Hi everyone,

New here to the forum. I recently bought a used 2004 sl500 convertible. After pulling the button to bring down the hardtop, it completely gave out and was stuck midway. Since i bought it used, the car did not come with a owner's manual. Is there a manual override to release the hardtop? thanks.

 

You can manually operate the top, but if I recall correctly it isn't simple. The instructions are somewhere on the R230 Tech DVD that you can purchase directly from Mercedes USA for about $50. The DVD will include your owner's manual, electrical schematics, and repair procedures.

There are several fuses associated with operating the convertible top, and one or more may be blown. They are located in a module under the storage compartment behind the right-side seat. Open the compartment and unclip its floor for access. I just posted a picture in DonMan's thread of this fuse module.

 

Hopefully you have the canvas bag tool kit in the trunk, the toolkit contains the thin wrench with allen key built into the other end to do this job. The wrench comes in a reusable plastic bag with the instructions on how to do this printed on the outside. If the bag is missing here it is in the condensed version just as the electrics/hydraulics would do it.
Put the windows down, open the trunk and access the two plastic covers at the inside front of the trunk, they are on each side of the front wall of the trunk on the outside of the hinges. You will see the red painted areas on the linkage where the open end of the wrench goes, push down on the top back starting on the left side first and unlatch it, then go to the right side and do the same, it should be done in stages and you will here a click and see the back of the top start to come up so take your time.
When the back of the top is loose fold it up as far as it will go, if your roll bar will not go down it will still clear, but it is close.
Now you need to unlock your top storage cover, there is a bolt on each side of the car that is inbetween the top storage cover and the roll bar when is is retracted, it is about 6 inches aft of the front pivot on both sides of the car, look down in this area and move the roll bar padding and you will see it, use the open end side of this wrench again and pushing down on the cover on each side turn the bolt, it is only about a quarter turn, the cover will unlatch and open it all the way.
Now get in the car, put both sun visors out of the way toward the windows and you will expose a plastic cap on each side, pop the caps off on each side of the windshield header but be carefull, they have a lanyard that attaches them to the header so that they will not get lost. Now you can see the allen bolts inside, turn these about a quarter turn also to release the top from the header, you can reach outside and put a hand on the top to make it easier by removing the load, fold the top in the well and shut the cover, using your open end wrench again make sure the cover latches, you may have to play with it a little, if not fully latched down your top control switch will stay red, take your time and you can do it, it is that easy. Any questions, you can call me. Dave 305-310-3866

 

1970ls5 - Are you still around? lol

 

This is a very common problem with these cars. There are a number of hydraulic cylinders that make the hardtop and trunk open and close to put the top up and down. Usually they fail one at a time and have to be replaced. Usually it is about $700-$800 each time it happens.