Soft top rear window

[glcg123]

The original soft top on my 1965 230sl is in excellent shape. It still has the chrome strip at the back that goes from side to side. Unfortunately the rear plastic window has some brown discoloration near the bottom edge due to the fact the soft top was seldom used. The roadster top was used most of the time. I tried cleaning the plastic window with a special polish but could not remove the discoloration.

My local soft top shop says that he would have to remove the entire top to replace the rear window. He is reluctant to do this because he feels that some of the stitching on the top may let go causing more problems.

Have any of you just had the rear window replaced without removing the top? How did they do it?

George G
Winnipeg Canada

[J. Huber]

Hi George. I have similar problem -- and have heard same thing. To redo window is practically as expensive as replacing the entire top since it has to come off anyway.

James
63 230SL

[Douglas]

I also have an original soft top and my rear window was replaced successfully long before I purchased the car.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[J. Huber]

One other thought. Remember that chrome strip comes off -- be sure and hang on to it if you ever replace the top...Sounds obvious but you never know.

James
63 230SL

[J. Huber]

Looking back over this, I see both George and Douglas are dealing with the original top. Mine is not. I would suppose having an original excellent condition top is an asset. If ones original is close to perfect, it might be worth the effort to have a new window put in -- if it can be done correctly.

James
63 230SL

[Douglas]

I don't think having the original top is a big deal from the standpoint of materials. I don't think there's anything about it that you couldn't get today. It's just a nice thing to have because it shows an aspect of the car that was preserved. In the case of my current SL, it was probably a very nice top when they swapped out the window, but today it's just okay. It has the typical fraying in the corners, but no real damage and it has that nice snug factory fit. You can tell it's factory because it has the metal bars embedded above and below the rear window.

I guess what I'm saying is not to stress too much about swapping out the top for a new one. I don't think the originals are appreciably better than a good modern top using the original materials.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220