560SL soft top - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

anc4 · #16 03-18-2006, 08:11 PM

pierre560sl
did you get the top and install it? were/are you happy w/ the quality of the top? i need to do mine so i'd could use your advice. thanx

Pierre560sl · #17 03-31-2006, 11:56 PM

Ok,
I just finished the job today and I am very very happy with the result.
The top is thight and looks great.
Removal, cleaning and installation took me about 15 hours.
I could probably do another one in 6-7 hours now...
You have to take your time, set no goals exept to do it right and go.
It is not difficult, it's just that you don't realy know what you are doing when it's the first time. It is glued with contact ciment, it does not allows any adjustment after contact is made.
I have a lots of pictures of the process if anyone needs.
Also the instruction provided by world upholstery is a great help.
Got the top from cabrioworld, service is great, deliverd to my door in few days,
Good quality top, well adjusted...I'm happy!

Pierre560sl · #18 04-01-2006, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roncallo

One other thing I might add. Add this is a reason to DIY. My top was replaced before I bought the car with a cheap aftermarket. The top fram has pitted rust on it, not real bad but if I were replacing the top, I would have removed the fram and had it either painted or powder coated.

John Roncallo

That is right Ron, I have done some cleaning of parts that no technician would have done on a customers car becaus it's jut time cunsuming-expensive.
Pierre,

Pierre560sl · #19 04-01-2006, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maheath

I bought a top from Cabrio World for just under $400. It looks EXACTLY like my original top, except that there wasn't a star embossed in the plastic window. I installed it myself, but not in one day. I took a casual two weeks to do it, probably about 20 hours total. Most of that time was prepping the frame. Actually glueing the new top on was maybe a couple of hours.

I did have to replace the elastic straps. I took a piece of the old elastic to a fabric store and found a nearly identical replacement. I also sprayed a ton of adhesive remover on the frame and razor bladed the old adhesive off. That's what took most of the time. My old adhesive didn't come off very easily.

I used a laquer thiner composed of toluene and acetone and appliyed it with a brush on the old glue residus, wiped it out with a rag, worked very well.
I took 1 hour to bring all parts of the frame to bright clean metal.

Pierre560sl · #20 04-01-2006, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericdee

I used to watch my Dad put on tops on our 450SL when I was a kid, took him all day and a lot of profanity

. He just never seemed very happy with the job after words. I'm pretty handy, but after seeing what he went through, I wouldn't do it.

As for tops I would go with an OEM one, I paid $750 for one, about 5yrs back. Nothing like the real deal.

I was quoted $1450.00 canadian dollars (about $1150.00 us)for the oem part.
I bought an after market for $340.00 I am pleased with it. After all, it's just a piece of rag...There is no way it worth $1150.00.

Pierre560sl · #21 04-01-2006, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walrus

Pierre,

If you DIY, please consider taking pics along the way and document for us! I;m sure the admin/mod of this site, along with a host of users, would be interested in the process as a forum topic in the "wiki"...

Thanks!

Got about 80 pics of the process, if any one interested, but realy you just have to do it!

ericdee · #22 04-01-2006, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pierre560sl

I was quoted $1450.00 canadian dollars (about $1150.00 us)for the oem part.
I bought an after market for $340.00 I am pleased with it. After all, it's just a piece of rag...There is no way it worth $1150.00.