A238 E Class Convertible Roof strings worn and snapped

[GAH03]

Hi all, I've just noticed that there is one string, either side that's worn white.
None snapped yet and all is working well, so I'm wondering... Is there anything I can wraparound the worn bit to replace the shielding that's worn?

 

[Connoisseur]

Hi all, I've just noticed that there is one string, either side that's worn white.
None snapped yet and all is working well, so I'm wondering... Is there anything I can wraparound the worn bit to replace the shielding that's worn?

Hi, that string hasn’t worn white, what you are seeing is the inner cable/core which has been pulled out of the surrounding sheath which means it has failed. Time to get it sorted. My A205 has just had the same failure so am off to visit a Dealer.

 

[GAH03]

Hi, that string hasn’t worn white, what you are seeing is the inner cable/core which has been pulled out of the surrounding sheath which means it has failed. Time to get it sorted. My A205 has just had the same failure so am off to visit a Dealer.

Costly then?!

 

[Petrol Pete]

I wonder if there is not a 'roof operated' counter buried deep in the software of the car somewhere that can only be accessed by STAR ?

It would certainly be a good tool for Mercedes Benz to use when assessing wear/warranty claims.

 

[Connoisseur]

Costly then?!

Looking at that Technical Bulletin any cost should be paid by Mercedes not the customer imho. I’ve found a guy in Coventry who is an expert on and specialises in just Cabrio roofs. Am going to get him to sort it for me properly and his charges are very competitive. If I was you leave the roof up and either try and get Mercedes to pay for it, find somewher local to you, or travel to Coventry… hth

 

[Leighc]

Tony paterson, i owe you a VERY large beer!!! A few roof straps had broken and frayed on my E Class, but the roof was still operational. Mercedes Aylesbury (part of Vertu) sold me the car originally, and quoted me £4.3k to replace the straps as it is outside of warranty. I emailed a complaint to the CEO's of Mercedes UK and Vertu (you can easily find their details online), including a copy of Tonys two documents on this thread, and explaining why i thought Vertu were at fault and should repair for free. i pretty much just quoted what Vertu's obligations were per the ombudsman ruling in Tony's case. Mercedes rejected the complaint, and i assumed Vertu would do the same and i'd have to go to the ombudsman.

I've just had a call from the dealership - they are going to cover 100% of the cost of the repair! Not sure what i would have done without Tony's documents, i doubt i'd have complained to this extent or gone to the ombudsman, probably just paid a couple of thousand for an independent garage to repair it.

So thanks Tony, you have save me a small fortune!

Hi, what did you say in the email complaint? I am going through the same thing myself with my e300 cabriolet and might have to go down the same avenue. Any help would be great!

 

[barlow21]

Mine snapped the other day thank you for the pdf

 

[BfgSLKMan]

As the maintainance giver (but not permitted driver ) of my wifes Cab I shall be book marking this thread!

FAO - Any moderator - get this stickied somewhere prominent in the bodywork/maintainance section of this forum please.

 

[Mace]

Great news the ombudsman has just upheld my claim and instructed Mercedes Benz to refund me the £700 I had to pay to fix the fault. See attached still a shame I had to go this route versus MB doing the right thing

That has happened to me think it's a cheek. So should I say I will take them to the ombudsman as I have had vmw never no problem had it 2 years and thus has happened. Its wrong spent lots if money fir them to say not covered but paint cover for years
Can you point me on the right path need help. They should he recalled for thus problem. And not use string to hold it up

 

[Mace]

Great news the ombudsman has just upheld my claim and instructed Mercedes Benz to refund me the £700 I had to pay to fix the fault. See attached still a shame I had to go this route versus MB doing the right thing

I need help

 

[Connoisseur]

So job done and roof now working perfectly at a fifth of the price a Dealer would charge, done by a professional with decades of experience. Happy to recommend Tony at Soft Tops Convertible Repair Specialists of Coventry. m 07721 589006

 

[DawnP]

Hi my 2018 E Class convertible roof would not open fully, when I have investigated it the strings (for a better word) have frayed and one side has snapped. I eventually got the roof to close properly and contacted my Mercedes branch to get them to take a look at it.

In the meantime i did some digging and found a technical bulletin issued by Daimler in 2019 stating cars produced between 2016 & 2019 may get this fault due to possible high tensile stress on the cords during the soft top sequence.

I passed all this info onto the Mercedes branch and they said they would pass this onto Mercedes as its out of warranty for a good will gesture. Got a reply yesterday from Mercedes who basically refused to do anything and the cost is £2000 to repair the dealer has been great but I'm not happy with Mercedes.

Anybody else had this issue? either way i would advise you check the strings regularly and if you see any signs to fraying get it booked in if its still under warranty.

Technical bulletin attached

Good evening, I am hoping for a bit of advice. I have read all the comments on here and don’t know what to do next.

