SL 55 AMG R230 - Third brake light DIY gone wrong
Discussion
Hi forum,
I read a few posts on replacing the third brake light on my 2003 SL 55 AMG so I started the job and and I have already run into problems. Firstly, when taking off the boot lid lining I managed to break a good few plastic clips despite taking my time. I finally got it off and now I am wondering how to get the break light out. There is not much room inside there at all and it seems there are two nuts that I need to unscrew. I tried to get at them but could not manage it, what tool do I need? I tried with a spanner but it was too big:
Even more worryingly, the two flaps which are part of the roof (they stay inside the boot when the roof is up and they transform inside the car when the roof is down) have come down and I can not close the boot. I tried pushing them up but they are stiff and if I close the boot I am sure they will break. Presumably they were kept in place with the boot lining? I can't really remember now... Nightmare!
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
I read a few posts on replacing the third brake light on my 2003 SL 55 AMG so I started the job and and I have already run into problems. Firstly, when taking off the boot lid lining I managed to break a good few plastic clips despite taking my time. I finally got it off and now I am wondering how to get the break light out. There is not much room inside there at all and it seems there are two nuts that I need to unscrew. I tried to get at them but could not manage it, what tool do I need? I tried with a spanner but it was too big:
Even more worryingly, the two flaps which are part of the roof (they stay inside the boot when the roof is up and they transform inside the car when the roof is down) have come down and I can not close the boot. I tried pushing them up but they are stiff and if I close the boot I am sure they will break. Presumably they were kept in place with the boot lining? I can't really remember now... Nightmare!
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
I have also managed to disconnect a wire as now the number plate light (right side) is not working and I am getting a warning on the dash. Maybe I pulled something while I was routing around...
Does anyone know the exact location of the wires for the right sided number plate light, I found a loose wire but could not see where it goes. Access and visibility is really a problem!
Thanks
Does anyone know the exact location of the wires for the right sided number plate light, I found a loose wire but could not see where it goes. Access and visibility is really a problem!
Thanks
HI
I have no experience with SL or its folding roof mechanism but if you happy to use me as a second set of eyes then here goes.
Those flaps would not be held in place by boot liner if they are designed to work in unison with the retracting roof - could you try (carefully) opening and closing the roof mechanism and see if they are powered by that - and then whilst opening/closing the roof you could give them a gentle shove to move them back into place to allow the boot lid to close?
Those nuts securing the brake light should be accessible with a long flat handled spanner (preferably closed end so you do not strip them - test/size the spanner on a similar nut more easily accessible elsewhere on the car - possible the same as the tail light assembly, for example). I would only loosen as much as you need to allow the brake light unit to come away from the boot lid to allow to gain access to the bulb - but by the looks of it do NOT remove them completely as you would have the mother of all jobs getting them back on without microsurgeon's tools.
To reattach the liner you should be able to pick up a bag of those plastic clips from a MB parts supplier cheaply and easily. Those plastic rivet style clips are rarely reusable in my experience - get more than you think you need so you can use on the next DIY job!!
I have no experience with SL or its folding roof mechanism but if you happy to use me as a second set of eyes then here goes.
Those flaps would not be held in place by boot liner if they are designed to work in unison with the retracting roof - could you try (carefully) opening and closing the roof mechanism and see if they are powered by that - and then whilst opening/closing the roof you could give them a gentle shove to move them back into place to allow the boot lid to close?
Those nuts securing the brake light should be accessible with a long flat handled spanner (preferably closed end so you do not strip them - test/size the spanner on a similar nut more easily accessible elsewhere on the car - possible the same as the tail light assembly, for example). I would only loosen as much as you need to allow the brake light unit to come away from the boot lid to allow to gain access to the bulb - but by the looks of it do NOT remove them completely as you would have the mother of all jobs getting them back on without microsurgeon's tools.
To reattach the liner you should be able to pick up a bag of those plastic clips from a MB parts supplier cheaply and easily. Those plastic rivet style clips are rarely reusable in my experience - get more than you think you need so you can use on the next DIY job!!
You need to remove the side flap control gear so you can get access to the brake light bolts. That is the mechanism with the steel tubes going into it. Don't disconnect the electrics though. Once out of the way just undo the nuts and remove from the front. When removing push out the drivers side first and disconnect the cable to the brake light then remove it. The torque for the side flap mechanism is 8Nm.
I can send you better instructions but your profile does not accept emails so message me and I can send them as a reply.
As for the flaps this has a lot of pictures of how the flaps should look and goes some way to explain how they operate.
I can send you better instructions but your profile does not accept emails so message me and I can send them as a reply.
As for the flaps this has a lot of pictures of how the flaps should look and goes some way to explain how they operate.
OK. So i had another poke around and miraculously the number plate lights started working again. I could not identify where this wire should be plugged into. I put everything back together and tried putting the roof down, all working fine with no dash errors. Took it for a spin, then parked up and now I can not open the boot!!!
So it seems this wire operates the boot mechanism. Does anyone know where the wire to open the boot goes?
In the meantime I am able to open the boot with the key, but that will be a serious pain to continually have to use!
Cheers
So it seems this wire operates the boot mechanism. Does anyone know where the wire to open the boot goes?
In the meantime I am able to open the boot with the key, but that will be a serious pain to continually have to use!
Cheers
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