First off, great job with the video! Your clear and detailed on your process and I can appreciate that! I just got my ‘92 500SL and have been researching this process the most since it seems to be the most expensive/tedious issue on these vehicles. However based off what I just watched it seems entirely possible and I’m excited to find out if I need to do this. Thank you for your help and I hope to see more!
Thank you my friend for positive feedback and don't ever worry about roof cylinder restoration, if it happens to you, it is a fun and satisfying project to do... 😉 and 92 SL is a great choice.
SL R129 Mercedes Top Hydraulics can be scary for the owners to repair and for the potential buyers a huge obstacles due to the all heard stories. Looking deeply in to the leak repair and restoration of the cylinders, you might be able to break it down in to few fun over the weekend projects, instead of paying thousands of dollars to a mechanic or even more to a MB dealer. Let's make this affordable and take the stress away from buying your favourite SL600, SL500 or even the 300...please leave your comments on your experience, love to hear and answer your questions ASAP. Cheers...
I have a 1995 SL320, have purchased headrest gears as well as seal kits through Klaus for the eventual entire actuator breakdowns, one is followed by the remaining 10 or 11. With patience and a bit of skill, this tedious seal replacement can be handled, thereby saving loads of cash. Top hydraulics and Klaus's instructions have proven invaluable in this process, kudos to Klaus !
@@BenzAddiction I am still struggling to find the reason why my soft top just stopped working. My pump and fluid are fine. The fluid needs changing the. I had the relay box checked out…. Something tells me though that it is still the problem. I do hear clicking but the technician didn’t power it up. Your thoughts….
You failed to show the installation of the 2 o-rings in the piston. In my unit there appears to be a felt 0-ring and then the rubber 0-ring. There is no mention of this at all.
Nice job, has anyone tried using hydraulic stop leak products in conjunction with the Mercedes hydraulic fluid to try and slow the leak by “swelling the gaskets” back to original state? Don’t want to spend 3100 fixing the cylinders when the car is worth 4k. Thanks in advance 🤙🏼
Excellent camera work and commentary! After replacing various cylinders and re-connecting hydraulics, how do you avoid, or eliminate, airlocks when testing the repair. Dos this happen as part of operating the softtop several times perhaps?
Thank you my friend, the air pocket will be out of the system automatically as the system knows how to handle this, just need to watch the fluid level for the first few cycles.
@@BenzAddiction Thank you; l thought that might be the case, but it's always good to get it confirmed. I owned a W100 Grosser two decades ago and the 'Komfort' hydraulics used a red (rather pleasant smelling fluid), equivalent to 'SHELL AEROFLUID 41, normally used to operate the landing gear in small aircraft. Do you happen to know whether this red fluid is still used in the hydraulics of more modern cars?
@helmuth haass To be honest, I am not sure but w209 CLK and R129 uses clear type (colorless) fluid, different part numbers and I think it is logical, as I prefer the colourless one on interior trims and upholstery in case of a leak than the red one.
Do you need to remove the bose amp? Also, my main cylinder is leaking right after flushing with new fluid. Now the main is leaking. Will it continue to leak if I don’t use the convertible?
Hello, thank you for share your skills in video. I have remove the top of cylindre with the hit as you said but I would like to know what I should I use to put it back, what kind of liquid or product ?
Thanks for the detailed walkthrough. The roll bar in my car is no functioning and it stuck in the down position, however the rest of the top functions fine. Would the lift cylinders be able to be removed and repaired without the roll bar being in the raised position? Thanks!
You need to remove the rear compartment trims somehow and thus would be difficult with roll bar down. There should be a way of course. Maybe try first to fix the issue with roll bar?
@@BenzAddiction Yeah that would be ideal but I am not sure if its just the rollbar module or the whole top module since the top works fine. Could even be solenoids, too many components in this damn top lol
@@BenzAddiction ❤❤❤ One question, i use this car only summer, and only week-end so 4 days every month. And the winter, i drive with the hard top. So if i can add oil for now, and every time i check the level? And where i can find the o ring like in your vidéo ? Précision, i live in France 😅.
@@BenzAddiction I'm not that mechanically inclined. Have an idea what repair might cost ? It's a weekend car I don't drive it often and it's to hot in Louisiana to put top down anyway. Do you think if I fill the reservoir up when using it only will damage it more I'm scared to even put top back down to put hard top back on.
@sonnyvito504 replacing those 2 main Lift Cylinders are not too difficult but, if you want to, you can top up the fluid and open the soft top, as long as you don't run the pump dry, it should be safe. The cost is only $50 of seals for me to replace the seals one by one.
@clyde2801 Clyde. Does the Tulsa key maker supply the transponder chip that shuts off the security system? I have a spare key but the chip that goes in the key fob is missing so I can't start the car. Do you have the Tulsa shop's phone number or address, email? Thanks. Lou
@@BenzAddictionI need the transponder chip that is in the key fob. I have a spare key but it won't shut off the security system without chip in fob. Do you have any idea who can help? Mercedes says they no longer have this service. 1997 sl320. I am at my wit's end trying to find it! Thanks. Lou
Nice job! I was not so lucky. I found it to be difficult and after about 8 hrs of work I replaced the right side main lift with a rebuilt cylinder and... it did not work. Ended up taking to Independent MBZ shop and after two weeks and 3100 USD they rebuilt all 13 cylinders. However, the top still does not function as it should although it opens and closes with out leaks.
I really appreciate your videos. Very helpful. I, too, purchased a SL at auction, fairly blind. 2002 Silver Arrow. Low miles…everything is in order for the most part. Not like what you have documented. I do worry about hydraulics and such. Have you shared where you purchased the seals and guidebook? Thanks again.
@@JohnnyD0406 Great, 2002 silver arrow is an awesome choice, good luck and the eBay link is www.ebay.com.au/itm/281989635356?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=uRA3VpPiQRK&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=VftSBydbT7C&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
