SL/R230: Roof won’t close anymore
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Amsterdam
SL R230
Roof won’t close anymore
While driving, my roll bar popped up when we drove over a bump. At that moment, the roof was closed. At home, we removed the interior trim and released the tension from the spring on both sides, allowing us to push the roll bar back. However, it immediately popped back up again because it didn’t lock into place.
We then manually pushed the roll bar down again and opened the roof. Unfortunately, this didn’t help to get the roll bar back into its holder.
Now we’re at the point where the roof won’t close anymore and the roll bar stays up. The button to open or close the roof doesn’t respond at all, and neither does the mechanism to move the roll bar up or down.
Does anyone know what to do????
We then manually pushed the roll bar down again and opened the roof. Unfortunately, this didn’t help to get the roll bar back into its holder.
Now we’re at the point where the roof won’t close anymore and the roll bar stays up. The button to open or close the roof doesn’t respond at all, and neither does the mechanism to move the roll bar up or down.
Does anyone know what to do????
Last edited by Onno; May 5, 2025 at 11:47 AM. Reason: not in english
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 534
Likes: 115
From: Ann Arbor, MI
2004 SL600
No personal experience with this, but read a post yesterday stating that if/when the roll bar pops up while driving, to press the manual roll bar UP button until the hydraulic mechanism engages the roll bar. It will then manually lower with the Down button.
Of course you are stating that the buttons don't work. Note that the Down button will not work until you have pressed the UP button long enough to re-engage the hydraulic mechanism.
The auto/emergency raise springs are on the Left side. The hydraulic mechanism is on the right side; it includes a solenoid which disengages the hydraulic cylinder to allow the springs to quickly raise the roll bar in an emergency.
If nothing is working, check that the pump in the trunk has enough fluid to operate.
BTW - I learned all this yesterday when troubleshooting why my pump was loosing fluid. After removing the inner panels around the hydraulic mechanism, I could see it leak when the roll bar went up and down.
I found this video helpful:
Of course you are stating that the buttons don't work. Note that the Down button will not work until you have pressed the UP button long enough to re-engage the hydraulic mechanism.
The auto/emergency raise springs are on the Left side. The hydraulic mechanism is on the right side; it includes a solenoid which disengages the hydraulic cylinder to allow the springs to quickly raise the roll bar in an emergency.
If nothing is working, check that the pump in the trunk has enough fluid to operate.
BTW - I learned all this yesterday when troubleshooting why my pump was loosing fluid. After removing the inner panels around the hydraulic mechanism, I could see it leak when the roll bar went up and down.
I found this video helpful:
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Amsterdam
SL R230
Thanks for your reply. I have read this also. However, it was too late, I already opened the roof.
As per this moment no system is worken (my hydrolic is still OK (I checked this before I opened my roof)).
Any other suggestions??
As per this moment no system is worken (my hydrolic is still OK (I checked this before I opened my roof)).
Any other suggestions??
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 365
From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
The roll bar should reengage the release solenoid when you manually lower the roll bar and latch in the lowered position. You might have to loosen the mounting bolts and adjust it if it is not locking in, or maybe the solenoid was damaged when the roll bar deployed. If the roof is fully open, you should also be able to reengage it as described above. The roll bar has to be down or capable of being lowered for the roof to operate. Also, the roll bar will not operate unless the roof is seen as either fully open or fully closed.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Amsterdam
SL R230
Thanks for your solution. Is there any way to close the roof manually or a work around to close the roof electronically with the bar in the current position?
As per this moment the meganism does not give any responce. I have checked the fusion (no fusions are broken). By changing the fusion I the meganisim give a sound.
As per this moment the meganism does not give any responce. I have checked the fusion (no fusions are broken). By changing the fusion I the meganisim give a sound.
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Super Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 534
Likes: 115
From: Ann Arbor, MI
2004 SL600
Sorry to hear that your roof and rollbar are stuck in a "Catch 22" position, where one is preventing the other from working.
There are several YouTube videos on how to manually close or open the sunroof. Its not trivial though. On YouTube search "mercedes r230 manually close sunroof" .
Good luck.
There are several YouTube videos on how to manually close or open the sunroof. Its not trivial though. On YouTube search "mercedes r230 manually close sunroof" .
Good luck.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 365
From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
You can try the manual close procedure with the roll bar up, but I'm not sure if it will clear. If the roll bar is in the way, you can remove the spring on the left side and drop it down.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 8
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From: Amsterdam
SL R230
Manually does not work. Due to the fact that the trunck is almost closed I am not able to have access to the hydrolic system to release the presure.
Any other tricks to solve this???
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 534
Likes: 115
From: Ann Arbor, MI
2004 SL600
Please post a picture showing the position of everything. Don't understand what you mean by "trunk is almost closed", but a picture should help.
If you can access the rear battery, I would disconnect it for a few minutes and then reconnect to see if that resets the system. (Probably not, but grasping for straws.)
If you can access the rear battery, I would disconnect it for a few minutes and then reconnect to see if that resets the system. (Probably not, but grasping for straws.)
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