Buying advice for 450SL

[Mark Herzig]

I'd like to hear some advice on what Soft top to buy to replace ours. I know a guy who will fit it for $200. As a new owner, are the tops relatively water proof? We'd like as high a quality one but yet a good value.

Has anyone had issues with the door not latching fully? I noticed that the prior owner had the "check strap" replaced on the driver door... any idea what that is?

Thanks!

[iozero]

As for the tops we find that ours is waterproof although if caught out in a real gully washer (where the rain is traveling sideways) you can get some water in where the soft top meets the back deck cover. Since our car is a 1980 with the original rubber this could probably be cured with new rubber. Have never had the top replaced so can't comment about the process. $200 seems pretty cheap compared to the ads that I have seen so I would get some references first.

When we got the car we had problems with the door latching
and had to replace the mechanism that holds the back of the door shut. There is a rubber piece in there that had gotten old and would not align the door properly. Had to use a hand held impact wrench to get the screws loose so watch out so that you don't damage the paint.

The check strap is the metal gizmo where the door is hinged to the front sidewall that holds the door open if you are parked on a hill. Ours is a little weak but, unless parking in San Francisco, works OK.

Happy motoring. SL's 4 ever!