Well guys I've mentioned that I owned an R129 in an earlier post. Those cars have a know issue with the soft top hydraulics, basically in short after 10-11 years the seal give up the ghost and leave you with a messy interior and $$$ repair bill to fix. I never understood how Mercedes could sell a $90K+ car for over an entire decade and never resolve the issue.

This brings major concern to me regarding the hydraulic mechanism that raises and lowers the power rear hatch. I love the feature and so does my wife, but as with the hydraulic power soft tops on the old SL roadsters, I wonder if constant use will eventually blow the seals and leave me witha costly repair. Being that the R's came out in '06 if nobody has had any issues yet only time will tell. Just wondering if anyone has ever had this part quit? Mine isn't broke and works flawlessly I just don't have a lot of trust after the R129 SL experience.

 

Good question and mine too has been perfect.

I talked to the dealer service professional in Madison WI and he said that there has yet to be 1 power lift that needed service yet.

The only issue he brought up was the latch mechanism will need adjustment from time to time - which they called normal.

 

Agree. I haven't heard anyone complaining about the hydraulics on the rear hatch, but many have complained about the latch mechanism.

 

No problems here either, but as with anything that has moving parts, there is the possibility for failure. I believe there have been only a few threads on the R board related to the power rear hatch and if I'm not mistaken they were easily fixed with some minor adjustments. However, a trip around the board on other threads that are frequented more often and you will find numerous threads on the power rear hatch, some minor, some requiring new parts. As for the comment about using it to much, you have no choice, you can't lift it manually it just throws fits and tries to take over ha ha.

 

Is the rear hatch drive hydraulic? I thought it was electric.
Anyway, ours has needed a few adjustments of the latch, but I worry about the actuator.

 

My latch has been a frequent problem. I've given up on attempting to get the dealer to "fix" it. They make an adjustment when I ask them to check it but it doesn't last long. It is frustrating to know that something that must be used as regularly as the cargo hatch can't be relied on to perform as designed.

My service rep sends out a satisfaction survey each time I take the car for servicing. He insists that he must be rated "excellent" in all categories or there will be negative consequences for him. On the days that I ask for the hatch operation to be fixed, I don't bother responding to the survey since I can't rate him any higher than "unsatisfactory."

JR

 

Mine has failed. Have to close manually.

MB Service has parts on order.

 

For what its worth, my has worked perfect so far. Got my R350 back in Oct 09 with 60K on it. We were up in ID where its 20 F during the day and it worked totally normal in the cold. Sometimes I think I open and close it just for fun.

 

Your problem lies in thinking anyone is selling you a car that will be perfect 10 years on from its purchase date. Or, that any required repairs will only cost $39.95. It doesn't happen.

It's kind of like tires--you know they'll wear out and you call replacing them "maintenance." Same with your "seal."

Yes, tires are for sure a "known issue."

 

I fail to see the correlation between a convertible top seal failure and tire wear??? One is primarily subjected to compression, the other friction.

The 43 year old top seal on my GTO still keeps water out despite showing signs of it's age. I'd expect a leak on something made by Kia or Hyundai in that timeframe.

Failing after 10 years is the result of Mercedes outsourcing to Mexico.

 

the hatch to our r-class has been a problem ever since we bought it. been to the dealer several times. its never been fixed. tired of telling them about it. other than that....the car has been problem free.

 

Sounds like most of you with hatch issues are having an issue with the latch itself and not the actual power mechanism that raises and lowers the unit? Have I interpreted this thread correctly?

 

actually.........its both. in fact today it wont open all the way.

 

Don't forget there is a setting you can change that controls how far the hatch opens.

 

Wife's R500 hatch will not latch shut, it goes up and down fine. Exterior handle was sticking up prior to failure and my web research indicates unlocking car while holding handle may break acuator plastic part. I also suspect actuator, not latch as electric clicking goes on, but not latching. Our dealer says entire assembly including mechancal latch must be replaced because they don't sell seperatly Just the part is over $200.00! Any one know if this is true?

 

My wife just returned from dealer with a quote for $600 to replace rear door latch. I'm very upset because I have had it in 3 or 4 times for adjustment. They replaced the latch in December 2009 and then back in for adjustment august 2010. Six months later Dealer says part is out of warranty. I will try to argue defective part replacement this next week.

 

Dealer normally gives out one year warranty for any replacement part and repair. Good luck.

 

$200 for part is nothing in the MB world. My hatch is working so far but I know it has been replaced in the past. Good luck to you since the hatch has been a consistence problem with the R-class.

 

Our 350 trunk was being very tempermental. About 1 in 10 it would begin to open and make a lot of noise and go nowhere. Other times it would get to the point of closing and decide it wanted to go back up. Took it in to the dealer and they solved the intermitent problem by adjusted the latch part so much so it would now act up 1 in 2 tries.

I took it back in and they replaced a pinch sensor as well as adjusted the latch again and it has worked everytime - so you may want them to check that out.

They also seemed to have found the sunroof noise gremlin - all just as the regular warranty ran out. Hope I never have to see that Chrysler Town and Crappy rental thing again.

 

Ended up costing just over $500 including $75 factory clips to hold on interior panel because the clips beak wwhen you pull it apart. I asked for the part and it is infact one unit, acuaator and latch in all, so unless you want to take the whole thing apart, diagnose and fix yourself you are stuck. I was promised a one year warranty on the work.

 

If you have a problem and you are under warranty - make sure it is the actuator, not the latch, latches are not covered but actuators are.

 

Coming late to this party... my 2006 R350 hatch has been an unmitigated disaster since I got the car.

1. About half the time you try to open it, it whirs, clicks, moves a half inch or so, then re-locks. Sometimes takes two or three tries to get it to open.

2. Not quite so often, but still frequently enough, it won't close - closes, whirs, clicks, opens again.

Every single time it's been in for service I've asked it to be fixed. They've adjusted it multiple times, changed microswitches, last time they replaced the motor - no charge, even though it was out of warranty - I insisted it was a warranty problem that had never been fixed, they accepted that. Made no difference.

I've just about given up. I think I'll give it one more try and escalate to MBUSA, since the dealership (MB Larchmont, NY) seem to have run out of ideas. Any thoughts?

Mike

 

fireman mike how did things go ?

i am curious if this happens to non power liftgate R's?

 

I wonder if there is a way to disable the power open/close completely and "convert" the hatch to manual operation. Our '06 is acting up a lot lately and is way out of warranty. The motor/pump sounds sick and the hatch bounces as it opens.

 

Hah! Manhattan Mercedes gave me a qoute of $973 to replace the latch! REALLY? I can pick up a new "used" gate from the junk yard for only $1600. My 2008 R350 has had constant issues with it since it was new. Replaced it once...spent numerous trips to mercedes for adjustments etc. I'm so ready to trade this piece of junk in and get cheaper car to fix. Maybe go back to a Jeep Grand Cherokee...loved that and never had any trouble with it.