matthew121170

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

SDRider

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

SD-14E550CAB

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.

matthew121170

Thank you all very much! This is my first time with a convertible so still learning.

Thanks again!
Matthew

400ixl

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.

matthew121170

So with the Fabsil, I found it on Amazon for about $100 a liter for liquid fabric protector. Is that right or should I get and use the spray? Same stuff?

400ixl

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.

matthew121170

Grangers
GRANGERS FABSIL UV PROTECTION LIQUID FOR FABRIC (1 LITRE). Price: $95.18 + $5.53 shipping

dudley07726

Ridiculous price for the above item. Wolfsteins Raggtop. Recommended by Haartz, German manufacturer of all the canvas ragtops including MB, Bentley, BMW, Jaguar, etc.
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.

SDRider

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.

dudley07726

Southern California weather helps.

SDRider

I'd say the summer heat and the sun probably does more damage than rain.

dudley07726

Yes, it does.

pepmyster

I too am very new to owning a ragtop, great thread , learning alot , thanks!

abqhudson

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.

mrmotoguzzi00

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