New to club r129 soft top question

[BULLITTBOSS]

Hi to everyone,i have just joined up the club,i recently purchased a 93 r129 sl500 which needed work,i have replaced the engine harness, and all brakes,i just purchased a complete soft top with frame and inner liner,wondered if this is a diy job to replace??
also i have a whine from diff,has anyone ever replaced bearings? if so any special tools needed? car has done 170k but drives exceptionally well,apart from a few small niggles car is great on original unrusted paintwork
regards Richard [ ipswich ]

 

[BTB 500]

Hi & welcome.

There are some R129 'how to' videos here (11 on soft top replacement!) which should give you some idea of what's involved:

R129 Disassembly Videos - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

I downloaded them all & saved locally as you never know how long these things will be around online!

 

[jonnyboy]

I'm doing the same (soft-top) job at the mo. Its a 2 person job to get it in place. MAke sure all the hydraulic pipes are ok and dont get crushed etc. Also MAKE SURE the microswitch on the n/s doesnt get broken on the way in/out. Speaking from experience....I got the last one in the UK. A magnetic pickup tool is very handy, too, when you drop the bolts....

 

[Oily Rag]

Hello and Welcome

 

[d w124]

Not another BOSS with a cab,please lol

Only joking Richard welcome to the forum

 

[The Boss]

welcome!

 

[BULLITTBOSS]

Thanks you guys for your help,you may be confused by my user name,i own a few Mustangs including a 69 Boss and a 67 Bullitt so there you go.
i have as i have mentioned a 92 sl 500 which i am currently carrying out work,i wondered if any of you guys could tell me if there are any other model steering wheels which fits this car as mine is worn up,have seen a wood leather wheel off a 97 coupe 430 which looks the same??
any help appreciated
regards Richard

 

[d w124]

The wheel will fit as long as the airbag is the same but you can always buy mine http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/classifieds-general-sale/86129-129-wood-leather-wheel.html

 

[BULLITTBOSS]

tHANKS dw124 your wheel looks great but i think will not fit the earlier r129 due to air bag different,...........but i stand to be corrected.

regards richard

 

[d w124]

tHANKS dw124 your wheel looks great but i think will not fit the earlier r129 due to air bag different,...........but i stand to be corrected.

regards richard

You are correct that was fitted to the late ones.

 

[JasM]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[L100C220]

Welcome to the forum

 

[BULLITTBOSS]

Thanks for the welcomes,i received my s/h soft top today complete with frame and inner liner,the roof is mint as new and looks a relatively easy job to fit,although i guess adjustments will have to be made,but better than fitting just the fabric,looks like apart from bolting to the tub the only other thing to do is connect hydraulic pipes and connect wiring for micro switch.
richard

 

[BULLITTBOSS]

I have spent the last 2 nights trying to get my door to soft top gaps correct,have tried all adjustments,but i cannot get 100% between the soft top seal to door b pillar,have tried adjustments on lower door behind cladding,dont seem to do anything,have adjusted door which made better,but adjusting door does not seem to be the answer,the only adjustments on the roof is the base which i can see,which i have tried,but seems that by adjusting base only makes the gap smaller or bigger at the lower edge of the window,when window is at top of frame the gap is irregular ie larger gap at the lower window edge but still tight at top,i also had this problem with original roof frame although hard top ok....the window regulators and channels are worn due to the age and mileage 180k so i am going to replace as necessary. any ideas would be helpfull perhaps this is common,on the older r129s although i never had this problem with my previous 208 430 or 209 55 amg cabriolet, although the rest of the car i must confess is much better built.
regards frustrated Richard

 

[Oily Rag]

BB, only advice I can give is, retract the soft top and put on the hard top, set your door alignment to fit the hard top, then take off hard top and set soft top to fit the door and window, not the other way round. Mine has a slightly larger 3mm gap at bottom to 1mm at top, does'nt bother me in the slightest.

 

[6pot]

hi and welcome its SL season