SL/R230: Creaking Roof
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The different gaps are based upon how the A-pillars are put on. They have nothing to do with the creeking.
If you look at brand new cars they come maybe 50/50 with different gaps.
If you look at brand new cars they come maybe 50/50 with different gaps.
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SL55 AMG
The difference between the two sides in my case was caused by a mis-aligned roof liner and you're right, this was not the cause of the creaking, it was the alignment of the latches which finally cured the problem.
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From: uk
2007 ML420cdi Sport
My 2003, 500 starting creaking at 14k, totally done my nut in.
It was coming from the n/s rear, booked in at dealer, picked up at the end of the day and they said the mechanic could not hear anything.
Well i done my nut, took the foreman for a 1 minute trip round the block to demonstrate. They then kept the car a further 6 days for full repair and grease. Car was then 90% ok so i was happy.
3000 miles on and the car is hopeless again creaking rear n/s and o/s, so i will be going back to dealer very shortly.
Steve
It was coming from the n/s rear, booked in at dealer, picked up at the end of the day and they said the mechanic could not hear anything.
Well i done my nut, took the foreman for a 1 minute trip round the block to demonstrate. They then kept the car a further 6 days for full repair and grease. Car was then 90% ok so i was happy.
3000 miles on and the car is hopeless again creaking rear n/s and o/s, so i will be going back to dealer very shortly.
Steve
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
Which dealer are you going to? After the first attempt at MB Oxford, they put one of their better technicians on it and he sorted out the problem. It's been perfect since.
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I'm in the market for a SL55 (maybe) .. and I'm curious to your source that told you that the SL is the first car to reverse the trend of poor quality?
My last MB was a 1989 420SEL and its got 200k miles on it and no major problems. I've been told to brace myself for things to go wrong b/c of how complicated the car is now.
My last MB was a 1989 420SEL and its got 200k miles on it and no major problems. I've been told to brace myself for things to go wrong b/c of how complicated the car is now.
Originally Posted by blueSL
It's not the angle of the pictures, it's as it is. The car should last alot longer than 3 years - in theory, the SL is the first car to reverse the previous trend of deteriorating quality.
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
I doubt that any SL55 will ever reach 200k miles. They will simply be too expensive to fix in relation to their (rapidly) declining residual value. I've been told by Mercedes directly that the design life of the SL is 15 years.
It's interesting that 30 years ago, rust was the killer which limited a car's life. Not any more. Now, it's the cost of spares and labour to keep increasingly complex systems in good shape.
It is of course ludicrous for Mercedes to charge what they do for electronic spare parts. An SL costs no more than $18000 to make at the margin and I've long predicted that the inflated cost of spare parts will kill these cars off.
It's interesting that 30 years ago, rust was the killer which limited a car's life. Not any more. Now, it's the cost of spares and labour to keep increasingly complex systems in good shape.
It is of course ludicrous for Mercedes to charge what they do for electronic spare parts. An SL costs no more than $18000 to make at the margin and I've long predicted that the inflated cost of spare parts will kill these cars off.
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I dont expect the SL to reach 200k miles.
I do want to know where you heard that the SL was the upswing on quality though .. I haven't heard that from anyone.
I do want to know where you heard that the SL was the upswing on quality though .. I haven't heard that from anyone.
Originally Posted by blueSL
I doubt that any SL55 will ever reach 200k miles. They will simply be too expensive to fix in relation to their (rapidly) declining residual value. I've been told by Mercedes directly that the design life of the SL is 15 years.
It's interesting that 30 years ago, rust was the killer which limited a car's life. Not any more. Now, it's the cost of spares and labour to keep increasingly complex systems in good shape.
It is of course ludicrous for Mercedes to charge what they do for electronic spare parts. An SL costs no more than $18000 to make at the margin and I've long predicted that the inflated cost of spare parts will kill these cars off.
It's interesting that 30 years ago, rust was the killer which limited a car's life. Not any more. Now, it's the cost of spares and labour to keep increasingly complex systems in good shape.
It is of course ludicrous for Mercedes to charge what they do for electronic spare parts. An SL costs no more than $18000 to make at the margin and I've long predicted that the inflated cost of spare parts will kill these cars off.
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Thread Starter
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
That was the hope expressed by Mercedes when the R230 was launched that a turning point had been reached. A tacit admission that quality had been falling for some years (the mid 90's C Class, early CLK and especially the M Class). Sadly, there's been so much new technology in the car that we have the impression of lots of niggles and the issue is more the ability of the dealers to correctly diagnose and fix.
From what I know, Mercedes do not test drive every car out on a real road. At Bremen that have a test track but even then, not every car makes it. They're relying on statistical sampling to pick up systemmatic flaws.
One would hope that somewhere, there's some guy monitoring all the warranty claims, the thousands of them, to identify what they most need to fix and test. Much easier and cheaper to fix while at the plant than at some dealer.
From what I know, Mercedes do not test drive every car out on a real road. At Bremen that have a test track but even then, not every car makes it. They're relying on statistical sampling to pick up systemmatic flaws.
One would hope that somewhere, there's some guy monitoring all the warranty claims, the thousands of them, to identify what they most need to fix and test. Much easier and cheaper to fix while at the plant than at some dealer.
