The owner manual states:
“WARNING
If you do not fully open/close the soft top,
the soft-top hydraulics depressurize after a
short time. This causes the soft top to lower
unexpectedly and may cause you or others
to be trapped. There is a risk of injury.
Always open or close the soft top completely.”

Does anyone know how to safely access the weather-stripping for cleaning? I would really appreciate any advice/experience you can share.

Thanks

This is precisely why you should never stop the open/close process in mid-cycle in order to clean the inside rear window glass as some people here claim is the best way to do it.

Don't risk it!

.

Thank for your reply. Any advice on cleaning the weatherstripping?

No, sorry I really don't since I've never attempted to do it! Probably a good question for your local MB Dealer!

probably prop up the apparatus in anticipation of depressurizing and clean the weather stripping... just to be safe...

This sounds like "lawyer-speak"...but, what if that's not all it is?

Well, I've cleaned the inside window on my SL a number of times by partially dropping the top. Never had a problem with it depressurizing on me.

It’s the reason most SL drivers are one armed....