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R129 - Soft Top replacement, recommendations?

I think £1000 is rather good and I'm loving the comments about good quality and the idea of bulk buy discount - ;) :)

Anyone else want windows or a new soft-top?

Greg - OK, no problem.

Lea
 
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liammc said:
Not much use to you, but I've had new windows sewn into my SL at a place in Middleborough. It came to £250+vat which I thought was fair and its a really good job.

If the fabric is ok then you can opt for just new windows.
Click to expand...

Hi everyone, this is my first post here, too, albeit I know most of you from other forums!

I am in Newcastle upon Tyne. Please could you tell me where you went in Middlesbrough. Did they remove the rear hood section? How long did the job take? Did you have to leave the car overnight?

Any help is gratefully appreciated. My hood is OK, but the windows are knackered!
 
jjrodger said:
Hi everyone, this is my first post here, too, albeit I know most of you from other forums!

I am in Newcastle upon Tyne. Please could you tell me where you went in Middlesbrough. Did they remove the rear hood section? How long did the job take? Did you have to leave the car overnight?

Any help is gratefully appreciated. My hood is OK, but the windows are knackered!
Click to expand...

A place called Auto Trimming in Redcar. I'm almost sure it was only £250+VAT. He only needed the car for one day but I left it there for the week as I live in North Northumberland. Cant fault the work carried out. They also replaced the bolster panel on the drivers seat (notorious for wear) for £60+VAT and the stitching is perfect.

Auto Trimming
4, Ennis Square,
Dormanstown,
Redcar,
Cleveland
TS10 5JR
Tel: 01642 470081
 
Thanks Liammc.

I live in Northumberland, too, about 28miles north of Newcastle; I just work in the city.

As luck would have it, I'm going to Hartlepool tomorrow morning, so I shall call in on Auto Trimming on my way home and have a chat with them. Did they use OEM materials, wo-pavin poly glass? and did they stitch the windows in or fuse them? I guess I'll find this out tomorrow.

Edit:

I've just rang them up, really helpful, I'm going down there tomorrow morning. I'm tempted to get my seat fixed, too: 113k miles have taken their toll on the outside bolster.
 
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Your welcome

I'll get some pics up. The material seems slightly lighter but my original windows were very stiff so that might explain it.

They stitch them in with a band of leather to the inside perimeter of the window.

You dont live in Alnwick, the Shepherds Rest by any chance do you?
 
I paid a visit to Auto Trimmers today. Phil there was very helpful. It's an inauspicious place, but they seemed knowledgeable enough. My car is going in on 5 July for a day and a half.

They use a material called Ultralite BUV at a thickness of 1.0mm. They will stitch it into place. The original is Wopavin Polyglas at 1.5mm on the big centre window and 1.25mm on the side windows. I haven't made up my mind yet whether to source some Wopavin (Gurit's UK dealer is in Southampton) or just go with the Ultralite. A brief google search suggests that Ultralite is less scratch prone than Wopavin.

I'm not at Alnwick, I live at Druridge near Widdrington. My car is smoke silver with S5 JJR on the plate.
 
The main thing to remember is to avoid folding the roof when it is dirty particularly the windows. Any dirt rubs between the folds when the roof operates which is the main cause of scratches.
 
Hi JJ

Good to see you over here ;) :cool:

I have to admit to being a OEM material man myself, although materials have moved on since the 80s so maybe the Ultralite is better? Difficult to tell, but I do know that Wopavin lasts 14 years :)

I'm hoping to visit Carhhoods.com next week so wil keep you all informed. If anyone wants to join in then do please let me know.


Lea
 
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I need the rear windows replaced but would prefer to replace the back section of the hood. Carhoods tell me they do not do a back section on its own (this seems strange as I understand front and back are 2 separate bits) .Does anyone know of any UK company that can supply and fit a rear section? OEM sought.
 
I wouldn't recommend a rear section only either. They wouldn't be able to colour match and so would disappoint customers.

Do you really want to replace only the rear and have a multi-tone 129?

Be careful would be my advice as no matter how good the original canvas is, it WILL have changed colour.

Is it just the rear windows? As these can be changed for 395GBP.

Lea
 
Lea when are you planning on visiting them? Like I said they're only 10 minutes away and I may finally have my SL back !
 
I got a sample of the material from Carhoods and that has done away with my notion of replacing the back section ( the hood would end up 2 tone ).
For a complete hood, Carhoods seems to win on price and time taken to do
the job.
 
I5foyw

Is the material OEM. ie does it have the beige herringbone pattern on the inside? Unfortunately Carhoods didn't have my colour in stock so invited me down to see instead.

stats007

I'm hoping next week as work's gone crazy at the mo (was hoping to take Friday off this week ;(). I need to contact Carhoods again as I would like to visit when they have a 129 in (finished) so I can see the workmanship.

Seems to make sense to me.

I'll keep in touch stats007 so we can visit together if you can wait a little longer?


Lea
 
Sorry I made a mistake- senile dementia and all that- sample came from Prestige and this is definitely original material ( beige herring bone pattern on the inside)
Has anyone come across European Trimming Co? They have quoted £415 plus vat for complete hood and claim to use original material (windows stitched in).
They seem to subcontract the fitting and say the average cost of fitting is around £275.
 
Sounds FAR too inexpensive for me.

I too have samples of Prestige's materials and it's definitely (or is soooo similar to) OEM.

They also use OEM windows material manufactured by: Gurit

http://www3.gurit.com/auto/products.php

I've still to confirm (with my own eyes) Carhood Warehouses claims.

Hopefully their next 129 that's in for a new top I can visit. I'm planning on calling today (well all this week actually but work has gone mad) but hopefully this afternoon should provide a little time to make a couple of calls :)

Lea
 
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