[R129 SL] Noisy Top Release

[Jan Kuylaars]

Yes, it is noisy, but it is no problem. That's normal.
And normally you only take it of one time a year.
I put the hardtop on in October when the rain is coming to fall, and leave
it till spring next year.
When there are some sunny day's after each other I take it off.
Then I use the soft top for the rest of the year.
Don't forget that the top must be fasten enough to make speed at 250 km/our
without problems.
The only thing that I don't like is the wind noise between the rubber on the
windshield.
When I manually fasten the rams more, the noise is gone , but I don't think
it is the ram.
I believe it is the rubber and some day I will replace it.

I have a movie where a 500SL is driving more then 200 km/our and crash to
the midrail from the road.
It is slipping around it axes and after that it go's several times true the
air .
At the last swing the fast top comes off and fall down.
Of course the safety system pops up the roll bar, and I believe that's the
reason the hardtop came off.
You can see the driver and passenger is putting off the safety belts and
come out the car.
Unbelievable that everything was without wounded people.
The lesson is that you must use the safety belts, because if you are thrown
out of the car, the roll bar has no sense anymore.

jan

  -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
  Van: r129list-bounces at mbcoupes.com
[mailto:r129list-bounces at mbcoupes.com]Namens Peter Shelton
  Verzonden: dinsdag 15 mei 2007 5:48
  Aan: SL Mailing List
  Onderwerp: Re: [R129 SL] Noisy Top Release


  Hi Rudy,

  I have just had all the rams replaced and the roof is relatively noisy
when being opened!  There are two small rams in the cavity above the
windscreen (above the visors).  When the roof opens, the main rams are
tensioning the roof to 'pop up'.  When the little rams let go, there is a
bit of noise.  I usually have the roof down most of the time, and only put
it up a night time when I lock up for the night and I am travelling around
NZ.  I still drive in rain on the 'open roads' (free ways) as the rain goes
over the top (unless you slow below about 65 kph).

  Cold is no problem, wrap up well, put the heaters on and you hardly notice
the  outside temperature being in the negative!  Back to the question, yes
it is a bit noisy when the windscreen rams let go!

  Jan is this the same for you?

  Regards, Peter S, New Zealand.


    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Flodur2 at aol.com
    To: r129list at mbcoupes.com
    Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 3:39 PM
    Subject: [R129 SL] Noisy Top Release


    Hello,

    What are owner's observations when the hardtop is being removed; is it
really noisy? The first time I did the automatic top release on my recently
acquired SL500, I thought I had broken something as the latches unlocked the
top. There were loud thumps. Everything seemed to work fine and the top
unlocked properly and rose up uniformly but the "pops" were unnerving. Is
this normal? Is some lubrication required? What are owner's experiences? The
manual is quiet on this aspect.

    Thanks, Rudy
    2002 SL500





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