Wind stopper/ Wind deflector

[AdelaidePagoda]

Exploring the option of purchasing a wind stopper/ deflector/ screen in the hope of reducing wind/ noise in the summer months on longer high speed trips. Something like this one:

https://www.verdeck.de/en/2445/mercedes-w113-alu-wind-deflector

They all probably do the essentially same thing, some can match your leather colour, some fit easier etc.

Has anyone purchased one and did it achieve the objectives of wind/ noise reduction? If so, how much of an improvement was it? If not, why not? I am in Australia and shipping is almost the same price, so testing the waters before buying.

Thanks in advance,

Dave

[Garry]

Dave,


I have both a black one like your link and also a clear perspex one that i tend to use the most. Both are good. I would say the mesh one reduces the wind buffeting by around 80% and are excellent. The perspex one is probably not so good but still reduces he buffeting by 60%. 

[yves]

Hi Dave i have the mesh one which is very effective
Th e only problem is that i have now no excuse to drive alone .... my wife is always happy with no wind on her hair...!
Bonus: the color matches with the skaï

[rjmarco]

All the positive comments pushed my over the edge so I went ahead and ordered one from Eurotop website.  Thanks much.

[114015]

Well,

I remember very well the vivid discussions about "wind stoppers yes or not" - about 25 -30  years ago when they came up to become popular  for the W113 as well. Hardcore fans for and against ....

This invention done by two Daimler-Benz developers; the engineers Hans Götz and Karl-Heinz Baumann carried out their first tests on an R107 in 1986, but only because the other test vehicles of the R129 were already fully booked for other tests. Many little developments and fine steps were necessary until finally the wind deflector was usable for the public - as it is today.

When the R129 finally entered the market in 1989, its 'Windschott' (wind stopper) was already developed and patented ... and also a fully developed and well usable R107 Windschott (wind deflector) was already around ... see above... 

So, from there on it was only a very little step by Oris in Markgröningen (near Stuttgart), the manufacturer/supplier of the Windschotts, to adapt the already existing R107 stopper to the Pagoda - and there it was in 1992: A113 860 0074. Only available via the Factory (Daimler-Benz)...
 

Off note: the upper foldable part of the factory-supplied wind stopper is absolutely identical on the R129, R107 and W113 .... 

Since then..., well look around. Almost all modern cabriolets around have a windscreen/wind stopper today.

It is a huge and very positve experience with the wind deflector up - especially with quite "windy" cars like ours.

Longer highway or country road touring even at not-the-best-weather is no uncomfortable endeavour anymore.
I don't remember how often I did late afternoon trips with my freshly restored 230 - all during sunny hours - only to return home while sunset had then already passed. And then it really becomes chilly in the neck.

If you look around on a get-together with a couple of Pagodas - not explicitly car shows perhaps - but let's say 10 or more 113s..., how many have got a windstop today? I would say 8 among 10. That tells you all.

Honestly, although not more the youngest guy, I am still of good health (still) but I do not want to miss the windstop anymore.
You don't need to use it all the time throughout top-down driving but that "meshy" thing really extends the hours where you do not need to put up the top.


Best,
Achim
(strong 'Windschott'  supporter)

[rwmastel]

I remember an active member here years ago using the "napkin test" to determine effectiveness of his wind stopper.  That is, leaving a paper napkin in the console tray and seeing if it flies out.  Great success!  I will be buying one next year as I get the car back on the road.

[JamesL]

Love that Achim, thank you.

[Brennie]

I know before I ask but, these are not compatible with kinder seats in guessing?…

[WRe]

Hi,
I won't miss it either. I fully support Achim's view.
Afaik there are different techniques to fix it: hinged or clamped, see: https://www.sls-hh-shop.de/main/en/mercedes-230-280sl-w113-/77-79-softtop-hardtop/77-c-86-b-wind-protector.
Mine is clamped and tight so far not to usable in connection with a kinder seat.
...WRe

[ScouseJames]

Well,

I remember very well the vivid discussions about "wind stoppers yes or not" - about 25 -30  years ago when they came up to become popular  for the W113 as well. Hardcore fans for and against ....

This invention done by two Daimler-Benz developers; the engineers Hans Götz and Karl-Heinz Baumann carried out their first tests on an R107 in 1986, but only because the other test vehicles of the R129 were already fully booked for other tests. Many little developments and fine steps were necessary until finally the wind deflector was usable for the public - as it is today.

When the R129 finally entered the market in 1989, its 'Windschott' (wind stopper) was already developed and patented ... and also a fully developed and well usable R107 Windschott (wind deflector) was already around ... see above... 

So, from there on it was only a very little step by Oris in Markgröningen (near Stuttgart), the manufacturer/supplier of the Windschotts, to adapt the already existing R107 stopper to the Pagoda - and there it was in 1992: A113 860 0074. Only available via the Factory (Daimler-Benz)...
 

Off note: the upper foldable part of the factory-supplied wind stopper is absolutely identical on the R129, R107 and W113 .... 

Since then..., well look around. Almost all modern cabriolets around have a windscreen/wind stopper today.

It is a huge and very positve experience with the wind deflector up - especially with quite "windy" cars like ours.

Longer highway or country road touring even at not-the-best-weather is no uncomfortable endeavour anymore.
I don't remember how often I did late afternoon trips with my freshly restored 230 - all during sunny hours - only to return home while sunset had then already passed. And then it really becomes chilly in the neck.

If you look around on a get-together with a couple of Pagodas - not explicitly car shows perhaps - but let's say 10 or more 113s..., how many have got a windstop today? I would say 8 among 10. That tells you all.

Honestly, although not more the youngest guy, I am still of good health (still) but I do not want to miss the windstop anymore.
You don't need to use it all the time throughout top-down driving but that "meshy" thing really extends the hours where you do not need to put up the top.


Best,
Achim
(strong 'Windschott'  supporter)

Thank you for the history of the "windstop" Achim, and thank you for showing my 230SL which has an original MB windstop.

I managed for years not having one but now couldn't live without it (although I only really use it when travelling at speed)..

[Garry]

I have mine fitted with the Kinda seat in place.  I find the hatch takes a bit more to close and i removed the u hook attachment on that side of the windstop.  It all works fine now both for the perspex and the regular windstop.


Garry

[JamesL]

I know before I ask but, these are not compatible with kinder seats in guessing?…

I have the MB one, and a kinder seat. Fits but I use a couple of squares of microfibre cloth to help prevent any rubbing (mostly the the front, not rear, corners at the top of the seat back)

[Garry]

I removed the loop fitting at the Kinda seat end of the windstop. I should have also drilled out the rivets to stop the seat indentation.

[Brennie]

Thank you all…
I can see how it works now..
Question answered…