SL/R129: Long term parking and roof hydraulic system
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 211
From: Bahrain
R129 SL55 AMG & W208 CLK55 AMG
Long term parking and roof hydraulic system
Hey guys, hope your'e all doing well and keeping fit.
I hardly drive my SL, it's usually parked for weeks and a time, and during the summer holiday when I travel overseas, it's parked for over a month and a half.
Would it be advisable to have someone operate the roof once a week just to make sure nothing seizes? Or is it totally okay to leave the soft top inoperable for months.
As you guys may be aware, we are the opposite here in the Middle East, our summer temperatures soar so high, we cannot drop the top.. so we usually put on the hard top until around October time.
Your opinions and thoughts please.
Cheers
I hardly drive my SL, it's usually parked for weeks and a time, and during the summer holiday when I travel overseas, it's parked for over a month and a half.
Would it be advisable to have someone operate the roof once a week just to make sure nothing seizes? Or is it totally okay to leave the soft top inoperable for months.
As you guys may be aware, we are the opposite here in the Middle East, our summer temperatures soar so high, we cannot drop the top.. so we usually put on the hard top until around October time.
Your opinions and thoughts please.
Cheers
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,982
Likes: 393
From: Atlanta, unfortunately
'09 S600, (2) R129 300SLs, '03 SL500, '03 SL55
I see no reason why not.
And though operating the top periodically may have some very minor long-term benefit; it may also be needless wear-and-tear. At best I think the likelihood of the benefit having a material impact is too small to even think about much less inconveniencing someone to operate the roof for you.
And though operating the top periodically may have some very minor long-term benefit; it may also be needless wear-and-tear. At best I think the likelihood of the benefit having a material impact is too small to even think about much less inconveniencing someone to operate the roof for you.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 598
Likes: 19
From: Eastern Kansas
94 SL 600, 98 993, 89 XJS Conv., 85 Daimlier Princess 16 Hybrid Lincoln 16 Chevy crewcab
My over and under on exercise of the soft top is; because of eisenglas flexibility never move the soft top in cold weather ( Less of a problem for Ahmed than in Kansas winter ). I feel the fabric of the top, if clean is not a factor in any climate. I never put the cloth top in the storage space when it is damp. from rain or washing. My "two top" vehicles (56 Tbird, 64 corvette, and 190Sl, 230sl, 129 Benz models ) are topless for nice weather conditions and parades or hard top on so cats, rats and car barn visitors can't add extra work to my car focused life style. Car coats are a must with the Kansas air movement systems ( dust from Oklahoma or Nebraska??) so exercising the vehicles yes on a regular basis, no to top movement, until the situation is right.