My convertible roof wouldn’t fold in properly when I took the roof off. Took it to a Mercedes approved garage who said that some of the strings had come out. They did a temp fix with glue !!! And said it should hold and work. It did for a couple of weeks and has gone again. They have said I need a whole new liner wither clips and cables and am looking at about £3k. I have written to Merc but like a lot of you on this thread I have had no luck. Please advise what I do next. I am a female and without sounding weak and feeble in don’t want to be taken for a ride by garages. Thank you all in advance. Dawn

 

[Connoisseur]

Good evening, I am hoping for a bit of advice. I have read all the comments on here and don’t know what to do next.

My convertible roof wouldn’t fold in properly when I took the roof off. Took it to a Mercedes approved garage who said that some of the strings had come out. They did a temp fix with glue !!! And said it should hold and work. It did for a couple of weeks and has gone again. They have said I need a whole new liner wither clips and cables and am looking at about £3k. I have written to Merc but like a lot of you on this thread I have had no luck. Please advise what I do next. I am a female and without sounding weak and feeble in don’t want to be taken for a ride by garages. Thank you all in advance. Dawn

Dawn, you do not need a whole new liner etc. Questions:
1. How old is your car/what reg year?
2. When did you buy it?
3. Has it a full Mercedes service history?

 

[DawnP]

Dawn, you do not need a whole new liner etc. Questions:
1. How old is your car/what reg year?
2. When did you buy it?
3. Has it a full Mercedes service history?

2017
Purchased 2019
Yes has full service history

 

[Connoisseur]

2017
Purchased 2019
Yes has full service history

So visit your nearest Mercedes Main Dealer with a copy of this in your hand https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/attachments/mc-10164805-9999-pdf.125157/ and ask for their help to get the repair done as per the tech bulletin. They may quibble because you have already had a repair attempted (sounds like botch job by that garage ) but tell them you were never aware of the tech bulletin and fix. I suspect you will need to be assertive with them, but maybe not due to more owners finding the issue. If you bought from a Mercedes Dealer then even better as you can take it straight back to them.

Worst case you take it to Tony in Coventry who will fix it for you at a fair price (details in my post above)

hth

 

[DawnP]

So visit your nearest Mercedes Main Dealer with a copy of this in your hand https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/attachments/mc-10164805-9999-pdf.125157/ and ask for their help to get the repair done as per the tech bulletin. They may quibble because you have already had a repair attempted (sounds like botch job by that garage ) but tell them you were never aware of the tech bulletin and fix. I suspect you will need to be assertive with them, but maybe not due to more owners finding the issue. If you bought from a Mercedes Dealer then even better as you can take it straight back to them.

Worst case you take it to Tony in Coventry who will fix it for you at a fair price (details in my post above)

hth

Thank you so much ! I’ll let you know how I get on. Unfortunately I’m in London and gutted that Tony in Coventry is so far

 

[Mace]

Thank you so much ! I’ll let you know how I get on. Unfortunately I’m in London and gutted that Tony in Coventry is so far

I went to Coventry to Tony's today and had my Mercedes C220 roof strings done . I come from London and it was an easy drive to get there. Just want to say if anyone needs their roof done and you haven't got a warranty with mercedes we'll worth the trip as you save so much money getting Tony to do. He took me into the city centre to shop while he got on and done it. So impressed how he looks after his customers and he is so professional with his work. So don't waste time and money getting mercedes to do . Plus, mercedes don't take no responsibility for the fault which should be recalled for. Thankyou Tony happy customer.
So here's Tonys number
mobile 07721589006
workshop number 02476455477

 

[Stirlin]

I went to Coventry to Tony's today and had my Mercedes C220 roof strings done . I come from London and it was an easy drive to get there. Just want to say if anyone needs their roof done and you haven't got a warranty with mercedes we'll worth the trip as you save so much money getting Tony to do. He took me into the city centre to shop while he got on and done it. So impressed how he looks after his customers and he is so professional with his work. So don't waste time and money getting mercedes to do . Plus, mercedes don't take no responsibility for the fault which should be recalled for. Thankyou Tony happy customer.
So here's Tonys number
mobile 07721589006
workshop number 02476455477

Hiya... I have the same problem, I'm in Glasgow Scotland and I'm struggling to find somewhere to do.it, if you dont mind me asking, how much did the repair cost?

 

[Mace]

Hiya... I have the same problem, I'm in Glasgow Scotland and I'm struggling to find somewhere to do.it, if you dont mind me asking, how much did the repair cost?

Mine had just started fraying he charged me £400 he uses parachute string so very strong not like what mercedes use which is like shoe strings.well worth visit as mercedes gave me a quote for £4000. Can't believe they get a way with it. So unless you got warranty it's worth the trip. They try to say you have to have head liner to. Load of rubbish. Tony will do what you need and as it had just happened to me he done all that needed to be done so very happy

 

[Stirlin]

Mine had just started fraying he charged me £400 he uses parachute string so very strong not like what mercedes use which is like shoe strings.well worth visit as mercedes gave me a quote for £4000. Can't believe they get a way with it. So unless you got warranty it's worth the trip. They try to say you have to have head liner to. Load of rubbish. Tony will do what you need and as it had just happened to me he done all that needed to be done so very happy

Fantastic! ... thank you for the information I will definitely keep him in mind if I cant find anyone local.... appreciate your help, thanks again!