I was expecting this – just not this soon!

1677 Views 21 Replies 8 Participants Last post by etyu, Jan 31, 2016

Mensra

Discussion Starter · Jan 29, 2016

The dreaded blown hydraulic ram seal for the roof latching assembly finally hit me! If anybody is wondering whether or not an extended warranty is a good thing, the bill (if I did not have a warranty – spoiler alert I do!) would've been north of $2000!

I bought an exclusionary warranty that covers everything, because I knew the hydraulics were going to fail – if there's one thing that you could call this car's Achilles' heel, it is the roof hydraulics. Virtually every SLK I have seen has had problems sooner or later with the roof hydraulics.

If I could not get an extended warranty, I would not have purchased the car.

I should get the car back on Wednesday. The dealer is trying to talk me into replacing the roof liner, but I think it will cleanup OK, only a few drops of oil on it.

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Mensra

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jan 29, 2016 (Edited)

Well, the plot thickens. The dealership claims I need to put a new roof liner in to the tune $1300. The actual part is $360.
Does this sound right to you? There were only four or five drops of hydraulic fluid that I saw. should that require replacing the roof liner?
I was told if I do not this, the roof liner would deteriorate and I would smell hydraulic fluid.

Does anybody have experience with this type of problem?

Thanks

jbanks15

· #3 · Jan 29, 2016

I have no thoughts other than the few drops you saw...were they from the inside or the outside of the liner? in other words, what you can see or not see? if you did not check the 'other' side, they may be correct and that side might have more 'spots'.

curro101

· #4 · Jan 29, 2016

If the part is $360, where does the $1300 come from ??

Mensra

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 29, 2016

Right on the outside leading edge of the liner. Less then 1 gram total oil and only 2 drops from the windshield pillar on the actual seat. Not even enough to cover one square inch of the roof - total! No puddling in the area on the pillar where the roof pin goes in, just a thin film. Besides, isn't $990 labor a bit pricey for what should be (from all I have read) less then an hours work? (4 screws and unclipping 5 clips - slide out, reverse to install) even for a stealership? The roof was only operated once when the oil was found (and I am worse then you Jeff in noticing things like this) so it could not have been operated more then 2-3 times total once the leak started.

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Mensra

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 29, 2016

I rounded down. Actual cost parts and labor was quoted at $1350. When I inquired as to the part cost alone, I was advised $360 for the part.

curro101

· #7 · Jan 29, 2016

I'd leave it as it is at the monent and if you can't live with the fluid smell that may or may not persist or the stain if it persists, then buy a roof liner and fit it yourself (or if it's just the stain, get it upholstered, maybe in Alcantara, mine looks a lot better in black), I can replace it in less time than the roof takes to beep that it's going to close, although I've had a bit of practice, say 15-20 mins for a first timer.....

Delucas

· #8 · Jan 29, 2016

The warranty will they will claim back off mercedes hq as such

The other micro oil stain on your roof .
Is what they will sting you with to make it worth there while and $990.00

Christ id expect a full service and a set of 4 tyres thrown in free .

Buy the roof liner fit it yourself as curro101 says
And the savings go on holiday . :grin:

Mensra

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 29, 2016

There is no stain. I wiped the oil off ASAP and saw nothing. Unless a stain appears later, I see nothing now. I could barely smell any oil, and that was before I wiped it off.

efair

· #10 · Jan 29, 2016

If it's covered at no cost by your warranty, why not go ahead and have it all done? I would ask them to provide all the old parts since they're all eminently rebuildable/reusable.

Delucas

· #11 · Jan 29, 2016

Mensra said:
There is no stain. I wiped the oil off ASAP and saw nothing. Unless a stain appears later, I see nothing now. I could barely smell any oil, and that was before I wiped it off.

Spray your favourite expensive aftershave all over you or on the carpets that should hide any odours if any linger ?

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Delucas

· #12 · Jan 29, 2016

efair said:
If it's covered at no cost by your warranty, why not go ahead and have it all done? I would ask them to provide all the old parts since they're all eminently rebuildable/reusable.

I believe if ive read right they want from him to pay additional the $1350 ish

Not covered under warranty ?

Mensra

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 29, 2016

That is correct. The liner is not a mechanical part, and as such not covered. They are replacing the hydraulic assembly.

By the way, my favourite expensive aftershave is hydraulic oil! (hmm, maybe thats why I have such a difficult time with meeting women......)

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Delucas

· #14 · Jan 29, 2016

Mensra said:
That is correct. The liner is not a mechanical part, and as such not covered. They are replacing the hydraulic assembly.

By the way, my favourite expensive aftershave is hydraulic oil! (hmm, maybe thats why I have such a difficult time with meeting women......)

The way id look at it if its $1350 to replace liner etc

Walk away knowing its gonna cost you that later on .
If later you smell / see or what ever or it bugs you take to another merc place and try get a cheaper quote .
Or take to indie if they quote cheaper result .

Or you may just leave it and get something else more important to sort out on your car .

Hope that makes sense .

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Idiot101

· #15 · Jan 29, 2016

Mensra said:
That is correct. The liner is not a mechanical part, and as such not covered. They are replacing the hydraulic assembly.

By the way, my favourite expensive aftershave is hydraulic oil! (hmm, maybe thats why I have such a difficult time with meeting women......)

Your looking in all the wrong places.........Google.....female mechanics....will save you a lot of meals??

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JiminFL

· #16 · Jan 29, 2016

Mensra- If you have even a small spot on the headliner there is much more on top of the headliner. But as others have said, it's no big deal since it can be replaced at any time in the future. What should concern you now is the side cylinders. Keep an eye on them because they will be the next to leak. >

etyu

· #17 · Jan 30, 2016

Anyone with diagram/illustration/photo of where the hydraulic pumps are on the R171 roof (the area above the headliner)?

jbanks15

· #18 · Jan 30, 2016

Doesn't Bill's den roof pdf show it Dr Eddy?

http://www.billsden.org/fileadmin/media/mercedes/slk/docs/train_vario_roof.pdf

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Mensra

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jan 30, 2016

Well, I have a couple of years left on my warranty – you know I'll be keeping an eye on other cylinders.

etyu

· #20 · Jan 30, 2016

jbanks15 said:
Doesn't Bill's den roof pdf show it Dr Eddy?

http://www.billsden.org/fileadmin/media/mercedes/slk/docs/train_vario_roof.pdf

page 21... sort of. Looks like there is only one hydraulic unit located in the cavity of the roof.

Thank you Sarge, downloaded pdf for future reference.

I was wondering what DansSLK used to say:

Use the a/c on a frequent and regular basis as the refrigerant also contains lubricants that may help keep the seals lubricated and make them less prone to cracking and leaking.
IIRC, this may be the same for the several roof hydraulic units and its seals, and I recall one member in Europe fixing rain-related leak (from roof rubber seals) by actuating and using the vario-roof.

I do operate the roof at least 2 cycles (going to, and returning from work) a day during the work week and maybe one to two cycles on a weekend.

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