SL/R230: Infra red roof control
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 14
Likes: 3
From: Cambridge, UK
MB SL500, Tesla Model Y. Kia Soul EV
Infra red roof control
The R230 has a "feature" whereby you can supposedly use the infra red from the key to open and close the roof when you're not in the car. In my experience, in two different cars, this works great when you're indoors but is next to useless outdoors, presumably because there's more warmish things around and hence more infra-red. Surely it can't have been this useless when the cars were new? As such, has anyone got any ideas how to improve things? I'm aware of the SmartTop thingie but that seems overkill, and I'm not at all sure that opening and closing the heavy roof is advisable when the car's moving which that tool allows you to do.
Thanks...
Thanks...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 260
From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
What settings you choose on the SmartTop is up to you, like operating the roof up to a certain speed or at 0kmh only. Plus there's options for coming/leaving home head lights, window settings with roof open/closed, one touch roof operations etc.
The infra red option is quite hopeless, fact of life.
The infra red option is quite hopeless, fact of life.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 470
Likes: 119
From: North West England
SL500
Best thing about SMART TOP is you do not have to hold the roof button while it operates. One quick flip opens it, and same for closing.
Operating the roof while moving is great for when you want to open/close the roof at lights, but they change quicker than expected, or it starts raining while in a traffic quew.
Also you can open/close the roof from 50m (100 feet) away (in the house when you notice it has started to rain
) and spook passers by, as well as control how windows finish after opening the roof. Unfortunately they are expensive, but after having one I wouldn't own an SL without fitting one now
With infra red you have to place the fob facing the window on the handle no more than 12" away, and keep it pointed while opening/closing the roof. quite useless!
Operating the roof while moving is great for when you want to open/close the roof at lights, but they change quicker than expected, or it starts raining while in a traffic quew.
Also you can open/close the roof from 50m (100 feet) away (in the house when you notice it has started to rain
) and spook passers by, as well as control how windows finish after opening the roof. Unfortunately they are expensive, but after having one I wouldn't own an SL without fitting one nowWith infra red you have to place the fob facing the window on the handle no more than 12" away, and keep it pointed while opening/closing the roof. quite useless!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 260
From: Netherlands
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
True, but with the SmartTop you can stop the roof with the push/pull of a button also. I noticed that stopping the roof cycle in OEM mode is more abrupt than doing so with the SmartTop. OEM: roof stops like a brick. SmartTop: roof stops with a little wiggle. As if one stop is via a solenoid and the other by cutting electric power from the pump. Perhaps..
