SLK R171 Comfort Close Roof - Any Advice Please?

[robhillphoto]

Hi - I've recently bought a 2005 SLK AMG 55 which has the comfort close option - where you can hold the key fob by the door handle and open / close the roof.

However, despite changing the batteries for completely fresh ones, I cannot get it to work at a distance of more than 1" from the door handle - I know the system is reputed to not be great - but that seems wrong.

I've tried both key fobs with fresh batteries and both the driver and passenger doors - with the same results.

When I ask MB dealers, the sales people who remember this age of car give differing answers - some say 1-2", some 6-12", some up to 3 feet - the owners manual doesnt give any guidance.

I was wondering is anyone had a 2005 vehicle with this option, who could tell me what distance they are able to achieve?

Many thanks in advance for anyone who's able to help

 

[GP801]

Its a useless option in my opinion. Our works at most 3 inches from the door handle. I think yours is pretty much par for the course.

 

[renault12ts]

Why does it matter of you're 1" or 3 feet away...it works?

 

[MOCAŠ]

I've got it on my late 2004 SLK, and it's very frustrating to use. It's not so much that you have to be very close to the driver's door handle that's the issue, it's the fact that you have to hold the key very steadily and pointing it the right direction throughout the 25-second operation. Move it even slightly (the infrared field is very narrow), and the whole process stops in its tracks and an alarm goes off. This can happen 2 or 3 times within one operation - it's like a static version of playing one of those fairground games where you have to move a ring along a wire without touching the wire!

If you want proper remote operation, a module called SmartTop is available and works with one touch using RF rather than IR.

 

[robhillphoto]

GP801 and Mocas - Thank you for your replies - you're both confirming what I thought which is 'it is what it is'. It's with the dealer that sold it to me today and they have found a fault with the sensor in the door handle, but I'm not convinced that replacing that will make much difference based upon what you have said

 

[Lambrettalad]

If they do indeed change it ,ask them for the old one

 

[thefast1]

Robhillphoto:
I have an eqvilant module to the smarTop made by Cabrio.de spare if you want to make me a sensible offer for it, very easy to install 30 mins, I have never used it as I have a SmarTop fitted to my car, they are very cool to see in action, it's been sitting on my garage shelf for over a year, let me know your email address if you are interested.

 

[jotter22]

I was going to say try it in a darker environment but if you have a faulty sensor it will not make any difference! My one on my clk works from 10-15' in a dark multi story car park.

Tony.