SL-Class (R230) 2003 -- 2012: Discussion on the SL500, SL550, SL600

SL/R230: 03 SL 500 FOB Key Auto Open/Close Roof?

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Old Sep 7, 2009 | 05:59 PM
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From: Brentwood, Tennessee
03 SL500 and 08 S550
03 SL 500 FOB Key Auto Open/Close Roof?

Fellow R230 owners, I'm not sure who's right here but... my MB service guy says that on the 03 SL500 FOB key you can press and HOLD the unlock / lock key button on the remote and the roof will open/close accordingly. I've replaced the batteries in the key and it STILL does not work... he says it might be the RF receiver not working and needs to be replaced. I think this feature is not available on the 03 SL500 and I need to order the SmartTop electronic upgrade. He also thought it could be a software upgrade to the car ... so who and what is right here? Thanks in advance for your help on this matter...
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Old Sep 7, 2009 | 06:46 PM
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Originally Posted by BigDog9721
Fellow R230 owners, I'm not sure who's right here but... my MB service guy says that on the 03 SL500 FOB key you can press and HOLD the unlock / lock key button on the remote and the roof will open/close accordingly. I've replaced the batteries in the key and it STILL does not work... he says it might be the RF receiver not working and needs to be replaced. I think this feature is not available on the 03 SL500 and I need to order the SmartTop electronic upgrade. He also thought it could be a software upgrade to the car ... so who and what is right here? Thanks in advance for your help on this matter...
on my 04., i got it to work ONCE i think the feature is there but i suspect you gotta be right on top of the IR receiver. i ordered the smart top anyway.
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Old Sep 7, 2009 | 07:18 PM
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03 SL500 and 08 S550
GFEAR, did you install the SmartTop your self or did the dealer do it?
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Old Sep 7, 2009 | 09:14 PM
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From: In a VAN down by the river
His wifes head hard into the headboard nightly!!
Originally Posted by BigDog9721
GFEAR, did you install the SmartTop your self or did the dealer do it?
i have 03, dealer tried to opern my roof, disnt wrk wither with remote..although when i bought it seller did it..but takes a while to stand there holding button entire time...just get roof moduel or sit i car and hold switch.
I wiuldnt get dealer to do moduel as will void warranty stuff..it comes with deatiled instructions..you could do trself if yr confident w/ yr car/wires etc..i went to a local stereo shop i trust and has done them b4, and wrks o high end cars..charged my 60$ i think..MB will charge u ay more IF they will even do it..it has stealth mode so ONCE ITS IN its not dtected by MB DEALEr for warranty work..so dont get it installed there..BUT DO GRT IT..its great, does so many options..set the speeed of yr csr, so mif yr parking you can close/open before standing still..i have it set low not to damage anything, about 10km/hr max setting. I lve opening my window and door when geting to car also for fresh air etc
g/l
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Old Sep 7, 2009 | 09:29 PM
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i havent got it yet,its due this week, but i will install it myself
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Old Sep 7, 2009 | 09:53 PM
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GFEAR, where did you order it and how much was it?
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Old Sep 7, 2009 | 11:29 PM
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2004 SL600; 2003 F 360 Spider
Hi

You can order one here for 299 USD. It will take about 2 hrs to do. Take the instruction or the laptop to your car to follow.

This will be one of the best mods you can do for the price. It is a great addition to enjoy your hardtop conv.

I have one and love it

http://mods4cars.com/
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Old Sep 7, 2009 | 11:30 PM
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From: In a VAN down by the river
His wifes head hard into the headboard nightly!!
Originally Posted by BigDog9721
GFEAR, where did you order it and how much was it?


https://www.wit-usa.com/sms/shop/?p=...VyZXIiO047fQ==

Last edited by VendettaMB; Sep 7, 2009 at 11:55 PM.
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Old Sep 8, 2009 | 01:32 PM
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got it today, and unless i am missing somethign, this shouldnt take more than about 6 minutes, not 2 hours, but we'll see
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Old Sep 8, 2009 | 04:59 PM
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From: Brentwood, Tennessee
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GFEAR, let me know after you've completed the installation how long it took... thanks so much!
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Old Sep 8, 2009 | 06:44 PM
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on my 03 i can open/close the top with my key since the day i bought with no problem
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Old Sep 8, 2009 | 08:16 PM
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ok, here is the report.

