The Folding Metal Roof Question

[cologne2792]

I've been looking at the E89 Z4 & the R172 SLK and it got me thinking about the reliability of the electrohydraulic roof.

Given that they're both reasonably complex and reasonably old, how are owners finding that they hold up?

Do they require ongoing, preventative maintenance or do they just eventually die, at considerable cost?

[littleredrooster]

Standard PH answer here - MX-5. No hydraulics, simple mechanicals and electrics, never go wrong. Doesn't take any boot space either.

There, I've tempted fate good an' proper just before we go to France in the damn thing

Do I recall that the Merc has 3 pumps and 23 cylinders?

[AndySheff]

08 SLK. Had it 6 years. No problems so far.

Also have a 97GT Mustang. Not a tin top but elo/hydraulic. No problems after 12 years.

[Plinth]

I have a 23-year-old SLK – no issues with the roof after 6 years with me.

• Open/close it regularly to keep it moving freely

• Every 6 months, open it halfway and spray silicone lubricant on the mechanism pivot points and latches and clean any crap out from the joints between the various panels

• Get the roof down as often as possible – it makes driving it so much nicer

[slk 32]

Slk 32 owned 9 years - no issues
Slk 55 (×2) 1 x 11 years - no issues
1 x 5 years - no issues

[cologne2792]

littleredrooster said:

Standard PH answer here - MX-5. No hydraulics, simple mechanicals and electrics, never go wrong. Doesn't take any boot space either.

There, I've tempted fate good an' proper just before we go to France in the damn thing

Do I recall that the Merc has 3 pumps and 23 cylinders?

That's actually a very good answer

I have considered the rag top option in the E85 Z4 and the Z3.

But in their case, and in that of the MX-5, I just rather like a metal roof and six cylinders - preferably in a straight line

Great respect for the MX-5 though.

Enjoy France - my friend says it's lovely in Échenevex at the moment.

[cologne2792]

Thank you everyone for your answers and experience.

Very helpful and rather reassuring.

Thanks all.

[Mr Squarekins]

I had a E89 for 5 years. No roof issues for me either.

[kevinon]

Plinth said:

I have a 23-year-old SLK – no issues with the roof after 6 years with me.

• Open/close it regularly to keep it moving freely

• Every 6 months, open it halfway and spray silicone lubricant on the mechanism pivot points and latches and clean any crap out from the joints between the various panels

• Get the roof down as often as possible – it makes driving it so much nicer

I'm in exactly the same position; a bit concerned that a 23 yo mechanism might be due a wobble any day. But I follow the same routine as Plinth, and have the roof down 80% of the time.

[Jader1973]

cologne2792 said:

Thank you everyone for your answers and experience.

Very helpful and rather reassuring.

Thanks all.

But on the other hand I regularly see them advertised with “roof not functioning” or “thousands spent on new roof hydraulics”.

So beware.

[B'stard Child]

Owned from 2011 to 2021 - R170 SLK230 Kompressor (lightly tickled and with 6 spd manual went well)



Roof never gave a moments trouble - CL/Alarm module and ABS/Traction control however did - make sure you keep the roof drains clear

Owned from 2021 to 2021 - R171 SLK200 Kompressor (Slow as fk despite 6 spd manual)



Roof never a problem - rear subframe not so much.......

Owned from 2022 - R171 SLK55 AMG (not slow)



Roof not given a moments trouble but ABS module has thrown a wobbly and is under investigation

All because I had a set of wheels I liked and it seemed a shame not to have a car to fit them too.............

[Dog Star]

Mrs DS and I have had…

R170 SLK 230 - 11 years old at change
R230 SL 500 - 10 years
R172 SLK 250CDI number 1 - 2 years
R172 SLK 250CDI number 2 - 2 years
R171 SLK200 - 18 years

R230 SL 350 gen3 - still got - 13 years old
R171 SLK350 still got - 17 years old

So those at time of changing the cars (or current age if still owned) have a combined age of 73 years of service.

Roof mechanisms have all been flawless.

I bet mine break tomorrow after posting this….

[RDMcG]

SL500 owned since new ( June 2003 to the present) and zero problems with the roof, which is a panoramic metal roof

[GeniusOfLove]

Just to be the one to piss on your chips...

It's reasonably common for R170 Mercedes SLKs to have weeping and ultimately burst seals on the 5 hydraulic rams, I've personally had one that ended up with a greasy headlining and low roof oil levels and seen plenty of images where the roof headlining has filled up with oil from a leaking latch cylinder. Ads with brown stains on the roof lining are common, and a former MB tech friend of mine tells me that R171 roof systems provided plenty of work even 5 years ago.

