SL/R230: Roof is leaking???
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
2003 SL500
Roof is leaking???
I find it almost impossible to believe, but there is something that smells like hydraulic fluid leaking from my roof. It's coming into the car where the driver's window meets the roof about an inch from the locking mechanism on top of the front windshield. Is it possible the roof could be more than an empty shell? It actually has some kind of fluid in it?
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 72
Likes: 4
From: Washington DC Metro
2003 SL500, 2005 ML500 SE, 2005 CLK500 Cabriolet Avantgarde
You definitely have a leaking hydraulic valve in the roof. Yes there is a valve and some switches in that section of the roof. There are 8 of those valves and a bunch of switches all over the car, that control the convertible roof mechanism. Check out the article I attached below.
I think you may have been extremely lucky if your roof has been operating properly, without any problems so far. This is because the valves need the oil to operate and any leak in any component would cripple the whole system. As you loose oil, the roof hydraulic pump (in the trunk) will soon run out of oil and eventually burn out. That would be very expensive.
Unfortunately you have to track down the leaking valve and replace it. I survived it. I'm sure you will
. Best of luck 
.
I think you may have been extremely lucky if your roof has been operating properly, without any problems so far. This is because the valves need the oil to operate and any leak in any component would cripple the whole system. As you loose oil, the roof hydraulic pump (in the trunk) will soon run out of oil and eventually burn out. That would be very expensive.
Unfortunately you have to track down the leaking valve and replace it. I survived it. I'm sure you will
. Best of luck .
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
2003 SL500
Through other threads I found a company called Top Hydraulic that seems to be solely for the purpose of rebuilding these cyliders. They're not very expensive, and seem to have a good guarantee. My mechanic got the headliner out and sees only one leaking (the front valve) but the Top Hydrualic website says "the front is usually the first one to go but eventually all of the cylinders will need to be replaced". Going in that direction for now. Thanks for info!
