SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Roller shade fix
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 487
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina, US
'06 E500, '99 ML430 and '07 SL65
Roller shade fix
Some of you might have experienced, like me, that the roller shade in you SL doesn't stay where you put it. Well, in my case, one of the 4 plastic wheels were missing and other 2 was cracked. That prevented the lock from pressuring evenly on the guide rail for the shade.
Getting a new one is $1250 from the dealer so for obvious reasons I was somewhat hesitant do go get one since the one I had was not torn or ripped. Naturally the plastic rollers are not a separate P/N so it was the whole thing or nothing.
So this is where the technology comes into play. 3D printing! Luckily, one of the rollers was not broken and could be used as a template. With it and a CAD program I created the roller and had the new ones printed at the UPS store.
I needed 4 but the minimum is $10 so I ended up with 9 total. So $10, a little time and I saved $1240.
If anyone else have the same problem, I have attached the STL file that you can send to the UPS store (or somewhere else) and have some printed.
Getting a new one is $1250 from the dealer so for obvious reasons I was somewhat hesitant do go get one since the one I had was not torn or ripped. Naturally the plastic rollers are not a separate P/N so it was the whole thing or nothing.
So this is where the technology comes into play. 3D printing! Luckily, one of the rollers was not broken and could be used as a template. With it and a CAD program I created the roller and had the new ones printed at the UPS store.
I needed 4 but the minimum is $10 so I ended up with 9 total. So $10, a little time and I saved $1240.
If anyone else have the same problem, I have attached the STL file that you can send to the UPS store (or somewhere else) and have some printed.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area, CA & Northern New York (2nd home)
2007 SL55 w/030, 2014 B Electric, 2012 ML350, 1965 Shelby GT350 w/48IDA Webers, previous 06 SLK55
Some of you might have experienced, like me, that the roller shade in you SL doesn't stay where you put it. Well, in my case, one of the 4 plastic wheels were missing and other 2 was cracked. That prevented the lock from pressuring evenly on the guide rail for the shade.
Getting a new one is $1250 from the dealer so for obvious reasons I was somewhat hesitant do go get one since the one I had was not torn or ripped. Naturally the plastic rollers are not a separate P/N so it was the whole thing or nothing.
So this is where the technology comes into play. 3D printing! Luckily, one of the rollers was not broken and could be used as a template. With it and a CAD program I created the roller and had the new ones printed at the UPS store.
I needed 4 but the minimum is $10 so I ended up with 9 total. So $10, a little time and I saved $1240.
If anyone else have the same problem, I have attached the STL file that you can send to the UPS store (or somewhere else) and have some printed.
Getting a new one is $1250 from the dealer so for obvious reasons I was somewhat hesitant do go get one since the one I had was not torn or ripped. Naturally the plastic rollers are not a separate P/N so it was the whole thing or nothing.
So this is where the technology comes into play. 3D printing! Luckily, one of the rollers was not broken and could be used as a template. With it and a CAD program I created the roller and had the new ones printed at the UPS store.
I needed 4 but the minimum is $10 so I ended up with 9 total. So $10, a little time and I saved $1240.
If anyone else have the same problem, I have attached the STL file that you can send to the UPS store (or somewhere else) and have some printed.
Would you be interested in selling 4 of your spares? I too have a 2007 SL55 and it's driving me nuts that the shade will not stay put. PM me thanks in advance. Earl
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 487
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina, US
'06 E500, '99 ML430 and '07 SL65
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 487
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina, US
'06 E500, '99 ML430 and '07 SL65
I think it would be easier just to have some printed at the local UPS shop that has a 3D printer. Send them the file attached through email, and you should be set.
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Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 212
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
2003 SL55 AMG, 1989 348 Challenge, 1987 Testarossa, 1992 F40, 1989 Mondial t cab, 2001 X5 4.4 Sport
I have had my 55 since '03 and I have no idea what this piece is or does! And I thought I knew these cars cold!
What the hell is it?
What the hell is it?
Last edited by Ingenere; Dec 10, 2014 at 11:06 PM.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 487
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina, US
'06 E500, '99 ML430 and '07 SL65
The shade has two rails (Green in the pic) where the bar with the cloth attached (red) glides. The way that the bar stays put, is by pushing against the rails. To make the bar glide smooth on the rails there are 4 wheels on the front left side (blue). When these wheels, which is made of plastic, gets brittle and break, the locking mechanism cannot reach the rail and the bar slides back.
M-B doesn't sell just the plastic wheels but the whole unit which is $$ at the dealer. The fix is to replace the plastic wheels and that is what the can be 3D printed using the attached STL file.
M-B doesn't sell just the plastic wheels but the whole unit which is $$ at the dealer. The fix is to replace the plastic wheels and that is what the can be 3D printed using the attached STL file.
Last edited by sgaar; Dec 11, 2014 at 01:24 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 487
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina, US
'06 E500, '99 ML430 and '07 SL65
Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Santa Rosa Cali
2006 sl55 030 option - sold
did you remove the sunshade assembly to make repair , or just taking off headliner you could remove and replace guide wheels
I already had my wheels made , and you are right. the cost for me was $9 but that was for 4. great deal
I already had my wheels made , and you are right. the cost for me was $9 but that was for 4. great deal
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Glen Carbon, Illinois
RED 2005 SL65
My SL65 is at the Mercedes dealer getting this shade replaced under warranty for this reason. I would however like to know what is this 3D printing that can make these rollers to repair this? Where would one go to have these parts made, as I must admit I have no idea about this new technology. Thanks Chris
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 487
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina, US
'06 E500, '99 ML430 and '07 SL65
Yes, I removed the whole thing. Getting the shade out is easy when you have the headliner out. If you don't take it out you run the risk of bending it.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Tucker, GA
2005 SL65 Amg
Size of rollers
I just had this problem with my SL65.
I sent the file to the UPS Store, but they said the dimensions were too large for them to 3D print.
They said it shows the dimensions to be 13.95"x13.95"x4.88", which are obviously not correct.
Can you let me know the actual dimensions?
I sent the file to the UPS Store, but they said the dimensions were too large for them to 3D print.
They said it shows the dimensions to be 13.95"x13.95"x4.88", which are obviously not correct.
Can you let me know the actual dimensions?
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 306
Likes: 19
From: West Chester, PA - USA
2003 SL55 AMG
Ace1,
Looks like they 'maybe' used inches instead of centimeters?????
PS: OOOOPS should have said milli meters!
Looks like they 'maybe' used inches instead of centimeters?????
PS: OOOOPS should have said milli meters!
Last edited by kittyandgary; Jul 14, 2015 at 11:45 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Tucker, GA
2005 SL65 Amg
I don't know why no one can just give me the dimensions.
I sent it to another 3D printer and he gave me the same info.
As far as it being centimeters, I know that would also be wrong as 13.95 centimeters would be about 5 1/2 inches. I'm guessing it's actually MM.
Can anyone verify that?
I sent it to another 3D printer and he gave me the same info.
As far as it being centimeters, I know that would also be wrong as 13.95 centimeters would be about 5 1/2 inches. I'm guessing it's actually MM.
Can anyone verify that?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 487
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina, US
'06 E500, '99 ML430 and '07 SL65
it is 14x5 mm (outside diameter x height). All that info is in the file. If the print shop cannot figure it out, they are idiots. Find someone else that know how this works.
