New soft top

[Lord Hemming]

I have removed the hardtop on my 88 560SL and have found a literally brand new soft top. The windows show the Mercedes emblem and the bars inside the roof shine like new. The canvas is tight and the room was hard to lock into place as the canvas has not been stretched into place.

I know the plastic windows are prone to scratching and I'm sure there's some good lessons on the forum you can share to keep the canvas, rubber and plastic windows in top condition when folded in the stowage compartment.

Any 'best practice' will be gratefully received as I would like to keep my original roof in tip top condition Also, anyway I should break in the top with getting it wet or avoiding rain?

[sgaar]

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r-c107-sl-slc-class/1226367-how-maintain-your-soft-top.html

[ScottinSoCal]

Originally Posted by Lord Hemming

Any 'best practice' will be gratefully received as I would like to keep my original roof in tip top condition

When I had the soft top replaced on my car I went to Babies R Us and bought the largest, softest baby blanket I could find. When I fold the top down, I tuck in in between the windows and then fold it under to protect the top from the bottom of the boot.

I sometimes get odd looks when I pull the top up and people see it's tucked in with a blanket that has teddy bears all over it, but I've never gotten a scratch on it. I occasionally toss it in the washer to make sure any dust gets washed out before it can scratch anything up.

[Pete Geither]

The soft top on my SL has definately seen better days, but it really is a non issue with me. The top usually stays down all summer, or up when I park it at work. I very seldom drive with it up, so it is just something to keep dirt, dust and the occasional lowlife out when it's parked.

[RickM]

I use a towel in the same way Scott uses a baby blanket.

I also believe there is a soft top protectant sold by Porsche. Many swear by it.

Here it is: http://www.properautocare.com/porteqcabtop.html

Then there's a slew of other items depending on what you're looking to clean or preserve: http://www.properautocare.com/besprodforcl.html

This company recommends "Raggtopp" protectant stating that it's recommended by Haartz and other top manufacturers.

Worth noting:

".... Both the Haartz Corporation and Rode & Schwalenberg Gmbh. (Germany) recommend only Wolfstein's Raggtopp Protectant for treating fabric convertible tops. Haartz and R & S supply 98% of the convertible top material used by the world's automakers. (There is a small supplier in Japan that supplies topping fabric to some of Japan's automakers.)

Over three years of product research and testing has gone into this product. Raggtopp Protectant micro-bonds to the convertible top material, renewing and extending the life of fabric tops. Water repellency renews after each treatment once the top is completely dry. Raggtopp Protectant contains no silicone, freon or CFC's. It is ozone friendly and meets California air quality standards. This is the only product for protecting fabric convertible tops that passed all of Haartz Corporation's extensive tests and is the only product endorsed by Haartz and R & S. (Porsche Tequipment Cabrio Top Protectant and 303 High Tech Fabric Guard did not pass all of Haartz Corporation's tests and are not approved by Haartz or R & S.)"

[karburn]

I too was the lucky beneficiary of a new soft top on the 560SL I bought. Most everything I've read advocates putting soft 100% cotton fabric on both sides of the windows when putting the top down. The detailing handbook on the Griot's Garage website has a chapter on soft top care. Good information, as is the article linked above.

[meltedpanda]

I did the ragg top system and swear by it, really works well