R129- Soft top screen

[GreenVault]

I noticed this morning a very small tear in the rear screen of my SL's soft top. It seems that the screen has torn away from the stiches of the hood at the point where it folds when stowed. Funnily enough it is not visible when the roof is erect but I noticed the tear as the roof was folding.

Ultimately the screen will have to be replaced-irritating. But does anyone have any tips for slowing the rot? I was thinking some form of tape, preferably transparent, could provide support and stop the tear becoming worse.

Any tips would be much appreciated!

GV

[r129sl]

There is not much you can do although the cracks do not spread fast. You could polish with Meguiars PlasticX or something like that, to increase the suppleness of the plastic. Replacing the plastic windows costs between £350 and £600.

[Nuisance_Value]

£350 to £600 for the plastic screens? Is that main dealer as it sounds expensive? You can get them repaired cheaper than that (circa £150) though not with the original specification plastic (I forget the name of it now)

There is a massive thread somewhere (maybe on mbclub.co.uk?) where some dedicated person diligently investigated the whole plastic/soft top materials that replacement companies use versus Mercedes originals. It's worth a dig for.

[XB70]

Nuisance_Value said:

£350 to £600 for the plastic screens? Is that main dealer as it sounds expensive? You can get them repaired cheaper than that (circa £150) though not with the original specification plastic (I forget the name of it now)

There is a massive thread somewhere (maybe on mbclub.co.uk?) where some dedicated person diligently investigated the whole plastic/soft top materials that replacement companies use versus Mercedes originals. It's worth a dig for.

I know the one you are talking about - the fellow had a blue SL in his pic. I believe it was the forums based in the United States (but he was based in the UK).

Mine were done by the previous owner and it cost about £400 from memory - looked as new. Sold the car back in 07 so don't have the name of the place but I think he was referred there by Tony Purslow, Guildford

[r129sl]

I know the thread you mean. The poster is LeaUK. There are links to it on all of the major Merc forums (fora?). It is worth looking for. The long and short of it is:

(1) The original windows are made by Gurit and are Wo Pavin Flexi Glass, the big window is 1.5mm thick, the little windows are 1.25mm thick.

(2) It is impossible to source sheets of Gurit's Wo Pavin Flexi Glass in small sizes, even though it is made in Southampton.

(3) Only MB and KHM replacement hoods use Gurit's Wo Pavin Flexi Glass and are constructed to original equipment specification.

(4) Most replacement screens use Ultralite BUV which is 1mm thick. It is better suited to being folded but when compared with the original material is noisier, can flap at high speed and gives rise to false alarms caused by the wind. My car has this material (I couldn't run to a new hood section) and the wind-triggered alarms are such a problem that I don't lock the car.

(5) With replacement screens it is important to have the screen stitched in place, not glued or heat transferred.

[Nuisance_Value]

That's the stuff and a very useful summary.

[GreenVault]

Thanks- hopefully I will be able to delay the inevitable for a while with the polish that R129 recommends. It really is such a small split (and invisible from outside the car) that I hope it will be ok for another year. I had been planning on spending the sort of money discussed above on a wheel refurb that the car could really benefit from- not sure that I could sneak the budget for both past my financial controller.