SL/R129: Joined the Soft Top Problem Club
#1
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2002 SL500
Joined the Soft Top Problem Club
Tried to raise the soft top this morning, but the driver's side cover would not open. The passenger side came up a few inches then closed when I let go of the red button. I tried resynchronizing the windows, and the soft top cycled properly once. Then it hung up again. No obvious physical interference that I can see. I've got an appointment at my local dealer on Monday. A search through the forum showed the controller as the usual suspect and very expensive. I'm glad I bought that extended warranty now, although I'd better check to make sure the soft top is covered!
#3
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2002 SL500
Originally Posted by ChrisB
I hope your Starmark warranty covers this.
#4
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Originally Posted by hotel_calif
I suppose I would have been upset if I had paid for the Starmark and then didn't get to use it
I have seen written a couple of times that apart from the soft top hydraulics ... the rest of the very expensive items in the car (power train items like motor & transmission) are bullet proof.
I paid $ 3,000 Cdn for our extended warranty and in three years have only racked up about $ 2, 000 Cdn in minor repair items against it.
A list of the repair items:
Crack in paint above rear wheel well $200, Air Mass Sensor Replaced $250, Damaged mud guard fixed $150, Temp Control Face Plate, BAS/ESP Light sensor $400, Replace LHS after CAT Sensor, Fuel Guage Sender, ESP/BAS Light Brake Diaphram Travel Sensor $817, Wirw to third brake light $118.
Without looking this up, I think the firt 2 years of our full waanty coverage is up. Now we are in our last (the 3rd) year of extended warrany which only covers power train items.
I doubt that will come into play.
So I paid $ 1,000 Cdn more +/- for extended Starmark Warranty than the repairs covered would have cost. It might be closer in cost than that if I under-valued the reoair costs in my tally.
But we have slept very well at night not having to worry about our firt MB breaking down and costing an arm & leg to fix.
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2002 SL500
Problem Solved
The dealer said a plug had come apart and then had been damaged by the soft top hinge. They replaced this part of the wiring harness and all appears to be well again. And all repairs were covered by the Star Mark warranty. Whew!
And just in time. Weather is 82 degrees and sunny here in San Diego. Feels like Spring. Time for a top-down drive.
And just in time. Weather is 82 degrees and sunny here in San Diego. Feels like Spring. Time for a top-down drive.