool in the hole and turn.
But really, don't open it. If it's just a fuse or motor issue, you'll be lucky. If it's anything else, look into selling it and get one without the skyview/lamella/skytop sunroof.

Crazy MB Rob

The Skytop roof on the ML is one of the coolest features that NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I really think a panoramic see through glass roof would have been cool. Then again, I've heard of the roofs getting damaged because people shut tree branches in them.... so it's not ALWAYS the car's fault!!

ML Dude

Yep, mine is great. The people who don't like them have never had one, with the windows down and the roof open the truck gets looks from everyone since they're not accustomed to seeing an SUV convertible

7yrs and counting with no malfunctions...sure wish my brake pads would be as trouble free, this thing eats brake pads, I swear the ESP rides the brakes

Saprissa

Now THAT's an idea !!! hmmm...

got me thinking, since my A-Class might come with or without this type of skyroof, the custom job might be a solution, so not to mess with the skyroof at all.

Thanks Crazy MB Rob !

Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com

Current MB stable:
1979 230 G Wagen
2003 C320 Sports Coupé
2004.5 C320 Sports Sedan
2005 ML350 Special Edition

Coming soon:
1959 220S
2004 A210 EVO AMG

msharif911

The motor and the workings are in the back. When you open the rear tailgate, you have to remove the light panel inside the roof and it is all there. Mine has failed too, the motor etc is OK but the gearings are white nylon instead of metal and have all grinded off.

mkaresh

I'm not sure this is the response he expected...

Got to love the advice "if it's fine, don't use it."

osc10

I bought my ML 430 in 2000 and the roof has been awesome, never had it fail. The truck has been running excellently with regular service over the years. We live in Vancouver so would go out to the airport when the kids were young, crack the roof open and stand in there with them on my shoulders when the planes flew overhead. Can't say how many great memories we've had with it.

mihir_d

Have lots of memories of it...not to mention all the guests that have ever experienced it were awestruck...

jrmconnect

Hi everyone,

This skyview seems to be quite the talk on the ML430 ---

Do you know or recommend a repair company or tech to help me fix the skyview? I believe it came off the rail and now its rattling in place, it's a good thing it is closed and I don't have any plans to open it until summer but still need to get it fixed

I'm in the NY area

Thanks

sosh

Do you realize that you have posted on an 11 year old thread?? In any case, it may be best just to leave it closed and not ever open it. If you insist on trying to get it repaired it will be quite expensive if parts are still available. Best and likely the only place to take care of this issue is a dealer. These roofs were problem from day one. Read the postings on this thread and you will see a smattering of what people have gone thru with the skyview roof.