Just got the call from my independent dealer saying that the ML was finished.

I had asked them to checkout the rattling from the rear of the cabin, which they found a few bolts missing but they replaced and it's better now.

BUT, the big thing is that they also found when test driving that the entire skyview assembly is loose, which is causing the rattling up top. I was quoted 4-5k to repair/rebuild the entire skyview assembly

 

And hope this doesn't happen to me. Is there a way you can tighten the loose joints/bolts?

What I do is every other month I just greese the ends and joints and have a trouble free skyroof.

Good luck.

 

They said if they started taking nuts and bolts off the skyview assembly, it would mis-align everything else, resulting in the rebuild of the entire assembly. They said it was poorly built by MB. They did what they could, greased the bolts and such. It's a little better, but the rattling is still there

 

This was allways a troublesome option and is high maint. It has not been offered in some time. My dealer pretty much refused to sell them. ML's with this option usually go for less than the std sunroof or no sun roof. This also holds true at wholesale dealer auctions. If yours has not broken yet, be patient, it will and it will continue to break.

 

You can tighten it but you have to drop the headliner, they were not installed any after the 2000 model because the window curtain "airbags" . were added as a standard feature and their is not enough room in the roof area for both,that is why you can't get the skyroof anymore. Autogunner.

 

Have had no problems with it....works in excellent condition..never stuck on me...never rattled, never leaked...

For me, its one of the best features on my ML...

 

ours has never given troubles such as getting stuck, not operating, leaking, etc. Only rattling a little now I guess, but since they greased and tightened up what they could, it's MUCH better now.

Still one of the best features on our ML as well

 

its a well known issue...thats why mb stop making them so soon. supposedly they are full of issues, are hhurt the structural integrity of the ml.

 

yeah, it is. so far we've been lucky I guess...all is well, except for the few rattle spots, but much better than before

 

Yeah, that could be a factor, but the main reason behind MB discontinuing the Lamella (SkyView) roof was that it is incompatible with the curtain airbags installed on later ML's.

 

where did you hear that? according to my sales rep and from brabus the skyviews a problem and structurally unsound.

 

The skyview is not compatible (safe) once the curtain airbags were introduced..that's what forced MB to discontinue it.

Interestingly, the skyview was conceived specifically for the Jurassic Park movie...vehicle...and then MB later on decided to offer it as an option..

Once the curtain airbags came, the skyview had to become history..

 

With the skyview option...D'oh

 

With the MLs though, it was definitely the curtain air bags that caused the demise of the skyview option..

It is likely, that it gets reintroduced in the W164, once MB too figure out (like Cadillac)...how to make the roof compatible with the curtain air-bags..

 

99ml430 with sky view problem the unit will not open and get a bad clicking/grinding sound when i push the button to close it ........ any ideas?

 

needs replacement@!

 

could be the motor/gear...someone posted a DIY on that. They tooks pics of the gear teeth and gunk all over it so it slipped and didn't catch thus not opening the skyview. The motor is in the trunk, where the light panel is. Take that off and you should see the motor there I believe...do a search for skyview repair or the like.

good luck!

 

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