it took aprov 50 minutes, 45 of them were spent hooking the P.O.S. t tap on the ground wire. i eventually removed the factory bolr that held it one and did it that way. the t taps it came with it are JUNK. Other than that, it tool almost no time, it was pretty easy.

they also failed to include using instructions, it just had install instructions. turns out you have to hit the button 3 times in a second to make it work, not as easy as it sounds.
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Old Sep 8, 2009 | 09:44 PM
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From: Brentwood, Tennessee
03 SL500 and 08 S550
GFEAR are you happy with the purchase?
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Old Sep 8, 2009 | 09:46 PM
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From: Brentwood, Tennessee
03 SL500 and 08 S550
C32Andy, what's the trick in using the standard key... what EXACTLY are you pointing the FOB key at? or did your car already have the SmartTop module?
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Old Sep 8, 2009 | 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by BigDog9721
GFEAR are you happy with the purchase?
yup
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Old Sep 8, 2009 | 09:53 PM
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Originally Posted by BigDog9721
C32Andy, what's the trick in using the standard key... what EXACTLY are you pointing the FOB key at? or did your car already have the SmartTop module?
gotta point the key right at the ir reciever on the door

Last edited by GFEAR; Sep 8, 2009 at 09:55 PM.
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 09:29 AM
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From: Brentwood, Tennessee
03 SL500 and 08 S550
I am assuming that my 03 SL500 won't do it unless I add the SmartTop... I 'm really not into donating more money to the stealership... or should the 03 SL500 work without it? According to C32Andy above, it should already be standard...
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 09:34 AM
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From: In a VAN down by the river
His wifes head hard into the headboard nightly!!
Originally Posted by BigDog9721
I am assuming that my 03 SL500 won't do it unless I add the SmartTop... I 'm really not into donating more money to the stealership... or should the 03 SL500 work without it? According to C32Andy above, it should already be standard...
Holding a button dwn the entire time right bedside yr car is not like having smart top. Goto website/ search forum see what it does. Nobody has been displeased. The opposite. Best thing they did. It's an hour install at a stereo shop worse case scenario or do it yrself.

Last edited by VendettaMB; Sep 10, 2009 at 10:31 AM.
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 01:39 PM
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From: Brentwood, Tennessee
03 SL500 and 08 S550
Okay.... I just ordered one... thanks so much!
GFEAR... how long did it take for you to receive the shipment?
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 04:45 PM
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It works in my '03SL55. You have to be fairly close to the door handle for it to work.
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by BigDog9721
Okay.... I just ordered one... thanks so much!
GFEAR... how long did it take for you to receive the shipment?
FAST, 3-4 DAYS TOPS
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Old Sep 11, 2009 | 01:34 AM
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Big Dog:
I looked at the thread you started this AM.......I have a new to me 03 SL500.....I never tried to open or close the top with the key fob. I had used the key fob on my Lexus's (4 of them) and my BMW's to open the Sun Roofs and windows, and close same.....

So, this afternoon I was going out 30 miles from home and decided it would be a good day for putting the top down.......Used the "Unlock Setting" on the fob.......I held it within the 12 inches specified in the manual.....worked beautifully.....then using the fob to close the roof I held it the same distance, but slowly moved back ......and after a move back of just about another foot the thing stopped working......

I then put the fob within 12 inches of the door handle, and it finished closing......

I think the distance from the sensor in the door is pretty critical.....

Give it another try and let us know.....

Regards

Mort Fligelman

Last edited by mfligelman; Sep 11, 2009 at 01:36 AM. Reason: Spelling
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Old Sep 12, 2009 | 10:32 PM
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From: Brentwood, Tennessee
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Nope, didn't work for me... okay here's the deal... my key unlocks and locks the car remotely, so why not open and close roof within 12 inches? So am I going to have a problem using the smarttop module anyway? My logic is if the car locks and unlocks, then the roof SHOULD work too.... but it doesn't...
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Old Sep 12, 2009 | 11:43 PM
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From: Brentwood, Tennessee
03 SL500 and 08 S550
GFEAR, I thought I ordered one... i did everything online... no email confirmations no charge on the cc... I've emailed them twice... no response... I'm not sure on whether to order again or not...
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Old Sep 13, 2009 | 01:52 AM
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im not sure which company i ordered it from, but i got no response, it just showed up. no phone number?
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