R129 Soft top replacement

[Mr Nicey]

I gave my SL's roof a renovo service - pretty impressive for a clean and retint

 

[rajinder_1]

I gave my SL's roof a renovo service - pretty impressive for a clean and retint

Already done that mate...

i bought the whole renovo kit when i got the car some 5 years ago, and it looked great...

but the issue is the fraying where the top folds and the cracked windows.

so its a whole new roof in my case im affraid...

Raj

 

[rajinder_1]

Hi All,

A bit of time ago i thought i was going to replace my roof 5 years on the car has spent most of its time tucked under a cover with the hardtop on!

so now i am ready to take the plunge and get the softop done as a matter of principle lol.

thoughts and recommendations welcome, my research so far below:

1, local guy (soft tops) £1200 all in supply and fit
2, The SL Shop (30ish miles away) £1150 supply and fit
3, KHM (very far away!) supply of roof spoiler and headliner £1050 + £300 fitting in milton keynes (45 miles away) from the fitter that does the SL Shops work!
4, auto trimmer the guy who fits SL shops roofs supply and fit £800 all in

i am feeling inclined to go with option 3 drop the car and get him to fit the khm roof!

Anyone ordered from KHM before i know the quality is very good but not sure of the overall process.

Thanks

Raj

 

[rajinder_1]

Just a quick update and close the thread off

I Finally got the top done

Went with a guy in Milton Keynes Mark Teske who supplied and fit the top
he also works and does all the work for a very well known specialist for "The SL"!

Seems to be a good job so far, this is his details should anyone need a top doing

Car Hoods & Soft Tops repairs, Car Hood, Soft Top,Cabriolet Hoods, Replacement Hoods, Leather Re-colouring

Like I said a very nice guy who does the convertibles for a reputable SL Specialist!

Thanks

Raj

 

[Ellery Queen]

I need a new hood on my sl 129, but I want to maintain the quality of the original, would be great if the rear windows would still bear the Mercedes logo, somebody said that going to Stuttgart for a replacement was viable is this true? any genuine recommendations would be great.
regards Ellery

 

[Ellery Queen]

Hi Rajinder can I ask how much the job cost please and what quality would you say.
Regards Ellery (new member) so still feeling my way around.

 

[BTB 500]

would be great if the rear windows would still bear the Mercedes logo

I was told when I had mine replaced that OEM plastic windows are no longer available. The ones I got came from the same manufacturer (so identical material and thickness - did you know the side ones are different to the back one?), but no M-B markings.

 

[rajinder_1]

Hi Rajinder can I ask how much the job cost please and what quality would you say.
Regards Ellery (new member) so still feeling my way around.

Hi Ellery,

The windows are the thinner material to original.

As I bought the whole hood (including windows) and had it fitted from the same person.

I did look at t he route of ordering a KHM hood from Germany with the original spec windows as BTB may have done, but this didn't give me any warranty or assurance from both the fitter and the manufacturer. As if something did happen they would in effect blame each other for the problem.

I think the decision I made based on the knowledge that "The SL" specialists use the same roof and the same guy to fit, was a valid one for me at this time.

if you see my earlier post I paid £780 all inclusive, which isn't to bad!

let me know if you would like any more info.

Thanks

Raj

 

[BTB 500]

I just had the windows replaced on mine as the hood itself was (still is!) in great condition. Work was done by d:class in Surrey (superb job).

 

[rajinder_1]

Hi Guys,

I wanted to update the post with what happened.

The roof was uk supplied by carhood warehouse i believe, the rear windows somehow were warped.

Both rear corners were quiet bad and having taken back to the fitter, he had no end of issues from CHW!

So i went and bought the KHM roof and Mark @ Autotrim Milton Keynes fitted it for me so he could send the duff roof back to CHW for inspection as they would not end out a new roof!

I must admit, no matter what, you cant beat the KHM top!

as i drove home the noise difference (lack of) compared to the CHW one is so noticeable and as is the quality and finish of the materials, its still early days but from what i have heard and read i think it should be ok.

So my advice would be for all 129 owners to get the roof from KHM germany and get it fitted in the UK!

Trust me i've been there and done the other way and must admit i made a mistake, buy the KHM!

Thanks

Raj

 

[gramey]

Following your last post Raj I decided better to do mine once and do it properly. I'm just in the process of ordering a top from KHM and my car is booked in fro 31/05/2017 with a local guy who's done several R129's before and assures me the KHM ones are the best he's fitted.

 

[219]

I think that's the route I'll take with mine ( KHM ) as my hood is very tatty now ( but still watertight ) .

I might make a trip to Germany and get it done there , along with my front seats which need retrimmed.

However , I've just sprung for a new petrol tank and will have to wait a bit !

 

[gramey]

Following your last post Raj I decided better to do mine once and do it properly. I'm just in the process of ordering a top from KHM and my car is booked in fro 31/05/2017 with a local guy who's done several R129's before and assures me the KHM ones are the best he's fitted.

I decided against ordering my replacement hood at the time of posting the above, simply because the fitter couldn't have my car in until 31/05/2017 and I didn't want it kicking around the house for three months.

I considered a replacement from The SL Shop instead but as they were unable to provide me with the specifics of the material their supplier used, other than it's from the US, I decided against this.


There are three options I appear to have bearing in mind I want to keep it as close to original as possible, these are,


Plan A - KHM - https://www.cabrio.de/en/softtops/c...fttop-280-600-sl-129-original-material-detail - 1064 Euros all in inc. p&p, cables and new rubber spoiler.


Plan B - https://translate.google.co.uk/tran...ttps://www.der-autoausstatter.de/&prev=search 665 euros but not including rubber roof spoiler or tension cables but Markus Huber, the proprietor, has confirmed he uses Sonnenland Classic Plus material with Renolit windows in the original 1.25/1.5mm thickness.


Plan C - CK-Cabrio - Manufaktur für Cabrioverdecke: Mercedes SL R129 Verdeck 1989 - 2001 - 789 Euros exc. postage, cables and spoiler


I'm actually quite liking the look of the CK-Cabrio Acoustic roof with no side windows but it would detract from the originality of the looks.


Decisions, decisions?? I've got to have it ready to be fitted on 31/05/2017 so I'll be ordering very soon so anyone with any thoughts on the respective merits of the above three your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[jaymanek]

KHM only.

I have heard the price of a genuine hood from MB isnt that much more also.

 

[streetsupercars]

good experience and knowledge passed on thanks. I will keep note of this!

 

[gramey]

KHM only.

I have heard the price of a genuine hood from MB isnt that much more also.

Well I decided against KHM, a decision I may come to regret but I hope not, genuine MB hoods are only available in black at £1271 + VAT. They no longer have any stock of blue hoods as I did enquire with my local dealer.

I decided to go with the roof from Markus Huber on ebay, two reasons for this. One being the lower price, having spoken to my MB dealer and found out how much new window seals and cables are, basically £360 + VAT each side, so I revised my budget for the top itself. This wouldn't have been the sole reason for changing my mind. Clearly having sensed my difficulty in communicating with him by message Mr. Huber telephoned me on my mobile phone at work. He basically assured me that the roof I would receive would be as close to the original as possible. Apparently the reason why several manufacturers are shying away from Wopavin rear windows and going to the Renolit ones is, so I'm told, Wopavin are no longer made in Switzerland but in China and the quality has apparently suffered?
I won't know if it's a hit or a miss until such time as it's fitted on 31/05/2017 - 01/06/2017 but I'll keep you posted.