NHTSA Service Bulletin 11031659: 2017-2021 Mercedes Benz Amg C43

Complaint Damaged cords/tensioning cables at the soft top interior trim with the following characteristics: - Cord/tensioning cable torn - Cord/tensioning cable worn - Cord/tensioning cable torn out - Cord/tensioning cable - sheathing damaged Cause High tensile stresses on the cords/tensioning cables during the soft top sequence Remedy 1.) Check which cord(s)/tensioning cable(s) is/are damaged: If damage is found on one of the cords/tensioning cables of the soft top interior trim, always replace the cords on the left and right as a pair. If damage is determined at one of the cords from among no. 3 (if present), no. 4 or no. 7 from the soft top interior trim, then preventively replace all cords/tensioning cables of no. 3 (if present), no. 4 and no. 7 on the left and right. This also applies to the new version of the soft top interior trim cords/tensioning cables for no. 4 and no. 7 (without cord/tensioning cable no. 3) on the left and right. 2.) Cut off the fastening rivets/eyelets: See Fig. 6 - Illustrates a riveted fastening of the eyelet. See also document AR77.33-P-2500LWR - Remove/install tensioning cables of the headliner. 3.) Press the clamping ring connection out of the receptacle in the soft top interior trim: See Fig. 7 - Illustrates the receptacle/clamping ring of the soft top interior trim. 4.) Cut/remove the clamping ring connection from the cord using side cutting pliers: See Fig. 8 - Separating the clamping ring connection using side cutting pliers. 5.) After removing the clamping ring connection and for routing the new cord/tensioning cable: Briefly heat the end of the new cord/tensioning cable with a lighter or similar tool. This will strengthen the fibers at the front somewhat and slightly round them off, which will then make it easier to pull them through the duct with a cutting wire. See Fig 9. - Slightly heating the end of the cord/tensioning cable with a lighter or similar tool 6.) Attach auxiliary cutting wire (0.3 mm or 0.8 mm) at the end of the new cord/tensioning cable: Perforate/attach cutting wire approx. 5 mm from the end of the cord/tensioning cable. Bend the cutting wire into shape and position the cord/tensioning cable. See Fig. 10 Auxiliary cutting wire. 7.) Pull the new cord/tensioning cable through the duct with the auxiliary cutting wire and, if necessary, with pliers: See Fig. 11 Auxiliary cutting wire/pliers. 8.) Attach the clamping ring at the cord/tensioning cable with pliers and leave the cord/tensioning cable protruding by approx. 3 mm 1. Crush the clamping ring to a thickness of 3.75 mm 0.25: See Fig. 12 - Receptacle for clamping ring connection/soft top interior trim. Note/recommendation: To facilitate the work, the pull-off device/workshop equipment W 221 589 04 33 can also be used to crush the clamping ring or the cable lug. See Fig. 12A Auxiliary tool/pull-off device. 9.) Press the clamping ring connection into the receptacle provided, and install the eyelet with the rivet in the intended position: See Fig. 13 - Receptacle for clamping ring connection/soft top interior trim. See Fig. 14 - Positioning the rivet with eyelet - example. Further information on optimizations: Due to optimization measures, all new soft top interior trim parts are manufactured without the cord/tensioning cable no. 3. In series production and in repair cases, the cord/tensioning cable no. 3 is no longer required. Therefore, in repair cases, it is only replaced if it is already present in the vehicle. All cords/tensioning cables currently used in series production and as replacement parts have a high resistance to abrasion. - Tape guide for the cords no. 3 (if present) and no. 7: Make sure that cords/tensioning cables 3 (if present) and 7 are routed behind the tape. As a reference dimension, the tape should be positioned approx. 10 mm from the guide eyelet. See attachment for further instructions.