New to Convertibles
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Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 175
Likes: 5
From: Virginia
2012 E350 - Cabrio; 2017 GLS 450
New to Convertibles
Good morning everyone -
So I'm new to this convertible thing (aka mid-life crisis car) lol. I have some questions regarding care and use. I apologize if these have already been answered, I've done some searches and don't see my answers.
1. How do you clean and maintain it? I used a lint roller to roll off some lint. Learned the hard way not to "dry it" with a towel. What products?
2. Is there really a speed limit on driving with the top down? I read, I think in the manual, that you aren't supposed to drive with the top down over 60 mph? I'm planning a road trip down to Fla and want to it mostly top down if I can.
3. What's the deal with top down windows up? That looks like it would create a lot of "stress" on the windows from wind vibration.
Thank you all in advance for the help!
Matthew
So I'm new to this convertible thing (aka mid-life crisis car) lol. I have some questions regarding care and use. I apologize if these have already been answered, I've done some searches and don't see my answers.
1. How do you clean and maintain it? I used a lint roller to roll off some lint. Learned the hard way not to "dry it" with a towel. What products?
2. Is there really a speed limit on driving with the top down? I read, I think in the manual, that you aren't supposed to drive with the top down over 60 mph? I'm planning a road trip down to Fla and want to it mostly top down if I can.
3. What's the deal with top down windows up? That looks like it would create a lot of "stress" on the windows from wind vibration.
Thank you all in advance for the help!
Matthew
Super Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 591
Likes: 78
2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 Cabriolet, 2014 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S
So I'm new to this convertible thing (aka mid-life crisis car) lol. I have some questions regarding care and use. I apologize if these have already been answered, I've done some searches and don't see my answers.
1. How do you clean and maintain it? I used a lint roller to roll off some lint. Learned the hard way not to "dry it" with a towel. What products?
Just wash it as you would the rest of the car. No special treatment is required. Dry it with a chamois to avoid the lint problem.
2. Is there really a speed limit on driving with the top down? I read, I think in the manual, that you aren't supposed to drive with the top down over 60 mph? I'm planning a road trip down to Fla and want to it mostly top down if I can.
That is utter nonsense. You sure it didn't read 160? I would not attempt to lower or raise the top while the car is moving but once it is stowed your speed is only limited to how much you want to risk your license. Edit-I think Mercedes says you can lower the top with the car moving at speeds up to 25mph, maybe that is what you are reading?
3. What's the deal with top down windows up? That looks like it would create a lot of "stress" on the windows from wind vibration.
No more so than with the top up. I've never had a problem driving a convertible with the top down and windows up and I lived with one as my daily driver for 6 years.
Thank you all in advance for the help!
Matthew
1. How do you clean and maintain it? I used a lint roller to roll off some lint. Learned the hard way not to "dry it" with a towel. What products?
Just wash it as you would the rest of the car. No special treatment is required. Dry it with a chamois to avoid the lint problem.
2. Is there really a speed limit on driving with the top down? I read, I think in the manual, that you aren't supposed to drive with the top down over 60 mph? I'm planning a road trip down to Fla and want to it mostly top down if I can.
That is utter nonsense. You sure it didn't read 160? I would not attempt to lower or raise the top while the car is moving but once it is stowed your speed is only limited to how much you want to risk your license. Edit-I think Mercedes says you can lower the top with the car moving at speeds up to 25mph, maybe that is what you are reading?
3. What's the deal with top down windows up? That looks like it would create a lot of "stress" on the windows from wind vibration.
No more so than with the top up. I've never had a problem driving a convertible with the top down and windows up and I lived with one as my daily driver for 6 years.
Thank you all in advance for the help!
Matthew
Last edited by SDRider; Feb 2, 2017 at 09:24 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
2014 E550 Cab
6th convertible in a row here, so I've had some experience.
1) Canvas tops have come a long way in terms of durability and OEM treatments. My advice is to NOT put on any special treatments. Just keep it clean to avoid any staining from berries, bird crap etc. That includes free of soaked in soap from washing it. Products also tend to degrade the weather stripping/insulation on the sides of most modern canvas tops.
2) No, like SDRider says above, that is utter nonsense. On the 2014+ you can put the top up and down up to 25 mph. This is a practice I don't recommend overdoing. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it regularly.
3) The 207 cabrio does wind-management better than any convertible I've owned or been in. People put the windows up for wind management; warmth, road noise, and arguably style, although some convertibles look better that way than others. I happen to like the look of the e-class with the windows up/top down. But from a practical perspective, the windows up greatly improves the efficacy of the AIRCAP system that you probably have noticed on your car with the rising deflector in the rear and the mechanically extended spoiler above the front window. Convertible wind buffeting is strongest from the rear as the air goes above the front window and then down and back filling the vacuum that your car makes as it displaces air. Side buffeting is much less and is largely mitigated and directed by the shape and position of your side-view mirrors.
1) Canvas tops have come a long way in terms of durability and OEM treatments. My advice is to NOT put on any special treatments. Just keep it clean to avoid any staining from berries, bird crap etc. That includes free of soaked in soap from washing it. Products also tend to degrade the weather stripping/insulation on the sides of most modern canvas tops.
2) No, like SDRider says above, that is utter nonsense. On the 2014+ you can put the top up and down up to 25 mph. This is a practice I don't recommend overdoing. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it regularly.
