softtop life expectancey

[mrfatboy]

What is the average softtop life expectancy?  Please include region info.

Mine is going on 11 years, San Diego, Faded a bit, clear glass.

[Cees Klumper]

I think garaged or not would have a big impact as well - mine is probably around 10-15 years and no different from when I bought the car now 7 years ago. But I attribute that to the fact that the car is almost always garaged.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[mrfatboy]

good point!  I garage my car but my softtop is barely out anymore.  I am pretty much just a convertable all year around.

I am surprised that after 30 views of this thread you are the only one that answered.

thanks cees

[J. Huber]

I wonder if the responders are hesitant because not that many have had their cars very long?/

Anyway, I have! My "new top" is now 13 years old -- and with the exception of the pesty chewed up corners from the top-case -- is still in very good shape. Santa Barbara(2), Los Gatos(2), and now Grass Valley(9). Garaged -- top down 75%.

James
63 230SL

[waltklatt]

Bought a 1968 280SL from the original owner, who never knew the hardtop could come off.  Not only that, the hardtop was never taken off the car, evidenced by the buildup of paint under the chrome strip along the bottom edge of the hardtop.  There were 3 repaints and the original paint was still shiny under the hardtop and inside the car.  
The softtop was the original one with a clear plastic, but it was all dry and dusty.  
Naturally I wanted to put it up, but it shrunk from lack of use in 21 years.  Latched the front and the rear was not able to close, so I left it out overnight for a good soak in the rain.  Then closed it in the morning, easily too.  But wanted to clean some of the dust of, and the scrubbing brush went right through the fabric.  
So the life depends on the care and treatment it gets.  
Walter
1967 220SL-diesel-new German Fabric top since Oct. 2005

[glcg123]

The top on my 1965 230SL is original with the rear chrome trim above the back window area. The former original owner, my neighbour seldom drove it with the top up and it was always stored with the hardtop on. When I purchased the car the top had not been up in 9 years. It was a little dusty but I was able to get it out of the boot, latch the trunk end first as per the manual, and then struggled for a couple of days to get the front latched. Once latched I left it latched for a few days to stretch. Now, I usually put the top up in the garage about 75% of the time. Doing this allows me to put the top up and down quite easily. For winter storage the hardtop goes on.

The back window was quite cloudy so I used some plastic polishing compound to clean it up. It came out crystal clear except for a couple of brown dicorations across the bottom of the window where it folded. I have talked to some experts and they say it is due to age and cannot be removed. The discoloration does not impact my visibility out the rear.

For washing I just used a damp cloth to get rid of the dust. I have been caught in the rain a couple times and the water beads off.
I am sure that if I did not store the car indoors the top would deteriorate quite quickly.

George

1965 230SL - 4 speed.

[Douglas]

I think it's fair to say that a nice soft top made from original materials can last many years with proper care, even decades.

I also had a 280 SL with an original soft top and it was also from a Pagoda that was driven with the hardtop on for most of its life. The factory top has a wonderful fit. In fact, the sides on mine wouldn't even curl up.

I think the next question is the proper care & feeding of a top to get the most years of use from it.

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

[Kemal]

James is correct , I would love to have an input , however I've only had mine for less then a year .

Kemal
280 SL manual 69

[TR]

quote:Originally posted by mrfatboy

What is the average softtop life expectancy?  Please include region info.

Mine is going on 11 years, San Diego, Faded a bit, clear glass.

My car's original soft top was replaced about 7 years ago, and only because a mechanic had accidently put a hole in it.

It was in very good condition at approx. 30 years (replaced in 2000 - produced in 1970).  The rear window has a bit scratchy, but could have been polished out.

And Douglas is correct; there was no curl up issue with the corners of that original soft top.

Tom in Boise
'71 280SL 4-spd, signal red w/lt. tan interior, restored/enhanced

[Cees Klumper]

As for care, I use Wolfstein's Raggtop cleaner and protectant once a year and that seems to work well. The protectant makes water bead off nicely.

Now my daily driver is not garaged: it's a Volvo C70 convertible. When I bought it (used), the dark blue top was actually somewhat green with algea, from having been parked at the first owner's house, outside under trees for a few years. A couple of cleanings with a moderate-pressure spray gun at the local car wash really cleaned it up.

As for the plastic rear window on our Pagoda tops, Meguiar's (and I am sure other manufacturers) market products that clean these right back to (almost) new condition.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[nick350]

Douglas,

sort of continuing from another topic, are you saying that the 'original' material be supplied by Mercedes and not SLS for example. I still haven't got to the bottom of this neater, if a little short top or the one that I have, which is a bit longer and covers the rubber top box seal with this flange that curls up.It does look neater in a way. Do 'we' know which is the original type?
Also, I looked at the price in the UK for a top from Mercedes and they are double the price from SLS (about $1600 ). With the dollar rate being as it is, do you think I should look at buying a Merc one from the States?

quote:Originally posted by Douglas

I think it's fair to say that a nice soft top made from original materials can last many years with proper care, even decades.

I also had a 280 SL with an original soft top and it was also from a Pagoda that was driven with the hardtop on for most of its life. The factory top has a wonderful fit. In fact, the sides on mine wouldn't even curl up.

I think the next question is the proper care & feeding of a top to get the most years of use from it.

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

Nick350
r107 SL red
w113 SL white

[J. Huber]

Hi Nick. Look into the cost of having a GAHH German Canvas 113 top shipped your way. Pound for pound -- it may be the one you are looking for.

James
63 230SL

[nick350]

..an update.
James, I have spoken to Norma at GAHH and she has given me a great price ($700 plus about $40 shipping to the UK) which is great £/$ so thanks a lot for the tip.

Also, Iooking at the enlarge picture on the web site, this shows the top with the shorter back which does look much neater and wont curl up.

Finally, and I'm boring myself, do we all agree that the GAHH top is a good one?



Nick350
r107 SL red
w113 SL white

[Douglas]

You can't go wrong with a GAHH top. It fits excellently & uses original materials. You'll be delighted, Nick.

Douglas Kim
New York
USA