SL/R129: Soft top replacement help
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Boston & Los Angeles
Volvo & Mercedes
Soft top replacement help
2001 SL500 / 30k miles / Java soft top
My soft top appears to need replacing (wearing, popped stitching, tiny holes) and I have a few questions: My dealer outsources the work and I was quoted $6,500 by them, which seems nuts.
Through this website, I have found a place that will supply the correct material. http://www.convertibletopguys.com/category/view/745
Their site says that a skilled person can do the job. Is this true? My favorite indie shop is certainly skilled with fixing cars- is a soft top something that a good mechanic could do?
I appreciate any help.
My soft top appears to need replacing (wearing, popped stitching, tiny holes) and I have a few questions: My dealer outsources the work and I was quoted $6,500 by them, which seems nuts.
Through this website, I have found a place that will supply the correct material. http://www.convertibletopguys.com/category/view/745
Their site says that a skilled person can do the job. Is this true? My favorite indie shop is certainly skilled with fixing cars- is a soft top something that a good mechanic could do?
I appreciate any help.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 410
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From: Northern VA
CL55, SL500, E350
Most of the cost would be for installation as it required at least a whole day for a very skilled person (with extra helper) to replace the top. I suggest checking with the shop first before ordering the material. If your front section isn't too bad, just replace the rear to save labor cost.
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Boston & Los Angeles
Volvo & Mercedes
Thank you, SLCL. Sadly, it seems that the entire top is in need of repair. The interior fabric is fine, though.
From what I could tell, the dealer was marking the material (front/back) up by about $1k each. I haven't ordered the material yet. I was mainly wondering if a special convertible shop was required, or if this could be done by a skilled mechanic?
From what I could tell, the dealer was marking the material (front/back) up by about $1k each. I haven't ordered the material yet. I was mainly wondering if a special convertible shop was required, or if this could be done by a skilled mechanic?
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Joined: May 2009
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1988 300E - Diamond Blue, 1997 SL320 - Black Opal
Similar problem on my 97, and tempted to do it myself. I do not believe that it is an easy or simple process as there is lots of fiddling around to do.
Check out the links / videos on Brian Clifton's website: http://www.brianclifton.com/mb/cars/r129/
I have heard quotes of 14 hours for removal and another 14 hours for installation.
I will likely try to get mine in to an independent shop to do the work or alternatively find out who the dealer uses and go there. If you're stuck for locations look in the yellow pages under auto upholstery or similar.
jb
Check out the links / videos on Brian Clifton's website: http://www.brianclifton.com/mb/cars/r129/
I have heard quotes of 14 hours for removal and another 14 hours for installation.
I will likely try to get mine in to an independent shop to do the work or alternatively find out who the dealer uses and go there. If you're stuck for locations look in the yellow pages under auto upholstery or similar.
jb
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Boston & Los Angeles
Volvo & Mercedes
Thanks, ArcticOne. 28 hours total? Yikes. I had no idea. Good idea to search the yellow pages. I have the information from the dealer about the upholstery place- maybe dealing with them directly without the dealership middleman will cut some of the cost down.
Great link, wonderful information. Nice color SL, too. Mine is black opal as well. I do not see too many of them around.
Great link, wonderful information. Nice color SL, too. Mine is black opal as well. I do not see too many of them around.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 282
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From: Bradenton, FL
'87 560SL Sold, '99 SL500 For Keeps
I had my top replaced several months ago, and you definitely need an Auto Top & Upholstery Shop. These tops are complex to install and do take a day to a day and a half to do.
