SL/R230: Retractable top issues sl55
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
2093 sl55 amg
Retractable top issues sl55
I'm looking at a 03 sl55 amg. The dealer claims when they took it in trade the top worked fine. They put a new battery in it and now the top doesn't work! Any thoughts on why that would be?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 366
From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
New battery or not, the rear battery will typically discharge in a couple of weeks of sitting. If you are getting a 'consumers offline' message on startup, this will disable the roof for several minutes while the battery recharges. If there is not message, it could also be a leak in the system. The prior owner might have filled the pump prior to trade-in so that it would be working for the dealer evaluation. Non-functioning roof should be a $3-4k discount unless exact cause is known.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 366
From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
Check to see if the roll bar works and check the fluid level on the pump. Also, check all four windows and normalize them by holding the switch for a couple of seconds after they are fully up (back and then front). All four windows need to be working and positions recognized for the roof to work. Both windows should drop slightly when you open the door and close in sequence when you close it again. They will lose normalization when battery is replaced and won't do this. Also check below the spare and the foam around the PSE pump (below the roof pump) for hydraulic fluid. The best buying power is knowing you have a minor issue while the dealer is getting high dollar estimates to repair. SL's with bad roofs sit on dealer lots forever or see at large discounts, so negotiate accordingly.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 71
Likes: 15
Sl600
there is also a DYI posting on how a repair can be accomplished. This is a well known issue
