...roof mechanism failed today (in Germany)!

Was dropping the top, and heard a louder than usual thud as the front edge of the boot/trunklid unclicked. As the roof went back and the bootlid tried to close, the left hand side would not close properly and was left sticking up 4" from flush. The right hand side clicked in as it should. The bootlid was therefore bending across the car. The car was effectively stranded as I wasn't happy to drive with the boot half unlocked.

Rang Mercedes this morning at 09.00, and nothing happened. The dealer I bought the car from in Belgium was useless and put me through to reception who said "oh doesn't the warrenty only apply in Belgium?". (in case you don't know, the european merc warrenty is valid in 23 countries - no matter which of those 23 countries you a) and the car are in, and b) bought the car). In the end, I rang Benz UK, who promised to do something, but then in the end didn't. I chased the UK again at 11.00, to find that nothing had happened, but they'd ring back. Nothing happened. I then rang UK again at 14.00 and eventually was put through to Benz GE. They then asked me to drive around to my local garage, but I said I wouldn't unless they would accept any damage that may occur to the roof if I drove it. In the end they sent around a truck, the bloke had a look at it and said it should be OK to drive slowly - good enough for me.

Arrived at garage and was given a C200K Estate to potter around in - hence I'm now chugging around pretending to be a taxi driver - quite fun actually. Its a basic "Classic" spec with no leather anywhere and lots of cheap plastic making the cabbie experience totally authentic. Its also LHD so I keep getting in the passenger door/seat by mistake.

Anyone else ever have any roof problems?

Cheers

J

 

Thats not a good story, Nasty.

Isn't there a pan-Europe distress number manned 24/7 by people in Germany? I thought the central control handled exactly this type of emergency. You were right not to drive it, although I guess they would have stood by any damage caused.

When stranded in France MB Germany arranged the local garage to take us back to the nearest garage. Totally incongruous - a family of four in a 300TE on the back of a tow-truck driving through Cognac - not exactly the sight seeing we had in mind !!

I know BMW have a fully fitted-out mobile mechanic and have them on the scene within minutes - I'm sure MB do the same.

Wasn't keen on the C-classes I drove recently either - the 220cdi was not a good car c/f the BMW we eventually chose.

 

Car should be ready tomorrow, will find out more then, but jist seems to be that a screw or bolt came loose and prevented an actuator from working as it should. They need a new part (not sure if one was broken), which should arrive tomorrow when they can do a quick fix.

Hopefully will know more when I pick up the car.

Also, when I was trying to get at the Mobilo Life documents etc., I realised that the glove box was jammed shut, and neither I nor the garage could open it. Anyone else experience this (it wasn't just locked, or at least I don't think it was)?

I'm quite enjoying the C class, though despite having the same body shell it is a totally different car to my previous C32AMG. I'm enjoying it in the same way I enjoy driving transit vans.

 

Roof now fixed. Garage bloke tried to explain what happened, but didn't realy understand all the technical german, so none the wiser.

Who cares, its fixed, got to play C Class taxi driver and the glove box now works. The cars even clean for the first time in months after they washed it.

 

At least my SL 500 came with the following toll free number to call in Germany:

0800 1 777 7777

 

My mates roof has just broken in the same way!

Both SL500s, both built around Feb-Mar 03.

No details yet, but sounds like the same problem.

We've both used the cars daily; estimate roof use - average 2 times a work day for 6 months. Hence 240 cycles before failure.

 

RE: Glove box item posted above--

About 3 months ago Launch Edition SL500 approx. 15 months old -- MY glove box would not open, but was not locked. Repaired under warranty - there is some cable from opener to latch which needed linkage to be adjusted by dealer. --No problem since. giff Albright, state College, PA USA