See title. It's kind of a stupid question but I'm having a tough time finding info about it. The tear is only a few centimeters wide, but it's about 7-10 inches long. Are there patches for this sort of thing? Is there some kind of other fix? Even a jury-rigged fix (as long as it isn't obvious/really ugly/duct tape over the hole) would be acceptable, really, though I'd prefer something more conventional.

Where can I buy something to fix it with and how much would it cost, roughly? Any information would be very much appreciated. Perhaps more importantly, is there any way I can prevent this from happening again?

Basically, I'm looking for anything short of paying a few thousand dollars to have the whole thing replaced, because it's really not that bad of a tear. I took some high-res pictures of the rip that you can see below so you can get an idea of just how bad (or not bad) the thing is. If it helps to know, the car is a 1977 Mercedes-Benz 450SL convertable.

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/2528/rip14uo.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/442/rip24ne.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/5067/rip38bx.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/4371/rip40zn.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/1719/rip56ri.jpg
http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/2981/rip61ms.jpg

Was the top overly taut? How old is the top, and has it been garaged? It shouldn't cost a couple thousand to replace... one thousand, tops.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 159K

You can replace just rear portion of the soft top as one piece including the rear windows, I have seen some patch jobs that look ok from a distance either by sewing or applying canvas and glue underneath. I would think that a tear of that sort is from age, the top is possibly dry. Have you ever treated it? You can take it to a shop and ask them to repair, then treat your top, check out the SL forum and look for treatments, Cabriolet Impregnating spray from MB works great.
Good luck!
Brian

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Brian W. Heitman

www.MBCA.org/northtexas

Join MBCA!!!

Not sure with the R107 series, but the rear section can be purchased seperately for the R129 top. Much cheaper than replacing the whole top.

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

It looks like you need a new top. They can sew in a patch and it will show. To replace the rear section only will cost as much in labor as getting a new aftermarket unit. Just make sure its a Happich unit. About $500. To sew in a new seciton they have to remove it and reattach it. I had a new Happich unit installed for $800 here in the DFW area.

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car