rwestiv

What is the best way to take care of the top on a cabrio?

At night the top is up (and garaged), but I leave the top down during the day, and the top is starting to look pretty poor at the folds.

I'm in my car 2-3 times a day. Is it better to keep the top down and reduce the wear and tear on the top mechanism? Does keeping it down for 10-12 hours at a time (everyday during the summer) hurt the top fabric?

Is there something I can do to keep the fabric more pliable and in better contidion?

Thanks!

robcox

Mercedes make an excellent (but pricey) product for sealing the soft top. Its part number is A 001 986 31 71 10. You have to mask all around the soft top, as the spray is near impossible to remove from glass or bodywork.

Down here it costs AUD$40 for a 300cc spray can. There's a spray cleaner that you use beforehand to get rid of the dirt, and that has to be completely rinsed out of the fabric which takes a lot of water. Can't recall the part number, but your MB dealer will have it.

The whole treatment lasts a year, and looks really good... soft top looks very dark and almost glossy like silk.

Cheers,

Robert

Whodat

There is great information in the "Detailing and Auto care" section of this website. I couldn't find the old link I was reading about this but I did find these:
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/exter...-top-care.html

http://www.renovointernational.com/

Hope this helps!