[Two Benz Garage]

Mystery hydraulic fluid or could be nothing.... Anyway I drove home today after a drive and began my useual rutine of spot detailing my SL before putting her away when I found. The faintest spot of a clear odderless mystry fluid close to my visor. Was wondering if the spot I'm pointing to with my pen is a known leaking spot for the infamous leaking window-pillar leak? *Note I searched everywhere around the spot and couldn't find any more, just a small dap of something a bout the size of an eraser at the end of a pencil where my pen is pointing.

Second issue: My top according to the Mercedes Benz dealer I purchased my SL 500 from is or was a special order as it is "Ash" or silver just like the paint on the car. Everytime I fold the soft top into the storage area, when I pull it back out I've got a small grease stain (black in color) when I put the top back up. It wipes clean with a little fabric cleaner but re-appears when you open & close the soft top. There is only one spot and it is where my pen is pointing.

Thanks for any help in advance

-Ryan

 

[chriswufgator]

Love that top!!!

It's gorgeous. When my top is due for replacement soon, I will replace it with the silver colored one like yours...

 

[bobterry99]

Was wondering if the spot I'm pointing to with my pen is a known leaking spot for the infamous leaking window-pillar leak?

Ryan, in my experience the one time I saw fluid leaking from that are the problem was not a leaking hydraulic cylinder -- it was a leaking distribution block located in that general area. I suggest removing the cover over the top of the windshield and having a closer look.

 

[Two Benz Garage]

Love that top!!!

It's gorgeous. When my top is due for replacement soon, I will replace it with the silver colored one like yours...

Thanks for the advise, other question does hydraulic fluid seep through vinyl? Because I pointing in the exact spot where I had wiped the fluid from. I couldn't see any trail or holes where the fluid would have escaped from otherwise.

-Ryan

 

[Two Benz Garage]

Love that top!!!

It's gorgeous. When my top is due for replacement soon, I will replace it with the silver colored one like yours...

Thanks for the compliment, however in hindsight I would have rather had a black canvas top. The silver shows every little speck of dirt, grime and picks up small grease samples from the top storage compartment every time it folds back there. I will definitely be replacing it with a black one when this one goes bad. Unfortunately the silver looks gorgeous in on the silver paint, it's just a PITA to keep nice.

-Ryan

 

[lynns]

Ryan, in my experience the one time I saw fluid leaking from that area the problem was not a leaking hydraulic cylinder -- it was a leaking distribution block located in that general area. I suggest removing the cover over the top of the windshield and having a closer look.

Ryan, like Bob I would suggest that you first address the oil found at the front windshield area to make sure that you DON'T have a HC leak starting. If so, get the two front cylinders rebuilt and DIY along with a 1.25 Liter hydraulic fluid renew. The average life of the front cylinder seals is about 8-10 years or greater. So your car is right on the edge as mine is. That's why I have to rebuilt cylinders sitting in my garage, waiting to be installed. Please see http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r129-sl-class/1307426-r129-soft-top-hydraulic-system-ultimate.html from the 3rd Blue Sticky.

Because you have a lighter colored top than many you may have oil getting on your top, as Bob mentioned, from the distribution block on your rear passenger side. Regardless, it's my guess that if you take a look at the hydraulic fluid in the pump that is located under the spare tire you will be able to examine the color of the fluid. I've seen that because MB does not call out for a periodic hydraulic fluid renew, like every 3 years, that as the HC's degrade the fluid changes color from clear to a bear color to a dark ugly black/brown.

My I suggest that you consider buying a MB STAR Classic Service Manual on DVD for $88.00. Please see the 3rd Blue Sticky.

 

[Benoit]

Hello,

Last summer I changed the 2 cylinders on the top following instructions from the link in the aboved post => I can confirm that this operation is easy to manage.

It should take you something like 5-10 min to diag the the leak comes from there... then add 30 min to change the cylinders.
Or it might take you an hour or so to remove this [email protected][email protected] top cover.

If interested in details, do not hesitated to contact me.