Ultimately of course the seals in any hydraulic system will perish and fail, it's just a matter of when. R170s are 20+ years old now and built to 90s Leyland-Benz standards so as the earliest relevant examples of the type you'd be more surprised if they weren't failing. I imagine in the UK climate by the time the roof hydraulics go the bodywork is so far gone nobody cares and they get binned, you'll see more unhappy roof stories on US forums where there are more still in circulation.

There are companies rebuilding cylinders specifically for cars, and of course hundreds of hydraulic shops all over the UK that would rebuild them for you once you remove them, so it's not something to be mega scared of if you're DIY capable above the two spanners level, but I'm quite sure a self annointed Mercedes specialist would want a couple of grand off you at least.

Edited by GeniusOfLove on Tuesday 18th April 14:48

[cologne2792]

GeniusOfLove said:

Just to be the one to piss on your chips...

It's reasonably common for R170 Mercedes SLKs to have weeping and ultimately burst seals on the 5 hydraulic rams, I've personally had one that ended up with a greasy headlining and low roof oil levels and seen plenty of images where the roof headlining has filled up with oil from a leaking latch cylinder. Ads with brown stains on the roof lining are common, and a former MB tech friend of mine tells me that R171 roof systems provided plenty of work even 5 years ago.

Ultimately of course the seals in any hydraulic system will perish and fail, it's just a matter of when. R170s are 20+ years old now and built to 90s Leyland-Benz standards so as the earliest relevant examples of the type you'd be more surprised if they weren't failing. I imagine in the UK climate by the time the roof hydraulics go the bodywork is so far gone nobody cares and they get binned, you'll see more unhappy roof stories on US forums where there are more still in circulation.

There are companies rebuilding cylinders specifically for cars, and of course hundreds of hydraulic shops all over the UK that would rebuild them for you once you remove them, so it's not something to be mega scared of if you're DIY capable above the two spanners level, but I'm quite sure a self annointed Mercedes specialist would want a couple of grand off you at least.

Edited by GeniusOfLove on Tuesday 18th April 14:48

Thanks for a very informative answer.

The Zed Shed owner says that he's starting to get a number of E89 Z4 with failed hydraulic pipes and that the OEM pipes are something like £900.
He does an upgraded, stainless flexi-pipe repair / conversion for around £1500.

I haven't seen anything similar for the R170 - R 172 yet, so either they're holding up rather better or unfortunate owners just send them back to Mercedes and spend ££££.

Saying that, all the SLK owners commenting here seem very astute and switched on.

[paradigital]

Not directly the same mechanism, but my F33 440i had roof mechanism failure due to rainwater ingress into the rear of the car. Flooded the rear BCM and the roof motor/pump.

I now periodically check for water ingress and clear the drains every month or so.

[B'stard Child]

cologne2792 said:

Saying that, all the SLK owners commenting here seem very astute and switched on.

When I went first looking for an SLK I was quite concerned about the roof after one car I went to see had a non operating roof - wasn’t advertised as that and seller assured me it was fine before I drove half way across the country to see it.

My 2nd SLK (sold to a neighbours daughter) funny enough I got an email yesterday saying roof wasn’t fully retracting - she hadn’t used the car for a few weeks - I asked her if it laboured to start and she said yes - told her to go give it a run 30 miles and the try again - it was fine again

Stuff needs to be used regular - if the storm above etc etc roof comes off

[Missy Charm]

Aren't a lot of retractable hardtops notorious for leaking in wet weather? I'm sure I've heard of examples that are somewhat less than weatherproof, e.g. VW converti-Golf-coupe-thing, although not sure whether that applies to 'premium' marque stuff.

[cologne2792]

B'stard Child said:

cologne2792 said:

Saying that, all the SLK owners commenting here seem very astute and switched on.

When I went first looking for an SLK I was quite concerned about the roof after one car I went to see had a non operating roof - wasn’t advertised as that and seller assured me it was fine before I drove half way across the country to see it.

My 2nd SLK (sold to a neighbours daughter) funny enough I got an email yesterday saying roof wasn’t fully retracting - she hadn’t used the car for a few weeks - I asked her if it laboured to start and she said yes - told her to go give it a run 30 miles and the try again - it was fine again

Stuff needs to be used regular - if the storm above etc etc roof comes off

Good advice, thank you.

I do the same with the part time 4wd on my truck. Always try and use it a few times a week to ensure that it continues to engage and disengage.

[rowley birkin]

The E89 roof is very small and light (aluminium) so hopefully less strain on the mechanism. Mine has the AUC warranty, which I will be extending for peace of mind.