FIGHT BOSS

Hello Friends,

I have a 2015 SL 550, 20,00 miles. I am getting an annoying noise coming from the upper right retractable roof (assuming in the mechanism). When the top is down, I do not have the noise, only when traveling. I took it to the body shop and they could not determine where the sound was originating from.
Any one else have this issue? If so, what was the fix?

Thank you,
JD

places

Why not take it to the dealership, a body shop will be more limiting in diagnosing.

FIGHT BOSS

Thank you, That is my next step. However, if I were able to find someone who has had this problem, I would know if the dealer is ripping me off as they tend to do.

steve sl550

Can you describe the noise ?

Also do a search for vario roof noises and you will find info describing how to treat the rubber seals on the various sections of the top components. My car is a 2018 with 14K miles; I just did the "KRYTOX" treatment and plan to do it every yr or two to keep the rubber supple and prevent noises that develop when the rubber gets hardened or dirty.

Word of caution.....I'd only use the MB recommended Krytox not anything else (big difference in results....over the counter products leave sticky residue and can gum up the drains (in some cases pretty small passages) and then the drains will back up and flood out the trunk ect.

So....bottom line: Do the search, buy the Krytox (I can't recall now but, I bought it from eBay or Amazon for less than from MB but, read up, use the right stuff and I'd wager the issue you have will be fixed and your seals will thank you

FIGHT BOSS

Hey Steve,
The noise is the typical slight rattle/low volume ticking/knocking only when I am driving. I am not sure if it is the rubber seals. The vehicle has always been in the garage in good climate. What exactly does the Krytox accomplish or what is it?

Thanks Steve!

Joe

Utopia Texas

I had a bothersome noise in the roof of my ‘17 that turned out to be a high pitched vibration in the roller assembly of the retractable sun screen. Carefully wedge a 4”x 6” piece of cardboard between the screen and the roof at the rear and see if the noise goes away. The dealership glued some insulation in my roof between the sunscreen roller and roof for the fix. Apparently when the roller is empty it is flimsy and vibrates under certain road conditions.

FIGHT BOSS

Hey Steve,

I found this video is this what you are speaking of doing?

Thanks,

Joe

FIGHT BOSS

It is definitely not coming from the sun screen. My best guess is the retractable arm assembly for the roof.

steve sl550

Hi Joe,

Yup that is the general ide per the VW video but, you don't need a special cleaning tool as just a clean lint free (lint free important as it won't make a mess AND won't get FUD into the drain tubes that are part of the rubber seals0

Just get the roof in the 1/2 opened position (make sure it stys there/ maybe use a prop stick ect as some searches will show you) .....wipe out the rubbers and channels water or little alcohol ..then apply the Krytox (only Krytox)....do not run it in like the VW gus shows...a little goes a long way !

I put a small thin line along the rubbers and then work in with my fingers all around until it is absorbed into the rubber. (works great and does NOT leave a residue like lots of aftermarket products do

I did roof, trunk, under hood and door seals and used less than 1/2 of the small bottle so it goes a long way.


As far as the noise you hear: Seals can make funny noises so could be the rubber seals but, also the latching mechanism is in the 1'st roof panel at the front (open your roof and take a look...you will see the clamping mech (a solenoid motor pulls a lever rod and the L & R clamps in the roof section seize around the roller pins in the windshield header.........so what you hear could be the mech in the front of the vario roof panel.

Hope the above is some help.

FIGHT BOSS

Hey Steve,

Thank you for taking the time to give me your detailed suggestion(s). I will order the Krytox now and perform the above and see what happens!

Thanks again Steve,

Joe

FIGHT BOSS

Hey Steve,

Which Krytox? there are several available and the pricing is all over the board.

Both Ebay and Amazon.

Thanks,

Joe

steve sl550

Hi Joe,

Amazon $35.81

Rubber Lubricant Genuine 0009893660 Mercedes Benz

TennesseeZ4

I also had an annoying noise that came into play at irregular times, in the roof area where the retraction mechanism goes through the plastic headliner border. I found the point where it was rubbing up against the metal, and just shaved off enough of the plastic to keep them from interfering with each other. My sound was a like a rubbing noise, not really a vibration. Since the trim job, no more noise.

FIGHT BOSS

Thank you Tennessee, however, this is definitely not that. The sound is as a car going down a bumpy road and you get that gentle annoying slight knocking noise.
My guess is something is loose, or two pieces of metal tapping one another as you hit any slight bump in the road.
I am going to try the Krytox which was suggested above, just doing the best I can.


Thanks again!

​​​​​​​Joe

Jeff411

Start with the simplest. My 2014 has a rattle in the roof when my tire pressure isn't correct. The run flats make setting the correct pressure pretty important or the ride suffers greatly. Not sure if you checked that already.

FIGHT BOSS

Hey Jeff,

Yes I did check that. The right rear was actually low on air, filled, no change.

Thank you,

Joe

jmonty21

Hey Tennessee, I think I had the same annoying noise and decided to pop off the headliner on my 2013 SL550. It totally eliminated the noise. Can you be more specific as to where you shaved of the plastic or send a photo. Thank you!

TennesseeZ4

Since we no longer have the SL, a photo will not be possible. All I can share is that when sitting in the drivers seat, and reaching back past my left ear, there is an opening in the plastic headliner where the roof mechanism extends down into the cabin. It was at that point where we had the inner roof panel rubbing against the folding top mechanism. I just shaved off a bit of the plastic and the noise was gone. Hope that makes sense, I cannot think of any other way to describe it.

jmonty21

That makes sense. Kinda where I thought you were referring to. I placed a small piece of cardboard there without any success. Just wanted to confirm before I started trimming any on the roof-liner. Thank you!