I need the EPC page for 2018 550SL that shows trunk hinges
Need MB PNs for part 310, 320 and 330 but, would like EPC pictorial and list of all parts.
After lubing all hood and trunk seals I left a tool between 2 hinge arms on one side.
The top fully closed OK but, as the trunk operated to close the tool got caught between 2 hinges and pulled the hinge finger (PN 330) out of the pivot on the side with the tool between the 2 hinges (hinge out of the pivot is hinge position for top opening when the trunk opens to rear) while engaging the opposite side for trunk normal operation opening to front.
So one side hinge now in trunk opening to rear position and the other side hinges set for trunk normal closing
Need to get both L & R hinges in normal trunk closing position
Wondering if I would be OK if I just went through a roof opening sequence that should align both R & L side hinges but, don't want to take a chance it won't be OK as I don't want to drive to dealer with top partially open.
When the improper operation happened caused slight damage to part 330 in the EPC pictorial,,,,,so I want to order the parts 310, 320 and 330 I think will be needed when dealer works on the car.
I think as nothing other than the insert piece 330 in the arm finger being cracked and needing replacement I would be OK if I just went to a roof opening sequence but, don't want to take a chance it won't be OK and I need to drive to dealer with top partially open,,,,,so I want to order the parts 310, 320 and 330 I think will be needed when dealer works on the car.
Any thoughts on all of the above
AND can someone please copy and send the EPC page and parts list for 2018 SL550 trunk hinges that shows parts 310, 320 and 330.
THANKS, Steve
and THANKS in advance if you can email me the EPC page to c_steve@comcast.net
Hi JD
Ref my original post advising as to my problem
Any idea if performing a roof opening operation will properly align the L & R trunk pivot hinges that are now L side set for roof opening and R side set for normal trunk operation?
Again here is the situation: After lubing all hood and trunk seals I left a tool between 2 hinge arms on one side. The top fully closed OK but, as the trunk operated to close the tool got caught between 2 hinges and pulled the hinge finger (PN 330) out of the pivot on the side with the tool between the 2 hinges (hinge out of the pivot is hinge position for top opening when the trunk opens to rear) while engaging the opposite side for trunk normal operation opening to front. So one side hinge now in trunk opening to rear position and the other side hinges set for trunk normal closing
Need to get both L & R hinges in normal trunk closing position
Wondering if I would be OK if I just went through a roof opening sequence that should align both R & L side hinges but, don't want to take a chance it won't be OK as I don't want to drive to dealer with top partially open if trying to fix it locks the top in 1/2 open .????
Also if you have a chance can you look at yours and see how to replace part 330, how is it held in???(this part was damaged when the L side hinge popped out of the pivot) ?????
Not really sure what you are looking for, but here are some pictures of the hinge with the trunk in the normal open position and in the opening position when putting the top down.
Hi JD
Yup what I wanted to see (yours same as mine).
My issue is that on my L side the bracket arms hook has backed out of the receiver like would be if starting a top down sequence but, the R side is engaged in the receiver ready for normal trunk opening.
The roof is locked closed and OK but, the trunk will close and open but, the L side is not aligned because the bracket arm's claw is out of the receiver.
Trying to figure out how to get the L side hook back into the receiver but, due to hydraulic lock can't move the bracket arm to reengage.
Wondering if I go to top down will the R side hook disengage as it would normally do and then both L & R arms will be in hydraulic control and open the trunk to the rear and allow a complete and correct opening and then closing cycle
BUT
I'm afraid if doesn't work I' could have the top partially open and need to drive to dealer with the top flapping in the breeze !!!
Thinking maybe best to have the MB Dealer depressurize the hydraulics and the manually move the L arm into correct position and as there is no damage/deformation I can see on any of the bracketery should be OK.
Your thoughts as to best practice:
Thy a top down operation
Wait and have dealer depressurize the system and align
Or what do you suggest???????
PS: Also will need to replace the claw insert as the L insert is cracked from disengaging incorrectly so any ideas as too how the insert is removed (looks to me like it is just snapped into place and held by moulded in bosses???
THANKS for your help.
PPS: Again reason the L claw popped out of the receiver stud was because I had a rubber handled screwdriver between the upper and lower hinged arms and when I operated the top to close the top closed OK but, the screwdriver handle between the upper and lower hinge arms forced the claw out of the stud....BUT no damage I can see...As I said above top closed and OK, trunk in normal hinge position and will open and close BUT L side stands proud/up 1" due to the claw not correctly seated in the locator studs.
I'm not a body guy and haven't really messed with the mechanisms of the trunk. If it were me, I would just go to the dealer and at least get an estimate. You may also want to reach out to @crconsulting as he has many years with Mercedes.
Hin CR
'Thanks for offering to help.
Again this happened because I left the rubber handle of a screwdriver between the 2 hinge bars on the L hinge assembly after lubricating all roof and trunk rubber seals and as I was closing the roof the tool caused the hinge bars to not correctly move and result was that the L side as in the attached pic did not engage the pivot for normal trunk operation BUT the R side operated correctly and engaged the pivot.
Here are pics of my L trunk hinge connection point. The R side hinge is correctly engaged.
The roof closed without issues and has locked so all well there.
