Soft Top Window

[Mike]

I took my car to the upholstery shop today to have my soft top replaced and experienced a problem that I wanted to share in hopes of saving others some time and money.  I took with me a nice German canvas top that I had purchased from Bud's a few years ago.  I had stored the top in the box that it originally came in.  When I unpacked it this morning at the shop I noticed that where the window was folded there was a small crack in the window, rendering the window essentially useless.  The shop said they would sew a new one in as part of the job.   Not sure yet how much extra this will cost but, whatever it is, it could have been avoided by simply not having stored the top folded up in a box as I did.

Michael L. Hund

[BHap]

When I had a new top installed a couple of years ago, the installer suggested rolling a bath towel up and putting it inside the fold of the window.  This keeps the window from scratching itself and also helps prevent the creases.  It also comes in handy if you don't get the top up fast enough in the rain....

Bob Happe
Pittsburgh, Pa
1970 280SL, white/black 4 speed

[J. Huber]

Thanks for the heads up. My experience was a little different. I had a new top put on (several years ago now). All was peachy for a while. Problem was somehow, not sure how, moisture got into the folded top. Same result as Mike's though. A discolored, hardened area formed, then cracked. I now have a Pagoda SL Group sticker covering the crack! Towel trick probably would have helped...

James
63 230SL

[France]

Hi Guys,

I unpacked and flattened my new soft top right away.  It awaits installation, hanging from a double-clip hanger in a dry closet with cedar chips to guard against any moth activity.

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder seat
Sarasota FL; Alsace France
The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today.