I suggest you visit some local shops, meet with the owner, ASK FOR REFERENCES of 129 owners whose tops were replaced by this particular shop. Ask in advance what the shop policy is about you buying the top first and supplying it to the shop. Most will let you do it, but if the top wasn't manufactured correctly to fit properly, you're on your own back to the manufacturer or distributor. If the shop buys the top for you, then the shop is on the hook for fit/finish/warranty, etc. In other words, it may be false economy to buy a top off the internet, then hand it to an installer to fit for you. Good Luck-
Bob
I suggest you visit some local shops, meet with the owner, ASK FOR REFERENCES of 129 owners whose tops were replaced by this particular shop. Ask in advance what the shop policy is about you buying the top first and supplying it to the shop. Most will let you do it, but if the top wasn't manufactured correctly to fit properly, you're on your own back to the manufacturer or distributor. If the shop buys the top for you, then the shop is on the hook for fit/finish/warranty, etc. In other words, it may be false economy to buy a top off the internet, then hand it to an installer to fit for you. Good Luck-
Bob
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Massachusetts
2018 GLE350, 2014 G550, 2000 SL500, 1980 TR8, 1995 E320 Cabriolet
I did my top myself and it took a full weekend to do. I sourced the actual top from the website in this thread and the quality, fit and finish were very good. Be sure to get the proper German fabric top. It is interesting that they now offer a package with "an installation manual" - that was not available when I did mine. I spoke with the folks in R.I. and told them about the online installation videos. They asked my to send them to them if I would (because it was clear that the typical buyer would be in trouble) so I packaged the installation videos on a CD-ROM and sent them off. Interesting
I have owned countless convertibles and installed almost as many tops on them. I have all the proper adhesives, solvents, etc. The R129 top is not for the faint hearted or the mechanical neophyte. So Caveat Emptor on this one.
If you go with a shop, go with one who has experience in MB tops. Also, I would recommend that you let them source the top - just specify that you want the proper German Sonnenland fabric. The cut, trim, and sizing of the top are critical, so if there are any problems and you supplied the top, you will be paying big labor charges (plus any costs related to the actual top itself) to fix it.
Just my 2 cents as I prepare to possibly to do the top on my new e320 Cab as well.
- FD
I have owned countless convertibles and installed almost as many tops on them. I have all the proper adhesives, solvents, etc. The R129 top is not for the faint hearted or the mechanical neophyte. So Caveat Emptor on this one.
If you go with a shop, go with one who has experience in MB tops. Also, I would recommend that you let them source the top - just specify that you want the proper German Sonnenland fabric. The cut, trim, and sizing of the top are critical, so if there are any problems and you supplied the top, you will be paying big labor charges (plus any costs related to the actual top itself) to fix it.
Just my 2 cents as I prepare to possibly to do the top on my new e320 Cab as well.
- FD
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Boston & Los Angeles
Volvo & Mercedes
Thank you for the information, BJonesFL, and Floobydust. It sounds like my local indie shop is out based on what I've read. I certainly don't want to take any chances. I'll also leave the fabric purchasing up to the installer- but I will insist on the German Sonnenland fabric.
Floobydust:That's interesting about the videos. If the typical buyer would be in trouble, I think I'd need some sort of augmented reality headset to replace the top. By the way, I live in MA as well- do you have any shops that you recommend? Good luck on your E320 cab.
Floobydust:That's interesting about the videos. If the typical buyer would be in trouble, I think I'd need some sort of augmented reality headset to replace the top. By the way, I live in MA as well- do you have any shops that you recommend? Good luck on your E320 cab.
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Banned
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 60
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From: Fairfield County, CT
2001 SL500, '09 Murano, '04 Honda
$6,500 is crazy. I have a 2001 SL500 and the entire top had to be replaced as well. It turns out that the top is actually two pieces. Anyway, the dealership wanted $5k just for the parts so I went to one of the salesman and told him that I had an '01 SL500 and that it needed replacement but I couldn't afford to go to the dealership. After a few minutes of chatting, he gave up the name of the shop that they outsource all of their top work to. The place was right down the block. I stopped by and they ended up replacing my entire top for $1,600. I'm not kidding. I thought it was way too low so i got a quote from another place and they wanted $1,900 so of course i went with the place that the dealership uses. The new top looks awesome! I'm in Fairfield County, CT but i am sure there are plenty of places by you that will do the same work. If not, it's worth an overnight trip to CT to save $5k. It took the guy a day and a half to replace the entire top. If you want more info, shoot me an email (polin@optonline.net) or give me a ring.
Thread Starter
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From: Boston & Los Angeles
Volvo & Mercedes
Nilop: thank you for the information. I actually bought the car from Mercedes of Fairfield (an interesting experience to say the least), so I'm somewhat familiar with that county. Was the dealership quote you mentioned from them?
BTW: I sent you an email.
BTW: I sent you an email.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 60
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From: Fairfield County, CT
2001 SL500, '09 Murano, '04 Honda
I bought mine from Mercedes of Fairfield as well and let's just say that Used Car Salesman have a bad rap for a reason. I just emailed you back with the particulars for the guys i used, who were great. Their caled Fairfield Auto Upholstery on Commerce Drive in Fairfield. Right down the block from the Mercedes dealership but read me email for the scoop.
