starmaker

I have no idea what this part is called... but it's the small flap that hides the arm of the hard top when it is down. (See Pic) My driver side flap broke off. Looks like I would need to replace the whole section.

What is this part called and where can I find a replacement?

Please advise.

Thanks in advance!!!

starmaker

2004 SL500

GET TUBED

My broke as well , not on the little part but on the one of the three tabs where it connects to the larger horizontal piece ( $ 300 ) .

Having nothing to lose , I drilled a micro hole through the base of the broken tab . Then connected the two securely with a small piece of wire through the drilled tab hole and around the straight shaft which is part of the spring hinge on a small piece and then applied touch-up paint on the wire .

Totally fixed with no visible repair .

Hope this helps ...

oscarlee1981

my broken too. but not a big deal. you won't notice. try to get used to this way

localhawaii

Mine broke too! Funny thing is while I was at the dealer the same day, another guy with an 04 sl 500 also had a broken one as well. Everyone broken one that I have come across (including my own) has been on the passenger side.

cedrenn

Mine broke off on the drivers side. The part is a $450.00 part from the dealer and about one hour to replace. You have to replace the little door AND the trim piece it connects to. If you have the little door, you can wire it to the main piece like Get Tubed did. I did the same thing after I found out the replacement piece cost almost $500.00 plus one hour labor to put it in.

VendettaMB

Mine broke. It was 800$ Cdn with labour. Ext. Warranty covered it. Little flap connects with cable etc. Another stupid design. No reason to brake so easily and have to be so expensive and time consuming to fix this piece. It was fine as it opened then just fell/flapped back down. But got it fixed anyway as free under warranty.

ROBS SL ROCKS

Mine broke as well. Fixed it with a black cocktail straw that I glued to replace the tabs. It has held for over a year. The only cost was a vodka martini....

atebit

Dealer just quoted me nearly $2000 for the same problem (they claim both sides are broken), and that was for the parts alone! The car is a 2005 SL600, that's still under CPO. The dealer says this is not a covered repair!

Can someone please post pictures of the DIY repair?

GET TUBED

I hope these pixs can clarify the wire attaching of part 23069010418J10 or the cover to roof hinge .

atebit

Thanks for the pictures. I think mine may be broken in a different place, but I get the idea. Looks like a project for this weekend.

tinkir

Part number: 230-690-09-41-9C83 Can't replace the small triangle piece, must replace the entire pannel. Cost $191 plus labor.

4thSL

Remade pivot points on main trim piece using brass strip and tubing material from local hobby shop. And replaced cracked hinge tube on flap with plastic tubing.


http://cid-697d6f8ba8bf08ba.photos.l...51309%5E_1.JPG

GET TUBED

Ingenious !

Floridaheli

My dealer service rep calls it a Tonneau cover part and the parts dept calls it "Panneling" part no. 230-690-09-41-9C83 for $368.00 as quoted on 11-4-2010. The parts guy offered me 10% discount. My driver's side door broke. See photo below with the door in place and open.

I'm trying to get my MasterTech extended warranty to cover it but they call it TRIM and any trim part is not covered.

I did find it $50 cheaper on line for $279.60 for the drivers side and $258.40 for the passenger side. If anyone is interested drop me an e-mail and I'll send the contact URL.

Sure could use a picture of the door closed of the repair by Get Tubed.

Below is a group illustration of parts. The part with the door is labeled 370.

Thanks all for posting.

GET TUBED

Here is the after pix of my fix months later . Totally forgot about it because it doesn't show evidence of repair, I think you'll agree .

biophase

I lost that flap also. But luckily it fell into my car and eventually I found it in the trunk a week later.

mtbmtb

thanks. mine's broke too but i have all the parts. the wire looks like it may work for me.
so get tubed... looks like you just drilled a small hole off to the side of the rear broken plastic clip, put the wire thruogh while the flap was in place and everything worked out? size /type of wire? mine seems to have all 3 tabs broke, but the front round plastic rod that the flaps fits into is intack. i assume just 1 wire at the back is needed and i do not need to wire the other 2? this happened on the drivers side, but it looks like the passenger is coming up a little on the last clip. think i'll try the drives now and keep an eye on the passenger. nothing to loose.
ps i saw a post that stated you need to take the part off to do it properly, get tubed, did you take the part off or just drill and install in place??

Gsqrd

I installed wires after drilling microholes. Had trouble inserting tail of spring . Do you need to remove the brace part of the side panel to be able to see hole that spring tensioin end goes in? sort of working by using wire as holder of the spring but not solid feeling.

IngenereAMG

A good source for trim pieces like this are junk yards.

There are enough of these cars out there, that there is probably a consistent supply.

Stoofpilot

Mine broke and I cannot find the cover piece. Maybe a class action suit against MB will bring the parts price down to the $50.00 price they deserve.

lkirchner

That's the American way---Law Suit---SUE-SUE !!!!!

Kattan

It seems a lot of SL owners have that same problem, mine broke like 3 months ago, as well find out that MB has that part that's called panelling, too bad we have to buy the whole piece, its really annoying cause that plastic cover is very Fragile and gets a lot of sun and heat so, they are always gonna break.
My side cover is the broke one and just the lid where actually these little plastic axe connect together, you can see in the 2 photos i uploaded the 3 little circles shaped the one to the left is fine but the Middle and 1st one to right are the broken parts.... can it be repaired without replacing the whole panel??

thank you

Kattan

it would be awesome if we gather all owners with the same pictures and same problem as its not something mechanically or depending on the way a owner drives. This particular is poorly designed and makes us mercedes benz are even making a lot of their parts in china with cheap materials. by the way Retail for that part is $415, if you know a mechanic he can buys it for you at whole sale around $ 300 but still toooo damn expensive.

Gsqrd

earlier on this thread a fix using a drilled hole and fine wire can work. I tried and okay so far.