Here's the last instalment. I hope all this research will be of some help. I've had enough of it...
There's many soft-top manufacturers and resellers, I did not research them all.
Most practice what we call in French "flou artistique" in their statements, an artistical somewhat out-of-focus form of speech. