CLK 208 Roof Problem

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WarrenM

New Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2017
Messages
12
Location
Belfast
Car
CLK200K Sport
This is my first post. I have bought a 2003 CLK 320 recently.

The roof opens only with a helping hand at the start to get it past the first bend in the frame. When first opened at the the front catch it pops up about 10-15 cm and then the back bits sort themselves out. However, when the rear window section comes up it causes the front of the roof to drop forward again onto the windscreen frame. This has the effect of straightening the first bend in the roof and when the roof starts to fold backwards the first section needs to be pushed up to start it folding correctly.
I have found that if I just hold the front section up a small amount until after the main section is going backwards then it all works perfectly from that point.
I suspect that this could all sound like gobbledegook but anyone who has had the same issue will probably understand.

Closing all works perfectly.

This is hardly a serious problem but if there was an easy way to adjust it in some way to make it work as it should I would be really delighted. Any thoughts or advice?

Warren
 
Whilst having absolutely no knowledge of the problem, I'm pretty sure the standard piece of advice is to start by cleaning and re-lubricating all the moving components.

Of course I could be wrong, but it's somewhere to start.
 
The problem comes between 0.17 & 0.18 when the first bend in the frame needs to happen. Thanks for the video - great idea. Anyone able to help?
 
Altho not an expert on these roofs it sounds like you may have damaged or stretched tensioner cables- evidently quite common.
https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class-w208/664753-208-clk-roof-problem-yes-another.html
Replacement might be DIY but I would advise caution since these hoods/mechanisms are complex.
https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class-w208/606436-removing-installing-convertible-canvas-top.html

here is a french video which unfortunately is in French! and poor quality to boot but gives you something to look for.
https://youtu.be/ZUOUzL1QVDs
[YOUTUBE HD]ZUOUzL1QVDs[/YOUTUBE HD]

Of course it could be something else entirely and here's where a good coach trimmer has the experience to diagnose such problems. Cables are only available from MB afaik but should not be too expensive.
I'll put money on there being better guides on some of the USA forums if you care to spend some time looking ???
e.g.
CLK top cables fixed for $1 - Mercedes-Benz Forum

and

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/c20...08-clk-convertible-top-cable-replacement.html
 
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Thanks Graeme, that was very helpful. It seems to make sense and the more I have looked into it the more I am convinced that it is the tensioner cables that are the problem.

As a newbie to all this sort of thing is there somewhere I can find basic instructions on how to go about replacing them ( or might there be an adjustment on them?). From the French video it looks like the head cloth has been removed from the roof. Does this require cutting the elasticated attachments and then resewing them after?

Sorry if these questions seem awfully basic but I have had the luxury of new company cars for most of my working life. Now that I have to live in "the real world" I am learning loads of new stuff.

Many thanks
Warren
 
If you take time to trawl through the last two links you will see that a certain level of roof trim removal may be needed. I have never done this job myself so can't really comment. Soft trim material is a pretty specialist area for the skills of trained coach trimmers and setting the tension on the cables might be tricky. If the hood/hood interior has seen better days then its a do-able DIY- if its pristine I might hesitate. Why not find a local coach trimmer- your local MB dealer/ specialist will probably use/know one locallyfor such jobs and then price both tensioner cables [ do both even if only one is damaged] replacement. Then you will know the cost/risk benefit ratio before deciding . I have always regarded cabriolet hood trimming/fettling/ replacement as a bit of a black art.
 
It does sound like the roof tension cables, I did both of mine. They are £85 from Mercedes and the complete job took just over an hour, this included the time to take notes and pictures to create a DIY guide.

this is the guide but the pictures were deleted

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/i...208-soft-top-tension-cable-replacement.86053/

if you feel you need any of the pictures I do have most of them somewhere.
 
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Thank you for this. I just need to get some daylight time to have a good look now that I know what I am looking for. Initially I will be seeing if there is any adjustment left at the front attachment. I really appreciate your response.

Many thanks
Warren
 
there are no adjustments, its a fixed length.
 
markmifsud said:
there are no adjustments, its a fixed length.

Well, 45 mins this evening and I now have a perfect working roof. Such a lovely satisfying feeling. I removed the front handle and the front panel that surrounded it. Just removing 2 screws at each side of the head cloth gave access to the short silver tubes that shield the front few inches of the cable. It was great to find that the adjuster at the end of the cable was set to the longest position of the 3 available. By just loosening the nut that holds the cable end I was able to wiggle the cable end into the 3rd groove and tighten up. Hey presto, roof now opens perfectly.

Thanks to all who helped me find the solution and sort it.

Regards

Warren
Now onto another section for the next little issue I would like to fix!!
 
Well, 45 mins this evening and I now have a perfect working roof. Such a lovely satisfying feeling. I removed the front handle and the front panel that surrounded it. Just removing 2 screws at each side of the head cloth gave access to the short silver tubes that shield the front few inches of the cable. It was great to find that the adjuster at the end of the cable was set to the longest position of the 3 available. By just loosening the nut that holds the cable end I was able to wiggle the cable end into the 3rd groove and tighten up. Hey presto, roof now opens perfectly.

Thanks to all who helped me find the solution and sort it.

Regards

Warren
Now onto another section for the next little issue I would like to fix!!

RESULT!:thumb:
 
wow, I have changed both of mine and didnt notice the adjuster, I did wonder why that end was so large though. Guess as mine were snapped at the other end there was no need to investigate further.

well done, you saved yourself £170 and some grief.
 
markmifsud said:
wow, I have changed both of mine and didnt notice the adjuster, I did wonder why that end was so large though. Guess as mine were snapped at the other end there was no need to investigate further. well done, you saved yourself £170 and some grief.

Oh that sounds so good. There is a photo somewhere of the adjustment but I cannot remember where it was. I think it may have been in MBWorld forum.

Anyway, thanks for the encouragement.

Regards

Warren
 
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