Yidney

OK, now what do you need to know?

dswclk500

what do I do to close it

Yidney

Pull it down.

Yidney

All the partition does is give you more room in the trunk when the top is up. You have to pull it down when you want the top down. When it is pulled all the way down, it presses a small switch on the left side. When the switch is pressed the top can open. The little gas struts that hold the partition in place can get weak, and it won't press the switch hard enough and you get the partition open message.

MARCMASEMAN

How do you remove the trunk carpet to get to bottom of struts? Does carpet have the plastic "pop out" rivets that are reusable? What else has to be removed to "remove" the carpet???

dswclk500

This is really confusing. I know everyone is saying that it is suppose to go down and lock on the left side...but I am having a lot of trouble.

How much would the mercedes house charge to fix this for me?

dswclk500

Thanks for your responses...I am still having trouble I attached pictures above.

MARCMASEMAN

I have been trying to figure this out for a month as I AM A

MARCMASEMAN

real DA. I have determined: with the only the rear "hard cover" (that the ragtop slides into) UP (and the ragtop still up), you can get to one end of the struts to remove clip and pull strut away from ball. then you must totally put top up (and hard cover back into place) and then go into trunk and remove sidewall carpeting from both left and right sides in order to get to "other" ends of struts. Not easy for a DA. I would think MB Dealer should be able to do it in an hour or so. Parts online are around $45.00 for the pair including shipping. If I attempt to do it myself it will probably take around 4 hours (with no complications).

Yidney

I'll look tomorrow about the carpet. dsw, your pics are too far away to see what is going on.

SilverCLK

I just replaced the struts without touching the carpet. I closed the top halfway so the top is resting on the windshield frame, but the cover is still open. from there there is direct access to the struts. after you have removed the one that sits on the partition you can move the strut around so you can get the screwdriver in place for the other one. http://www.alpharubicon.com/bovstuff...ssprings01.jpg

REMEMBER: put the partition i the correct position before taking the top down again!!!!!

'05 CLK500

Alba

A related point of failure in the soft top trunk partition are the rear pins.
At the top on each side is a horizontal pin/bearing.
This goes through a tube molded into the partition and into the trunk sidewall.

This acts as the rotation points when the partition is raised/lowered.
I have never seen an intact pin as both mine have sheared off.

Does anyone have a part number for this item?

Rudeney

Unless you can find some sort of "unofficial repair", you'd have to replace the entire partition (part #17 on the diagram, almost $500!):

https://www.parts.com/index.cfm?fuse...iagram=5770930

Alba

Thanks for the lookup on that one.
Sounds like I need to get right diameter material to make a couple of replacement pins with a couple of cotter pin holes in the right spots to secure them in place. I've made my share of parts over the years for MB's out of some strange stuff. Grandpa's Depression Era metal lathe helps, but I don't see needing it for this project. Just the vise and the drill press.

Rudeney

LOL! I just noticed you are from Tuscaloosa. Howdy, neighbor! As for making parts, yes i have done this too. JB Weld is your friend!

DangermouseCLK

My pin didn't shear off, it just fell out and I was able to just push it back in place.

justinpitts

Thank you! Silly me, I was thinking something was off with the switch. Buying a new gas strut today.

RussWhite

There is a strut on each end of the partition. I suggest you replace them both. Russ

MARCMASEMAN

9/1/2015 Just purchased new struts $21.00/each + shipping (Min $65.00 for free shipping) from RMEuropean in Colorado. Exact replacement OEM, Stabilus 20815A18. For my 2005 CLK500 convertible.

nashvlille_bill

I have completed repair of the hydraulic latches on my friends CLK320 (2002), but I have a couple of things that I need some help with. I have two 6mm 1.0 thread 12mm long allen head screws left over; I don't know where they go. Also, I'm not sure where to attach the front part of the elastic cords from the two side curtains that are in the cavity where the top retracts to when down.

I would appreciate any help with these two things.

Thanks in advance,

nashville_bill

Yidney

A 2002 320 is a W208. Post in that forum. This is the W209 forum.

clydem

I suffered from the same problem after the winter: "Trunk partioner Please Close".
The left side of the partition was not closing off the micro switch and there was obvious play in the pneumatic cartridge. Stabilus 209 690 00 59. RMEuropean seemed to be a good price

rbj610

I have the same problem now..but now my trunk won't open and top is not closed all the way and won't open or close..how the hell do I get the trunk open if the top won't close?? Help

MARCMASEMAN

You must first close the top manually or open it all the way manually. Then trunk will open. Instructions for doing top manually are in the owner's manual.

Rudeney

If the top is "almost" closed, you may be able to open the trunk lid manually, as long as there is enough clearance between it and the soft top cover. Use the hard key (see below). If there is not enough clearance to open the trunk lid, then you'll need to wait about 10 minutes for the hydraulic system to release pressure, then manually close the top the rest of the way.