Where do you guys with the SL's store your hardtops? I was at the dealer & they store hardtops for customers on stands & have nice covers for them. Does anyone know what those are called or where I can pick one up?

We keep a stand in the shop as a tool. It conveniently stores the top vertically while we are working on the car.

I think most of the accessories vendors carry them. If you haven't found one by Monday email me and I'll find one for you.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

You can also buy it directly from the dealer if you can't find it elsewhere. I paid $239 for mine and it came with a bag to store the hard top. I would suggest you to look into the ceiling mounted instead (wish I did before I bought the rack). The ceiling mount enables you to change your top by yourself. Whereas if you go with rack mount, you will need someone to help you to remove the top every season, and it can be a pain. Both rack and ceiling mount cost approximate the same. Go with ceiling mount!

95 R129
98 ML320

I store pull off mine with a hoist and just leave it in the cieling until I need it again. I have both a 190SL and a 230SL and store both tops up high. The two important benifits of a cieling mount is that you can do the work yourself (my wife is not strong enough to help) and it saves floor space in your garage (never big enough). My latest addition is to add four eyes to the cieling so that I could lift each corner of the top higher than the hoist would lift it. You can buy a hoist or you can make one fairly inexpensively. Buy a small four fall block and tackle fron Home Depot, cartop hold down clips from Sears, 1 inch nylon webbing, "D" ring and buckles from your boat store and you are in business for about $40.

Jim Villers
190Sl, 230Sl, MGB

Jim,

Could you post a photo of your setup? I'm not familiar with your terms an I could really use a setup like that without the big $$$.

__________________
NOW: 2017 C43 AMG, 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, 1966 230SL, 1980 450SL (for sale!)
PAST: 2006 C230, 1997 E300D, 1994 E420, 1994 Neon Spt Cpe, 1984 300ZX, 1983 Celica GT, 1976 Electra Limited, 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650, 1979 Suzuki PE175, 1978 Suzuki DS100
www.mbca.org - www.sl113.org - www.ohio4x4.com

The catch to build one for yourself is to make sure none of the hardware touches the interior lining and the rubber seal of the hard top. If that happens, your top will be damaged and it will cause big $$$. Thats why you should look into getting a factory made one (or a used one). If their product damage your top, you can get them to buy you a new one. Most of the manufacturers will back their product to ensure your top is protected and safe.

95 R129
98 W163

My Dad uses a Stand and a cover he bought.

Try http://www.bhma.com though they are usually a bit on the expensive side.

I have seen some hardtop carts for sale on Ebay too.

I havent seen the hoists for sale on ebay. BHMA should have it.

Also try the local MB Dealer, they might have it too.

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

I recently got a 129-- a SL600! Researched what to do about top removal and storage. Bottom Line go to http://www.eztop.com (The Hard Top Hoist Company) (713) 694-4505. Buy the electric hoist ($595) DO IT RIGHT

Reasoning: The only SAFE way to lift the top is: either with 2 people with strong backs (not the weight, but awkard long reach required), OR an electric lift that allows you to guide the top and control the lift at the same time.

A dropped top (onto the car) will cause paint and worse damage minimum $250 to repair-. Top is easily damaged by incorrect storage and will LEAK like a seive.

I am an engineer, and KNEW I could put together a rig cheaper--but it would take at least 2 full days of 'Wilbur Wright Design' and purchasing over 2 weekends, plus another day of assembly, and would cost a minimiu of three hundred bucks in quality parts--and it still would not come close to the thought, design effort, and safety features (both human and protection of the top and car) incorporated in the eztop hoist.

NEVER lift something valuable over something even more valuable using cheap junk hardware. BUY U.S. industrial quality to have reasonable confidence the pulleys won't shatter at first loading.
I am a tightwad, but try to evaluate risk/benefit of going cheap. This ain't the place, and the price is small.

I agree the hoist system is the way to go. I purchased
the electric hoist system 2.5 yrs ago and it is great. the
eztop product is great and the people/owner are great
to do biz with. the key for installation is to take your
time spend time upfront deciding wherehow you will install
it as it is quite versitle.

mrrob

http://www.adsitco.com/index.html

has them in their last catalog for 149.00 + shipping,
also they give a 10% disc for fax,mail,or mbca members.

i bought my euro lights from them, they are pleasant,professional and definetly have good customer service.

hope this helps

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*92 400e 124.034, SOLD

*92 300e 124.030, SOLD

EZTOP.COM is the best hardtop hoist---bar none. It's made here in the USA and the owner is very, very, helpful. I purchased a hoist from him and required some modifications due to the installation location. He made all the adjustments, included all extra hardware and the hoist is perfect. I also have the rack I store the hardtop on, once I've decided that the soft top will remain for the summer. You must be careful that the hardtop is supported correctly. If it is not, the top could warp, and you're not going to be a happy motorist! I also keep the hardtop covered in storage in my home.

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Dale, R129
W202

Not sure how different each hoist solution is, but the vendors *are* different. I had a bad experience with Precision Auto. The hoist arrived without the sling. I called and they said to send the whole thing back and they would re-ship. Told them I just need the sling. Said they could not break another set. Why should I go through the trouble of shipping the whole thing back, paying the shipping? Just did not make sense. I insisted and they finally relented. Another complaint is that the directions are not real clear, but if you spend enough time, you can figure it out on your own.

Maybe my experience was the exception and not the rule but I can't recommend Precision Auto after the disappointing experience.

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Regards,

Tom S.
1971 280SL Tunis Beige Metallic
1971 280SL Tobacco Brown (13K miles)
1970 280SL Deep Red
1994 E320 Cabriolet
1999 E320 Wagon 4Matic
2002 LX 470
1992 Land Cruiser

Rodd Masteller .... I can't take a picture now because both of my tops on on my cars. From the sound of this thread, everyone is happy to pay $200 or more. I have used mine for 20 years on my 190SL (very heavy steel top) and for only one season on my 230SL (lite top). I will try to find a set of emails from a year or so ago when I described exactly what it was and how it worked for a guy in Texas who successfully copied it.

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Jim Villers
190SL, 230SL 5-speed, 95 E320 Wagon, 01 E320 Wagon, MGB, Boxster 'S', 190SL "Barn Find"

Here is a link for a guy in New Mexico that built a rack for his SL top: http://www.zianet.com/SLlover/page62b.html

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Jim Villers
190SL, 230SL 5-speed, 95 E320 Wagon, 01 E320 Wagon, MGB, Boxster 'S', 190SL "Barn Find"

Has anyone purchased the hard top holder from Adsit? http://www.adsitco.com/index.html

I'm getting quoted prices of $260-$290 from local dealers for a holder, where Adsit's is $149. But I don't want to try to save money only to end up with a bad product that won't take care of my hard top correctly.

Any opinions? They also have a hoist... is this something a woman could use by herself to take off/put on the hard top? And then can the top be stored in the hoist, or just moved to a holder?

Right now our hard top is precariously balanced on a blanket on my husband's 67 Firebird. Not safe for either car, but the only other option is outside, or on the floor against the wall...until we get a holder.

Thanks!
Vicki