3) The 207 cabrio does wind-management better than any convertible I've owned or been in. People put the windows up for wind management; warmth, road noise, and arguably style, although some convertibles look better that way than others. I happen to like the look of the e-class with the windows up/top down. But from a practical perspective, the windows up greatly improves the efficacy of the AIRCAP system that you probably have noticed on your car with the rising deflector in the rear and the mechanically extended spoiler above the front window. Convertible wind buffeting is strongest from the rear as the air goes above the front window and then down and back filling the vacuum that your car makes as it displaces air. Side buffeting is much less and is largely mitigated and directed by the shape and position of your side-view mirrors.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 468
Likes: 68
From: UK
E250 AMG Sport Convertible
Having had a few convertibles and living in a country that has a fair bit of cold and wet weather, there is a need to clean and protect the roof, even on a modern car.
If you want to do it on a budget then:
Johnsons Baby Shampoo (the one in the blue bottle) is a good mild cleaning agent for cleaning the roof when needed.
If you get any green algae showing then some very diluted Milton's baby bottle cleaner will remove it.
Protection, something like Fabsil can be used to keep the water protection going.
I tend to do this treatment twice a year in the early spring and late autumn. I haven't needed to use any of the dye's for colouring the roof (likes of Renovo) in doing this routine.
Mercedes themselves recommend the roof is treated and and have their own very expensive products to do it with.
As for having the roof down, just put it down and enjoy. There isn't any issue with speed of pressure on windows to worry about.
If you want to do it on a budget then:
Johnsons Baby Shampoo (the one in the blue bottle) is a good mild cleaning agent for cleaning the roof when needed.
If you get any green algae showing then some very diluted Milton's baby bottle cleaner will remove it.
Protection, something like Fabsil can be used to keep the water protection going.
I tend to do this treatment twice a year in the early spring and late autumn. I haven't needed to use any of the dye's for colouring the roof (likes of Renovo) in doing this routine.
Mercedes themselves recommend the roof is treated and and have their own very expensive products to do it with.
As for having the roof down, just put it down and enjoy. There isn't any issue with speed of pressure on windows to worry about.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 468
Likes: 68
From: UK
E250 AMG Sport Convertible
How much!! Its about $15 a litre in the UK.
I'm guessing then it is imported for the US. There will be an equivalent over there. You want a proofer without any dye in it.
I'm guessing then it is imported for the US. There will be an equivalent over there. You want a proofer without any dye in it.
Last edited by 400ixl; Feb 5, 2017 at 02:08 PM.
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Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 679
Likes: 69
From: SWFL
2023 BMW M340i, 2025 MB CLE53 AMG
http://www.haartz.com/cleaning-guide/cloth-top-cleaning
Can purchase the whole kit including the brush for $50 on line at any place like Autogeek.
http://www.autogeek.net/raggtopp-pre...abric-kit.html
That's what I use.
Last edited by dudley07726; Feb 5, 2017 at 04:02 PM.
Super Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 591
Likes: 78
2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 Cabriolet, 2014 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S
I never did anything at all to the top on my convertible when I owned it other than wash it with the rest of the car. I had 120,000 miles on it when I traded it in and it was ten years old at that point and this was owned and driven daily in Southern California. Top still looked great when I finally got rid of the car.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 679
Likes: 69
From: SWFL
2023 BMW M340i, 2025 MB CLE53 AMG
I never did anything at all to the top on my convertible when I owned it other than wash it with the rest of the car. I had 120,000 miles on it when I traded it in and it was ten years old at that point and this was owned and driven daily in Southern California. Top still looked great when I finally got rid of the car.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 488
Likes: 37
From: Albuquerque, NM
2014 e350
For my convertibles - 303 Fabric Guard, 303 Tonneau and Convertible top cleaner and a lint roller seem to do the trick
I don't see a need to raise the top or lower the top with the car moving I don't.
I bought a convertible because I like the feel of the wind and the view of the beautiful skies of the western US on a nice day. No top down - windows up for me. When the sun gets too hot, Top up - windows down work for us.
Enjoy.
I don't see a need to raise the top or lower the top with the car moving I don't.
I bought a convertible because I like the feel of the wind and the view of the beautiful skies of the western US on a nice day. No top down - windows up for me. When the sun gets too hot, Top up - windows down work for us.
Enjoy.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 204
From: Sarasota, Florida
2023 E450 Cabriolet, 2019 F150 Platinum, 2014 Dodge Challenger R/T
Yup the lint roller works good 
I get bird feathers on it occasionally ? lol
In my neighborhood it's a good half mile at 10mph till you hit a real street so I put the top up and down all the time moving...
On the way home I put it up before I hit my driveway and on the way out it goes down after i get out of the garage...
The chamois is a good call.... after I clean the car with a mild soap/wax and the top too, it gets soaked real heavy then wiped down with a chamois, i try to leave it outside for a bit to let the sun dry the top... but of course what da ya do when i pull in when it's raining ?
ok, I might be **** and wipe it down in the garage
oh and the front air foil works slick, top down, windows up, and rear parts up... I may have been cruising at 90ish with my fedora on a few times.... no worries....
Mike
I get bird feathers on it occasionally ? lolIn my neighborhood it's a good half mile at 10mph till you hit a real street so I put the top up and down all the time moving...
On the way home I put it up before I hit my driveway and on the way out it goes down after i get out of the garage...
The chamois is a good call.... after I clean the car with a mild soap/wax and the top too, it gets soaked real heavy then wiped down with a chamois, i try to leave it outside for a bit to let the sun dry the top... but of course what da ya do when i pull in when it's raining ?
ok, I might be **** and wipe it down in the garage
oh and the front air foil works slick, top down, windows up, and rear parts up... I may have been cruising at 90ish with my fedora on a few times.... no worries....
Mike
