Hello everyone,

​I am facing a frustrating issue with the soft top on my US-spec Mercedes 2004 CLK500 Convertible (W209) and would really appreciate some expert advice.

​A while ago, the roof started acting up, it wouldn’t open or close, or it would start moving and then just freeze midway. I took it to an authorized dealership, and they diagnosed faulty front and rear-left hydraulic cylinders. I purchased new cylinders, and they replaced them.

​After the replacement, the roof worked, but I noticed an issue with the alignment of the metal flaps (the small side flaps that fold/unfold when the roof operates). One side was not sitting right. In an attempt to get it properly aligned, I operated the roof up and down several times. During this process, the roof completely stopped midway, frozen in place, and the trunk became locked.

​I eventually managed to close the roof manually and discovered that the hydraulic fluid reservoir in the trunk was completely empty. Even after topping up the hydraulic fluid, the soft top still refuses to operate.

​Upon further inspection, I noticed something very suspicious about the hydraulic line connected to the newly replaced rear-left cylinder. I have attached a photo of it. To me, it looks poorly installed or damaged – the outer protective sleeve is stripped back, and the line is held near the cylinder edge using a regular plastic zip tie. Furthermore, I am consistently losing hydraulic fluid from the reservoir in the trunk.






This is the part.


​Has anyone experienced a similar issue after a cylinder replacement? Could a poorly secured or damaged hydraulic line like this cause a pressure loss that prevents the entire system from initializing, even after refilling the fluid? Also, could this line damage be the main source of the leak, and does it require a complete replacement of the hydraulic line, or is there a specific clip/fitting missing that the shop replaced with a zip tie?

​Thank you in advance for any insights or guidance!

 

I would say your lines are getting pinched when the cover closes. My top has them secured so they fold down out of the way when closed. If they are broken they would affect top operation for sure. I have heard that the hydraulic fluid can pool under the back seat so there are no drips or puddles outside. Good luc with your repairs.