I just bought a base SL500- '05- in slightly better condition - planning on doing my own Fluid changes- Thanks for the vid, and thank you to the excellent comments below- 👍

Your front hydraulic cylinder is leaking for top. When oil gets to low it will stop working altogether. There are good videos on you tube to show you how to replace it or repair it which is what I did. I ordered the O-ring and it came in and I replaced it with a little instruction from KZread. Don’t worry about the ripple in your rubber there that will go away once the oil stops leaking, it happened to me. I thought I had to replace rubber but I didn’t. It went back to normal.

The wrinkle in the rubber above the side window is caused by hydraulic fluid leaking out of the convertible top cylinder

I needed to watch this to get a idea on the oil change and also to see under the car of where the hydraulic lines run at the transmission.

Thanks to Pile-o-Projets for the video!

Ill preface by saying I not an expert on all R230 engines. I am however a Chief Engineer who owns since new a sl55 amg. So couple of things, I believe you have 2 drain plugs. 13mm aft and perhaps a 15 mm plug a few inches forward of that aft plug but located on the port side under the driver. The pan configuration is horseshoe shaped. Look from the side while un your back. All the oil drains to the aft section where a scavenging pump takes a suction and sends oil to the forward end of the pan. Mercedes wants you to buy/use new drain plugs every change where their threads are treated with sealant and no crush washer is needed. I use copper seals from a hydraulic kit. You should be using a fleece 'Mann' filter. That was original equipment. Buy a small plumbers strap wrench off ebay. You'll never use anything else. Just try and keep the strap clean. Buy an ebay shop dipstick. You pull a blank centerline engine back by the firewall and insert the stick which reads 140 to 165 when full. You cant run w/dipstick in so check level and remove. Do not trust the oil transducer to give you and accurate reading. 7.9 quarts is low for me, mine takes 10 quarts so you may not br getting everything out (Two drains) Two separate pans by way of configuration. You can write me back tired now.

Yes, like the people here have said... you have a leak in the roof lock cylinder which is located basically above the rear view mirror in the roof portion. To have Mercedes fix it? $2500 maybe... I was able to fix it for $19 US ... check KZread... theres great videos on how to do it and what parts you'll need to rebuild the cylinder yourself. It took me MAYBE 3 hours... and afterwards you'll have to refill the reservoir in the trunk. The gasket that's wrinkled has to be replaced. I'm having a tough time finding the part number so if anyone has that... it would be much appreciated... thanks :-)

Where is oil level check?

Wavy rubber seal above passenger window is caused by a hydraulic oil leak. The hydraulic line going to the center lock cylinder for the retractable roof is located along the right edge of the roof. I had this problem in 2021 and had the hydraulics repaired, but did not change the seal (too expensive for a simple rubber seal!).

The rippling is possibly from a hydraulic leak from the top windshield locks you can rebuild the cylinder don't buy another one

it comes from oil leak on your top convertible top is leaking in your head liner

One of the hydraulic cylinders is leaking on the right side. Expensive fix

Should use 0 30

your wavy rubber is an oil leak from your roof lock cylinder