Rainer11

I have a 2003 SL55 with 13K miles that I recently purchased with an extended CPO through mid 2009. The top has been horrific in terms of creaks and rattles and has thus been in the shop twice now (for 3 weeks total) while they fixed the top (and a handful of other things). Now that I have the car back apparently fixed for good, I still notice it creaks/rattles when doing things like going into a driveway and even smooth alterations in road conditions (ie. uneven pavement) - especially in turns. It is significantly better from when I first got it and can enjoy a straight line drive over minor bumps with it staying quiet.

How solid should this top be? I've been told by a few people rock solid. Looking for feedback.

Thanks

Chris.

detailas

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Mine is a 2003 SL500 and have not encountered any squeeks and rattles (yet) - abt 18,500 miles on the clock. Dealer says that this is usual with some SL's and the cure is to grease the hard top joints every few months.

Sorry that I cannot elaborate more on the subject, but as mentioned have never had such irritating sounds..

Maybe someone else from the forum can assist.
There have been repeated threads regarding this matter..

George

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Rainer11

Thanks George.

I am waiting to see what the dealer comes back with along with other posts. I do love the car and hopefully there is a good solution. I did notice 'plenty' of grease on the top from the last visit - so can see how that helped quite a bit for the majority of the 'noises'.

Chris.

detailas

Chris, when I was in the market for an SL few months ago, I did some thread-searching for RATTLES, SQUEEKS (and relevant awkward sounds) - and came up (among others) with following:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r230...ghlight=rattle

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r230...ghlight=rattle


George

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Rainer11

Thanks again George.

detailas

navfaz08

Hey i have a 2003 SL500 that I bought with 11,000 miles and it currently has 22,000 and i have heard these rattles and creaks since i purchased the car. It has been 4 times total that I have taken it in and the dealer says there is nothing wrong. They said they lubed the screws which didnt help. I can hear it especailly when I go over a bump or something along those lines. Let me know what your dealer says.

Thanks

Rainer11

I think I'm bringing the car back in yet again next Wednesday (they never called me back or replied to my emails today) and if that is productive I will let you know how it goes.

Chris.

ItalianStallion

We just took the SL55 back in for rattles and creaks. We got it back last night, it was slightly better but still very loud and annoying so we sent it back to the dealer. They can't seem to fix it, this has been like the 4th time for the same problem.

Monkey177

I get a creak and rattle behind the driver's area. It sounds like it's one of the rear panels back there behind the driver's left arm. Anyone else get that?

CynCarvin32

Every R230 I have driven had a loud top after say 10k miles. They can quiet it down with lube but it wont ever really go away. making 3 pieces of metal fit together and not make any sounds when the car flexs is nearly impossible.

Rattles from lose items can be fixed but you will always have a sounds coming from the flexing parts.

mjr24

Yep, I think it pretty much is something you have to deal with. I heard the 2003's were alot worse with this than the later years...I am curious if any of the other hardtop convertibles (SC430, XLR, etc) also have the same problems, or is this just a Benz thing? Also, I wonder if the problem is better or worse if you have the pano roof?

detailas

I'd be curious too, since many times I thought of replacing the top part with a panorama top..

George

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Television

Hi Geoge keep your normal roof on a silver car,it looks better, re rattles in roof my 02 car is silent at 17k miles. 3 of the other cars did rattle that I drove.

I will have a look on th MB info, several things and mods are there.

Malcolm

lkirchner

My wife had an SC430 and the top was totally quiet. I have the pano roof on my SL55 and I also have a creaky/groany top. I have taken it back to the dealer twice and the sounds go away only to return again. The work order says they lube, place felt in certain areas but the noise returns.

Scruffyone

Just learn to live with it. I took mine in and they fixed it, but a year later it is back. Turn the sound up. Mine goes away at highway speed anyway. You can also try getting a full Kleeman exhaust system. No way you will hear the creaks and rattles then.

Rainer11

Well - I am told that the problem is fixed and that part of it was some spot welded bracket that went around the gas tank (that was replaced about a month ago also when the gas tank was replaced). The other piece were the latches in the front had come loose again. Hopefully good news this afternoon when I pick it up since I'm now at 5.5 weeks in dealership, 3.5 weeks for me.

Rainer11

Well so far so good. I've only been able to put about 70 miles on it, but the top issue seems to be solved for now. There were a few things with stress cracks on them apparently and knock on wood it's hopefully fixed.

sl55dude

My '06 does the same thing - I dont think there is anything wrong with it.

theboogers

rainer11- was it the latches on the tank that were creaking? i have some noise also with replaced tank. thanks

mjr24

I got my car back today. They lubed the joints, readjusted the roof, etc. I heard rumors they actually place felt in the roof. In any event, it is definitely ALOT quieter......the question is, how long will it last.

lkirchner

They do put felt tape in certain areas of the roof to eliminate the creaks. They did that on my 55 and guess what-----after 6 months it is craeaking and groaning again. It appears that whatever they do the fix is merely a band aid. Like Scruffy said turn up the volume and learn to live with it or pretend that it is white noise.

bltserv

I think the issue has more to do with road conditions.
We took the car down to LA a couple weeks ago for a concert.
I heard a couple noises from it while going down Sunset BL.
The street conditions are really getting crappy on the westside.
Down here in OC where the roads are all basically newer.
No noises at all. I just hit 30K on the SL55.
YeeHa !!

mjr24

I have gone over alot of bumpy areas since I got the car back yesterday and it is quiet, very quiet. It has not creaked even once. I don't think it has to do with the road....at least not on my car. Even on bumpy areas, the roof should not be making any noise really....

detailas

I don't think it's a matter of creaking after all... I'd express it as 'rattling'... IMHO, when the roof panels are aligned but kind of rubbing each other = creaking, when panels are mis-aligned (i.e. with a certain small gap) = rattling..

Before I purschase my rattle-free SL, I drove 2 other SL's and they were not 'creaking', but 'rattling' over bumps....

George

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