soft top shops in canada- ontario

[Graham]

Originally Posted by bhatt

Most marine upholstery shops will cut out convertible top windows and replace them with new clear marine vinyl. This stuff is very thick and will likely last 15-20 years just like the original windows did.

I have used the same marine upholstery guy in Burlington for a few boat jobs and he is very picky and excellent. I wouldn't think twice about asking him to do an MB roof, even though he doesn't have MB-specific experience. He will tell you right away if something can't be done or if he doesn't know how.

He does mostly boats, but I see convertibles (usually old classic American cars) and other vinyl items (chairs, etc..) that he is reupholstering.

If you need his contact info, pm me.

The difference between SL tops and Boat tops, is that the SL top is not easily removable. You cant just remove it and take it into the shop for repair. It is possible to remove and re-install, but considering installation costs are in the $500-$1000 range, this is probably not an option.

I have 4 small wear holes in my SL's top. I was wondering if there is any way of sewing small patches in place, The glued on ones always seem to come loose.

[dugald]

Graham
Long time.
If you can get access to both sides of the canvas where the holes are, I don't see why you couldn't stitch in small patches. It will be awkward to pass the needle back and forth but I imagine it could be done, with patience.
Did you earn your Boy Scout badge for sewing?
On my old car I had luck patching with Sunbrella scraps and contact cement.
Takes a careful hand not to make a mess with the glue but the result was presentable and durable.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by dugald

Graham
Long time.
If you can get access to both sides of the canvas where the holes are, I don't see why you couldn't stitch in small patches. It will be awkward to pass the needle back and forth but I imagine it could be done, with patience.
Did you earn your Boy Scout badge for sewing?
On my old car I had luck patching with Sunbrella scraps and contact cement.
Takes a careful hand not to make a mess with the glue but the result was presentable and durable.

Hi Dugald - It has been a while! Hope things are going well.

We have been away doing other things - just getting back to summer driving in the SL. It's been so cold until recently that I have had the top up a lot.

I did fix the holes with scraps of Sunbrella and a flexible epoxy adhesive that I happened to have. There are no leaks, but it does not look great. Inside is also a bit tatty.

Would you or anyone else reading this know if the complete soft top and frame off a later model 380 or 560 SL could be installed on a '72 model? In other words, are the frame mounts and the front catches exactly the same over the lifetime of the 107 series?

Graham

[dugald]

Originally Posted by Graham

Would you or anyone else reading this know if the complete soft top and frame off a later model 380 or 560 SL could be installed on a '72 model? In other words, are the frame mounts and the front catches exactly the same over the lifetime of the 107 series?

Graham

Graham, I believe that is true but I do not know it for a fact. Surely MB can say.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by moneyguyforu

does anyone know of a good soft top shop to use ? I live in london ontario, and my windows are shot. i am resolved to the fact that my only option is to replace the entire roof as nobody seems to repair just the windows. I have prices range from $1600 to $4000 installed. The guy at $1600 may take a while (long story) but I am also concerned about quality matching OE. Lots of ads in the USA for parts, but not in Canada eh.

I came across a site called Topsonline.com.

They listed an installer in Ontario:

AUTO/MARINE INTERIORS & CONVERTIBLE TOPS
Niagara Falls, ON l2E 3C9
905-374-4981

I know nothing about them, but they are within range of London.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Roncallo

I just put together what I consider to be the minimum parts list to do this job, which includes the padding, belting, pulls and window seals. The elastic band material is no longer available from MB so I will have to find an equivalent from an upholstery shop or I maybe they come with the top, I have to check. I will be using a top from German Top's. The additional parts from MB are about $300.00 US.

Roncallo,

I just had a look at epc for my '72 car. It did not seem to list the door seals that you list. Maybe they come as part of the MB top? But it does list the front and back seals which may require renewal.

This is the parts list I came up with (although I don't think I need some of this stuff:

104 A1077710098 Rear Seal
74 A1077790022 Front Seal
35 A1077700066 Wire Pulls (2)
23 A0009831213 Band
20 A1077700082 The top!
11 A0009831412 The belting
44 A1077780197 Pad Left
44 A1077780297 Pad Right
47 A1077700266 Wire Pull - rear.

Picture is attached

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by Graham

Roncallo,

I just had a look at epc for my '72 car. It did not seem to list the door seals that you list. Maybe they come as part of the MB top? But it does list the front and back seals which may require renewal.

This is the parts list I came up with (although I don't think I need some of this stuff:

104 A1077710098 Rear Seal
74 A1077790022 Front Seal
35 A1077700066 Wire Pulls (2)
23 A0009831213 Band
20 A1077700082 The top!
11 A0009831412 The belting
44 A1077780197 Pad Left
44 A1077780297 Pad Right
47 A1077700266 Wire Pull - rear.

Picture is attached

My front and back seals are very good. The door seals are listed under the Door section of EPC.

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by Graham

Glad you were happy, but the carpets I received were absolute crap. I see you are buying proper MB quality seals, so why put them on a top from a second rate supplier?

Here are some links regarding my carpets. What do you think of them?

