Plastic window protection

[elau]

I helped my next door neighbour to install his hard top on his BMW Z3 for the cold weather and I noticed that he used a soft clothe by Bimmer on his plastic window. Do anyone know of a place I can purchase a similar thing for the SL? I think it is a great idea to put a soft material between the plastic windows for protection. I will even use my hard top more if I have something like that to protect my window. Consider the price of the SL is about half as expansive as a Z3 (his is the M version), but the Bimmer comes with little thing like that while the SL owners suffer from foggy rear window.

[bwheitman]

When I store my soft top, (putting the hard top on) I usually put a lint free dark colored towel over the back plastic window. I then hit the button and the top goes down with the towel inside covering the window. This keeps the plastic window from getting scratched while riding around in there for long periods of time. (rubbing against itself) I also use the Plastic cleaner from MB to clean the window, never use soap on it, just rinse it with cool clear water. Don't "dust" it either, the dirt will scratch it lessening it's clearness. You will be amazed at how well the plastic cleaner works! It will make just about any hazy window like new!
Happy Benzing!
Brian

[Strife]

I would not use a terrycloth towel, at least not as "the final layer" of protection. Go to K-Mart and get a fairly nice, but cheap set of pillow sheets. The reason is, the previous owner of my car used a towel and hardly ever used the top. Over time, the strands of the terrycloth left an impression on the clear plastic. The linen of the pillow sheets is probably too fine to leave marks. So far, so good with me.

[cbdo]

At any local fabric shop, pick up two yards of any fairly heavy flannel-type material that's about the color of the top. When folding the top, lay the fabric in the well so there's maybe 5-6" coming over the front edge. As you fold the top, you'll lay the front fabric over the inside surface of the plastic window, and fold the back part of the fabric into the (outside surface) curve of the window to keep it from creasing. At either side, you'll pull the fabric between the side triangular windows and the frame as it comes down over them. As you finish tucking the top into the well, you'll check the sides and back to make sure the bottom edge of the top itself is tucked down and in, not pulled outward, to avoid having it crease the wrong way.
When you're done, your fabric protects both sides of the plastic windows, keeps the main one from creasing, and protects the bottom edges of your top itself. When you've just spent $900 for a new top and its installation, you'll feel really good about that!