Convertible top reliability

[flat6buster]

So any views on relative reliability of folding roof on the following:

1) R230
2) A124
3) R129

I´ve had 2 x R129 and whilst the hoods were really noisy in operation and made me think they would break any moment, they worked fine during my ownership. R230 I hear awful issues about (not to mention the ABC!) and the A124 always looked like a looong roof to be electrically operated for some reason.

Also, when the sh1t eventually does hit the fan and the hood breaks, what order would you rank them in for likely repair costs/ease of repair?

Thanks folks.

 

[W1ghty]

So any views on relative reliability of folding roof on the following:

1) R230
2) A124
3) R129

I´ve had 2 x R129 and whilst the hoods were really noisy in operation and made me think they would break any moment, they worked fine during my ownership. R230 I hear awful issues about (not to mention the ABC!) and the A124 always looked like a looong roof to be electrically operated for some reason.

Also, when the sh1t eventually does hit the fan and the hood breaks, what order would you rank them in for likely repair costs/ease of repair?

Thanks folks.

I think you also need to factor in parts availability issues for anything older now . I know that some roof sensors for my 2009 CLK are no longer available now from MB

 

[Smiley]

I have had both 129 and 124 convertibles; no problems with the roof on either - I think that they are both examples of German engineering before the accountants or weight loss teams got involved. They do go wrong of course; for someone with experience working on them they are pretty easy to diagnose and fix - the biggest problem will be getting parts.

 

[MD5]

1) R230
2) A124
3) R129

I have all three, the most temperamental being the 129, which I've had for 21 years. Ensuring the battery is fully charged helps, but the roof has, on the odd occasion, stopped half way through, but carried on okay with a little manual assistance. The one time it refused to perform was due to an accumulation of stored fault codes over the years. These were cleared and it was happy again.

A friend has an 03 R230 and has had issues with his hood and took it a couple of times to a roof specialist before they fixed it. My 08 has so far been okay in my 8 years of ownership (apart from the usual seal that goes along the bottom of the rear windscreen), but I don't want to tempt fate, nor on my 124 either, which in my 18 year tenure has so far been okay.

As said, parts being the issue would be a worry. The car I would trust least not to leak would be the R230.

 

[Wearsthefoxhat]

My R129 has been fine in thirteen years of ownership, I look after it and use it regularly. Our 208 was equally reliable after 11 years, but can’t comment on the 124 or 230.