HJZ06

Has anyone checked the condition of the black plastic roof panel? Noticed today about 5-6 inches from the rear edge is missing the glossy finish. It seems to flake off on your hand when wiped. I'm sorry, MB has some problems with the exterior trim work. This has been the least reliable vehicle for me in the last 40 years, don't see another in the future.

lkchris

Have dealer replace it under warranty.

justthebest

I don't have any plastic roof panel - just metal & glass.

HJZ06

Maybe it was changed after 2007.

justthebest

Sorry, can't see what year yours is.

Brocktoon

If you have a sunroof, you have it, regardless of year. The rear third of the roof is polycarbonate and integrates the rear sunroof.

lkchris

Sirius (etc.) antenna is under it, too.

HJZ06

What I said.

justthebest

I thought it was glass

HJZ06

Service dept. said it was normal because it stretches!!!!!!!! Not covered due to a trim part. After we had a brief discussion, they'll change it under warranty. Go figure.

Popo

My dealer told me it was overspray and was not replaceable under warranty :-(

If anyone finds a way to smooth it out, i'd be interested to know how (other than replacing it).

HJZ06

It's not overspray, it's the coating on the plastic, like the protective coating on a pair of plastic glasses. They also replaced all front end a arms because of noise when going up a driveway, after 63k miles.

dchou4u

My GL450 2008 also has the same problem on the roof. Today the dealer told me it is a lot of work to replace the polycarbonate roof piece. They have to take off a lot of parts from the roof to replace it. I hope they replace it under warranty.

Scott Hart

Polishing compound. It’ll be the same process as a etched yellowing headlight. I’m doing mine right now. I’ll just have to make sure I have a good coat of wax up there from the elements. Every excuse they’ve given you is bs because under the rear roof rack it’s crystal clear… I say the paper towels there to show you how glassy that part still is. It’s just the elements. You can see where I started polishing it with a compound. Gotta find that coating you use after to brighten it and seal it.

DennisG01

When I looked at mine, it seemed like it's a stick-on clear vinyl. Like a 3M type of thing. I haven't tried, yet, but I've wondered if warming it up well with a heat gun would allow me to peel it off, then clean the residue, then re-apply a new 3M UV protective clear vinyl.

Max Blast

I did three stage canopy polish a few years ago to little or no effect. Did not seem that the top layer would separate from the Perspex under it though.

Scott Hart

Dunno… when I started cleaning it I thought it was just years of funk, so I tried goo be gone or what ever the orange stuff it. Just interesting it didn’t get funky under the rack or around the edges. I had just did the headlights so I grabbed the compound that came with it. I wonder if your 3M covering would work. Personally I wouldn’t use heat.

DennisG01

I "think", if I'm right about it being a stick-on (look closely around the edge), then pulling it off, cleaning and re-applying "should" work. The heat gun is just to soften the adhesive - the person holding the heat gun is in charge of making sure not to get it too hot - that part wouldn't bother me one bit - I've done similar things numerous times. It's easier than you think.

Scott Hart

I kinda found the source or general area of my leak. It’s either the seal for that or the roof rack bolts. A lot of forums on another site had mentioned that. I now have to strip the entire car! I have to take off every panel on the wall and the roof… Not happy! I figure while I’m obviously building a new car I would replace and seal, gasket or what ever I could while it’s apart! Anyone know the listing or part number for the seal around that window and the roof rack channels? When I put the bolts back in I am going to water proof the heck out of them with sealant as I put the bolts through the body. You know like they should have done…

I’m going to take a bunch of photos to help everyone figure it out.

DennisG01

Hmmm. Before you do any of that... the bolts that secure the roof rack are they thru-bolted with nuts on the backside/inside? Or are they screwed into a nuts that are welded in place. If it's the latter, both the roof rack and the sunroof could be fixed from the outside.

Scott Hart

I just decided I’m yanking the whole thing. On another site everyone had posted about their different water incursions, made claims with their insurance and they total out the car. They claim they didn’t want to deal with the electrical problems, as well as mold. She’s paid off, actually in perfection condition, except that. I’m going to go ahead and take the panel to a auto upholstery shop and have the headliner redone. It’ll only be like $125 since I’m doing all of the work. Better to just get it out, and attack every seal at one time and not worry again. Seems like Mercedes just likes to put garbage in.

I’ve had wrangler all of my life, and my last was an 04’. My neighbor has a 2017 wrangler, and did a complete flush on every fluid and changed out his plugs. This was a Mercedes design…. I literally had to remove the top of the motor to just change the plugs, and they have parts breaking because they used plastic instead of metal. I have to help him rip out something to do with the oil cooler. Thanks Mercedes!

Scott Hart

I wish some class action lawyer would attack Mercedes for their negligence in providing water intrusions. They are cheap and laze with their designs in this regards. With as many people that complain about water leaks, SAMs destroyed, rear lift gate pump and computer destroyed from water sitting in the truck well… Maybe we wouldn’t see any money, but it would stop them moving forward. I’ve see where new models even leak. You make a insurance claim on water intrusion they immediately total the vehicle out. The insurance company doesn’t want to deal with mold and electrical problems.


This is all of the rubber seal they installed to protect water from getting inside. It’s horrible!!!!

There’s the holes headed down through the body. So that’s cheap little piece of rubber is suppose to stop the water. Nope…

I put more, but I put black silicone adhesive around each opening PLUS around the bottom of the rail going back in.

For further protection and make sure the world will end before it leaks again I also put silicone on the back of the nut. I’m going to make sure this SOB floats when I get done.

You can see how they SHOULD have done it. They SHOULD have at least placed rubber washers on the underneath.

Marty71

Hi. Has anyone tried to remove this polycarbonate rear roof panel from an x164. I did remove all inner trim a few years ago to seal water leaks but has come back so I want to remove this and properly seal everything. Just not sure if it can be removed without breaking. Priced one back then and it was €1500 odd plus fitting. Not sure if it's even available.now if I break it.
thanks Martin.

Max Blast

have you checked with your insurance if this is available as a replacement for a leaking or broken one?