SL-Class (R231) 2013 on: Discussion on the SL550

SL/R231: 2013 SL 63 Vario Roof

Old Jun 21, 2024 | 09:54 PM
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2013 SL-63
2013 SL 63 Vario Roof

Hi all. When the car hits a sizable crater on the roadway, I hear a banging noise coming from the A pillar header. It sounds like a metal part hitting glass, maybe not directly. The banging is there, roof open or closed. In that area, from what i can tell, are the two latches, which I assume are hydraulic and therefore should have some kind of piston to operate the latches. Could the piston(s) be loose?, has anyone heard of such an issue?.
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Old Jun 21, 2024 | 10:48 PM
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My car makes the same noise and has from day one. Only on the roughest of bumps. As a former mechanic it sounds like a large piece of pot metal banging against another one. I would say nothing to worry about.
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Old Jun 22, 2024 | 12:24 AM
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Is it in the A-Pillar area?

The A Pillar is held down by three plastic push in clips, two torx screws (on top), and rivet on the bottom.
It comes off fairly easily. Those clips sometimes become brittle and break. The A pillar can move under deflection, possibly causing some unwanted noises…

https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...llar-trim.html


Good Luck!

Last edited by crconsulting; Jun 22, 2024 at 12:26 AM.
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Old Jun 23, 2024 | 11:06 AM
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I've heard it in my 2018... Almost sounds like a rock hitting the windshield to me.
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Old Jun 24, 2024 | 11:51 AM
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2013 SL-63
Originally Posted by rfb3
I've heard it in my 2018... Almost sounds like a rock hitting the windshield to me.
It sounds exactly like a heavy piece of metal hitting on the windshield right along the header, although there isn't any physical connection to the glass. I don't know if it's nothing to worry about, my concern is that it's something loose that has to do with the vario roof latches.
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