Trunk opens and closes hydraulically but will not engage in the latch unless I manually push down to engage it but, if I do when releasing the latch normally the trunk will raise so limit switches and hydraulics seem OK also no hydraulic leaks and I don't see any deformation of any of the hinge bars or assembly L to R side.
My dilemma is should I just do a "top down" operation as first step in "top down" is release of the L & R hinge pivots in order for the trunk to open from front to rear to accommodate the top. I suspect the "top down" operation will disengage the R side that is now locked in the "normal trunk" operation position and as the L is already in that position normalcy should return???
As it sits issue is that with L side latch not engaged (is in position for opening the roof) as in pic and R side engaged in position for normal trunk operation the trunk is askew and asymmetric.
I'm concerned that something might go amiss if I do in my own garage and I would be driving to the dealer with roof and maby trunk partially opened so am thinking maybe best to just go to the dealer with trunk in lock position even if slightly askew as there is no paint to paint contact and the roof is up and locked.
Thinking that if at dealer and the "open roof" operation does not correct may need to bleed some hydraulic pressure in order to manually position then recharge and operate......agin I don't think any limit sw issues as roof closed and locked and trunk with a manual push into the latch will electrically/ hydraulically operate.
What do you think???
First pic looking L and forward from in trunk, 2'nd pic L side looking into trunk left of pic is front of car.
Hi JR
I'm grabbing from my email and pasting into my reply but, not working
I have used this method in past...has MBW changed and if so can you explain how to do from either my pics stored on iPhone or if grabbed from an email? BUT my pics look just like yours above (your pic looks like my L position (trunk opening to the rear for a top opening operation) and my R side has the "claw" engaged for normal trunk operation opening from rear to access the trunk) so more pics from me really not needed if just look at your pics provided earlier and read my text so hopefully CR can take a look at your pics above and my text and figure it out.
ALSO...
JR can you send EPC page and parts list for the hydraulic section that operates the linkage in the EPC you previously sent, be a big help for me to understand just how the trunk linkage is operated for top down/top up operation.
I use a Mac, so all my pics are automatically transferred to my Photos app. From there, I right click and copy, then paste into the MBW photo uploader. In the past, I've not had luck posting pics directly from my phone. BUT, you may be right about MBW making changes to their website.
I'll look in the EPC, but I don't think the hydraulics are going to show anything other than parts. It usually doesn't show operation. I may try to record the opening and post it to YouTube. I wonder if I can set up my iphone inside my trunck to record it.
JR (THANKS) and CR if you are reading pls advise what you think of my idea for fix below.
Was in meetings all day and just got to see JR's Vario Roof Video...WOW and.....THANKS !!...PERFECT for what I needed to see regarding my issue AND a really useful tool for all of us to have.
For my issue video @ .06/1:21 trunk normal closing shows the space between the 2 arms where my rubber screwdriver handle was placed as the trunk was in process of a normal hydraulic closing operation (if you can imagine something between the upper and lower arms while the trunk was closing it is obvious why the forward end of the upper arm with the finger slot jumped out of the locater pin and now I am L side bracket finger out of the locator pin while the R side is engaged).
I think if I insure the trunk latch is engaged as it would be for any top operation (it will engage even though the trunk is currently askew as the L hinge is not engaged but the R hinge is engaged) and I perform a normal roof opening the R hinge will pull back like shown @ .17/1:21to match the L that is pulled back and I should be in alignment.
I'm going to take my laptop with me when I visit the MB dealer next Tuesday and review with them and then try to perform this operation.
I'll let everyone know what ensues.
PS: In meantime what does JR, CR, anyone think of my plan???
Based on your GREAT video we now know that when roof opening commences the first thing that happens after the roof unlocks is that the trunk pulls back and opens front to back to allow the roof to store.
I need to know if when the trunk pulls back is the normal trunk center latch latched or is it dis-engaged?
Be really great if you can take a video of trunk from the rear outside as the sequence begins and if possible confirm is the center latch unlatched as first step before the trunk begins to move to rear before it opens front to back.
My dealer doesn't have any R231s so we can't determine this part of the operation.
Again THANKS if you can take video and advise center trunk latch operation
Just to make sure what I wanted to know seems to be answered by :07/:0:22 in the 08:10 AM post.
Please confirm:
The normal trunk center rear latch IS engaged during the roof opening operation / trunk opening to the rear.
This was/is the big question that the dealer was not sure of but, seems to be the case per your videos.
Im my situation because of the misplaced tool the L trunk latch in dis-engaged but, the right latch is engaged. Trunk can open and close although askew as the L latch not engaged as should be for normal trunk opening from rear to front but, full normal trunk operation works although the normal center trunk catch will not engage during normal trunk closing BUT, will engage if I manually push the trunk down.
So....Based on your GREAT videos the dealer and I think If we manually engage the normal trunk center lock and go through a normal roof down the center trunk latch will be engaged as in your pics and as the L trunk latch is already dis-engaged the R latch arm will move back and hopefully all will be restored to a normal operation.
Dealer's Hd Mech I am communicating with and has been shown your videos thinks we will be OK but, won't be able to confirm until I get to the dealer next Tuesday afternoon.
Keeping my fingers crossed !
JR. Can't thank you enough for your invaluable help here as there are no R231s at the dealer so w/o your videos would be lost.
NAVY retired submarine engineering officer here saluting West Point ARMY guy !
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