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r-c107-sl-slc-class/1382031-installing-carpets.html#post2926683

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r-c107-sl-slc-class/1382031-installing-carpets.html#post2937337

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r-c107-sl-slc-class/1382031-installing-carpets.html#post2938618

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r-c107-sl-slc-class/1382031-installing-carpets-2.html#post2955706

I had do a lot of hacking, but in the end, the car looks fine. But that is the last time I would buy anything from German Auto Tops or Qualitytopsand interiors (same guy).

I have to keep telling myself - Don't buy on price alone! Buy quality!

I was very happy with the fit in the end. But I did price a carpet from MB and just the drivers foot carpet alone with padding was more than the complete kit from German Auto Tops. I find myself in the situation like I did with my exhaust. The genuine MB is clearly the best, but at $4000.00 I just cant afford to do it.

I do remember you thread on this a while back and I was very surprised. I do know that when I got my carpets The dad was just in the process of changing hands with the son, so who knows. I hope my top works out. I did get it at the same time I got my carpet 3 years ago.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Graham

I came across a site called Topsonline.com.

They listed an installer in Ontario:

AUTO/MARINE INTERIORS & CONVERTIBLE TOPS
Niagara Falls, ON l2E 3C9
905-374-4981

I know nothing about them, but they are within range of London.

I spoke with this company - seemed knowledgeable. May go visit friends in Niagara on the Lake in summer and have top done.

Can supply top but it is expensive - ~ C$1150 depending on exchange
Installation 8 hours - C$440.
Or if we supply our own top - ~ C$500. Seems reasonable.

Discussed Stayfast vs Sonnendeck vs Original German. Said all "look" about the same. Durability also not much different. Thought German original may outlast Stayfast by 10% only. Inside patterns are different but all acceptable, he thought. See this link for "look"

Using this firm, should be possible to do job for about C$1000 plus taxes depending on how many seals and other extras are needed.

Question re pads. It seems pads on our cars are rubber "tubes" that pull wires pass through (see picture in earlier message). Is this correct? On some cars, there are wider pads that protect top from rubbing against frame - Do we not have those?

My top has wear holes that are caused, it seems, from wear while top is folded. I would like to make sure this does not happen again. My top wore out in 25,000 miles of driving over 20 years!

Anyone used Tops Online? Are they associated with any of the eBay stores?

[Graham]

Questions for those who have installed tops.

My existing top does not seem to have the pads (item 44 in picture). The wires just seem to run through a pocket in the top itself . Can only feel wire inside. Is it important to buy and use those pads?

I checked for the elastic straps. I found white strips that no longer is elastic under the webbing straps between the two bows above drivers head. They do not extend to windshield or back to back bow. Is this correct? In picture there is something called a band (item 23 in picture) but it looks like it is going across the top. How should the elastic bands be installed?

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by Graham

Questions for those who have installed tops.

My existing top does not seem to have the pads (item 44 in picture). The wires just seem to run through a pocket in the top itself . Can only feel wire inside. Is it important to buy and use those pads?

I checked for the elastic straps. I found white strips that no longer is elastic under the webbing straps between the two bows above drivers head. They do not extend to windshield or back to back bow. Is this correct? In picture there is something called a band (item 23 in picture) but it looks like it is going across the top. How should the elastic bands be installed?

I purchased the pads #44 they will have to be glued on. I wouldn't do it without these. The band #23 is no longer available. Just use 1" elastic material available at most fabric shops. Yes that is the strip under the webbing. I have know idea why MB shows it going across.

How should the elastic bands be installed? If you find out let us know. I haven't found any documentation on this. My approach will be to make sure it is just tight enough to get the middle bar going in the right direction. When I say tight enough, I mean tight enough considering the condition it will be in 5 years from know.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Roncallo

I purchased the pads #44 they will have to be glued on. I wouldn't do it without these. The band #23 is no longer available. Just use 1" elastic material available at most fabric shops. Yes that is the strip under the webbing. I have know idea why MB shows it going across.

How should the elastic bands be installed? If you find out let us know. I haven't found any documentation on this. My approach will be to make sure it is just tight enough to get the middle bar going in the right direction. When I say tight enough, I mean tight enough considering the condition it will be in 5 years from know.

Roncallo, Item 44 appears to be supplied as part of World Upholstery tops. Where does it go exactly? Inside the pocket for the wire pull? Looks like it fits over wire? Or do some tops not have a pocket for the wire?

By the way, the MB Shop manual has a pictorial on removal and installation of the top. Job 77-305. Some of the instructions are hard to understand! But the pictures help. One picture (step 18) seems to show part of the elastic . Only thing I can think of, is that the elastic helps stop the top vibrating.

Graham

[Roncallo]

I normally don't like posting from other forums but this is all going on as we speak.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r-c107-sl-slc-class/1444973-r107-soft-top-replacement.html

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Roncallo

I normally don't like posting from other forums but this is all going on as we speak.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r-c107-sl-slc-class/1444973-r107-soft-top-replacement.html

The pad that Nobby shows look different (flat instead of U-shaped) from the one in the MB picture (44). Is that the same part?

My existing top has no such pads or any sign that they had been there!

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by Graham

The pad that Nobby shows look different (flat instead of U-shaped) from the one in the MB picture (44). Is that the same part?

My existing top has no such pads or any sign that they had been there!

Yes

#44 is "U" shaped in the picture and flat when you actually get it.