My new-to-me 350SL (bought Christmas eve - the best 'gift' I've ever had!) has a new middle section of the soft top replaced, making the older faded sections very obvious on either side.

Anything I can do to blacken or smarten up these areas until I get a new hood?

Ken Silver
1971 Euro 350SL 118,000 miles
Met. green, black int.
Ex-230E, ex-280E.

Ken,
Congratulations on your "new" car. Unfortunately I can't offer much except learning to live with it till it the top is replaced, putting the hardtop on, or trying something that might make it look worse. Due to the propensity for disaster when trying to color them. I'd advise you to just replace. Though I don't have as much experience with soft-tops as I do with the rest of these cars. If anyone else knows of something please chime in...

HOpe this helps...Lee

You might ask the guys over at Bud's Benz in Douglasville, GA. They restore MB's and might have some tips.

1-800-942-8444
www.budsbenz.com

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

An update to this post... after quite a bit of searching I found a spray a couple of days ago that has worked well: Dupli-Color Vinyl & Fabric Color, from a division of The Sherwin-Williams Company, Solon, OH.

I used a flat black, and masked off the areas as for spray painting. The paint dried almost instantly, and I used several coats to deepen the color.

Although the can made no mention of waterproofing, when I washed the car later the next day, there was no running or fading. Looks like it should be a good temporary fix until my soft top is ready.

Ken Silver http://www.kensilver.com
1971 Euro 350SL 118,000 miles
Met. green, black int.
Ex-230E, ex-280E.

My E320 Cabrio has a fine mist of white paint over the soft top (Courtesy of a paint shop repairing ubiquitous white japanese cars...)The top is in excellent condition so I am reluctant to replace it. Thought I might try this product to restore the "as new" look: http://www.renovointernational.com/sections/index.htm
Any thoughts on these type of products?

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Phil Slack
'94 E320 Cabrio