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2026 Mercedes CLE53A4 AMG Cabriolet and 2025 MAYBACH EQS680V4
Originally Posted by blueSL
That was the hope expressed by Mercedes when the R230 was launched that a turning point had been reached. A tacit admission that quality had been falling for some years (the mid 90's C Class, early CLK and especially the M Class). Sadly, there's been so much new technology in the car that we have the impression of lots of niggles and the issue is more the ability of the dealers to correctly diagnose and fix.
From what I know, Mercedes do not test drive every car out on a real road. At Bremen that have a test track but even then, not every car makes it. They're relying on statistical sampling to pick up systemmatic flaws.
One would hope that somewhere, there's some guy monitoring all the warranty claims, the thousands of them, to identify what they most need to fix and test. Much easier and cheaper to fix while at the plant than at some dealer.
From what I know, Mercedes do not test drive every car out on a real road. At Bremen that have a test track but even then, not every car makes it. They're relying on statistical sampling to pick up systemmatic flaws.
One would hope that somewhere, there's some guy monitoring all the warranty claims, the thousands of them, to identify what they most need to fix and test. Much easier and cheaper to fix while at the plant than at some dealer.
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From: England
SL500 '05
The feedback on this Forum should be enough for Mercedes to realise they haven't got the SL totally right. Most of the feedback on our cars are minor niggles, but as stated creaking of the roof will spoil the pleasure of driving.
My last car had a new steering column fitted, for which the dash was completely removed, when they fitted it back together again the nine inch LCD screen creaked. Everytime I drove it I tuned into the noise. I took it back but they couldn't cure it. Had the same on a vibrating speaker grill. The car was a Lexus, if they can't get it right....
My last car had a new steering column fitted, for which the dash was completely removed, when they fitted it back together again the nine inch LCD screen creaked. Everytime I drove it I tuned into the noise. I took it back but they couldn't cure it. Had the same on a vibrating speaker grill. The car was a Lexus, if they can't get it right....
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I can only hope thats the case. I'm in the market for a 2006 SL55, my last MB is a 1989 420SEL, so its been awhile.
Any ideas on what the extended warranty costs, and does it basically get you 7yr/100k miles?
Any ideas on what the extended warranty costs, and does it basically get you 7yr/100k miles?
Originally Posted by blueSL
That was the hope expressed by Mercedes when the R230 was launched that a turning point had been reached. A tacit admission that quality had been falling for some years (the mid 90's C Class, early CLK and especially the M Class). Sadly, there's been so much new technology in the car that we have the impression of lots of niggles and the issue is more the ability of the dealers to correctly diagnose and fix.
From what I know, Mercedes do not test drive every car out on a real road. At Bremen that have a test track but even then, not every car makes it. They're relying on statistical sampling to pick up systemmatic flaws.
One would hope that somewhere, there's some guy monitoring all the warranty claims, the thousands of them, to identify what they most need to fix and test. Much easier and cheaper to fix while at the plant than at some dealer.
From what I know, Mercedes do not test drive every car out on a real road. At Bremen that have a test track but even then, not every car makes it. They're relying on statistical sampling to pick up systemmatic flaws.
One would hope that somewhere, there's some guy monitoring all the warranty claims, the thousands of them, to identify what they most need to fix and test. Much easier and cheaper to fix while at the plant than at some dealer.
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From: uk
2007 ML420cdi Sport
Blue sl,
Very strange but the roof aint creakin anymore, i can only think that its something to do with the temp or dampness of wet days.
Im from Norwich and the dealer put there 2 best techies on the job.
Ive think the main problem with sl's maybe is us, the owners,
We expect very high standards, only the best will do.
Im very happy with the car now apart from i only do about 8 miles every day in it and have only managed 20mph average in the last 5 weeks and a mpg of 16.7 which would tell me i need an empty road to blow the cobwebs out.
I had a sales enquiry on it yesterday (Im in the motor trade, Vehicle Hire & Sales) but if it sells im getting another maybe a 55
Steve
Very strange but the roof aint creakin anymore, i can only think that its something to do with the temp or dampness of wet days.
Im from Norwich and the dealer put there 2 best techies on the job.
Ive think the main problem with sl's maybe is us, the owners,
We expect very high standards, only the best will do.
Im very happy with the car now apart from i only do about 8 miles every day in it and have only managed 20mph average in the last 5 weeks and a mpg of 16.7 which would tell me i need an empty road to blow the cobwebs out.
I had a sales enquiry on it yesterday (Im in the motor trade, Vehicle Hire & Sales) but if it sells im getting another maybe a 55
Steve
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From: New Jersey ~ Monmouth County
2005 SL 500
SL55406, I picked up a 36-month/100000 mile extended warrantee for my 500 for $2390. The listed price for the warrantee was something like $2780). You should be able to get something in that range providing the prices don't change.
Congrats in advance on you 06 55.
Congrats in advance on you 06 55.
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sl500
My 2003 SL 500 (Launch Edition, mfg 02/2002, is about 30 months old) recently developed a creaking sound when roof was up; local Mercedes dealer, under warranty, applied some "lubricant" at front locking connections above front windshield--and the problem was resolved! There have been no problems since then, and roof is cycled usually more than once per day in summer, fall and spring in the Central Mountains of Pennsylvania, USA.
Giff Albright of State College, PA
Giff Albright of State College, PA
