1991 500SL opening rear soft top compartment when hydraulics are dead... - Benzworld.org

cyn3rgy · 01-14-2006, 10:22 PM

Hi

The hydraulics are leaking in my 91 500SL and I'm trying to work out how to get at the hydraulic pistons in the rear quarter (behind the door pillars). I'm trying to work out how to put the soft top down so I can put the hard top back onto the car until I can get the roof repaired. I've got the front and rear latches undone and can fold the roof part of the way but I can't figure out how to get the rear deck open so I can fold the roof into it. help :) I spent half a day gazing at it from all angles yesterday and got nowhere...

thanks

andrew

stats007 · 01-15-2006, 02:59 AM

RTFM!

cyn3rgy · 01-15-2006, 04:31 AM

Hi

unfortunately I don't have a manual. I only bought the car a few weeks ago and my local mercedes benz office has ordered one from germany for me but apparently they're doing stock take at the moment there and he says it will take 4-6 weeks before my manual comes in. I've also searched this forum and other forums such as mbworld.org. I've tried my best to not waste peoples time by asking these questions but I've run out of options. If anyone else can help me out I'd appreciate it.

many thanks

andrew

stats007 · 01-15-2006, 06:26 AM

This topic has been covered before recently that's all - also why buy a car without a manual? I wouldn't touch an SL without all the correct documentation.

There is a 'key' in the tool kit that you insert between the soft top cover and trim and engage a bolt. Turning this operates the tonneau cover.

waybomb · 01-15-2006, 06:31 AM

Send me your email address.
I'll send you a 4.5 mb pdf file of the manual.

cyn3rgy · 01-15-2006, 02:31 PM

Thanks Fred

I posted my email address to you via a private msg. Appreciate the assistance :)

cheers

Andrew

waybomb · 01-15-2006, 07:08 PM

Hi Andrew
I just sent the file to you. If you don't get it, let me know!
Good Luck!
Fred

cyn3rgy · 01-16-2006, 02:21 AM

thanks Fred. For the benefit of others who might be searching for this info, in my 1991 500SL, the process is this:

Find the two plastic caps sitting behind the sun visor on either side of the car. Gently prise them out, be careful as years of sun may have made them brittle. Behind the caps you should see a hexagonal head that the manual roof tool fits into (failing that use an allen key). Turning these hex heads will unlock the front soft top locks. (can't recall if it was clockwise or anti-clockwise, so be careful!). I found that you need to start one side, then unlock the other side, then come back to the first side and finish the job off. At this stage you should be able to lift the top up slightly to see it's no longer engaged in the front locks. Now move to the boot.

In the back of the boot you should see two small pieces of the trim that will lift out. These will be located on each side near the boot hinge mechanisms. Lift the trim peices out and you should see a lever (mine is made from cad plated something or other, ie it's a gold colour) and it will have red paint on it.

Fit the spanner/wrench end of the manual roof tool, or otherwise a 10mm open ended spanner, onto the small nut welded into the end of that red lever. I started on the left side(passenger side), levering gently down will unlock, and gently up will lock). You may need to alternate between each side, undoing a little and then swapping. NOTE: I found the levers won't budge unless the soft or hard top 'pins' are physically sitting in the lock holes. Don't force the levers as they should move quite easily.

Now that you have both the front and back locks undone, the last part is to unlock the tonneau or rear deck (soft top roof compartment). To do this you need the 10mm spanner/wrench again. You will find two hex heads tucked down in between the roll bar and the side of the interior trim (about 6-8 inches from the door frames), fit the spanner onto the head and turn until the tonneau cover releases. You should now be able to fold the soft top down by first raising the rear section of the soft top until the back lip is pointing to the sky, then lift the front section along with the rear section down into the compartment. I guess getting it back out is a reverse of the procedure above. Hoepfully I've got it all right as I've done it from memory.

thanks to all those that helped me out when I didn't have the manual.

andrew

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keywords for search engine: sl500, 500sl, roof, top ragtop, softtop, hardtop, release mechanism, manual operation, verdeck, broken hydraulics, won't go down, won't go up, R129, raise, lower.

**ErikFinn** · 01-16-2006, 02:29 AM

Excellent post!
Thanks very much Andrew and welcome to the forum! [:)]

Bawbag · 01-29-2006, 04:43 AM

waybomb

If you could send me a pdf of the manual, i would really appreciate it

Rgds
bawbag

jgaisford@slb.com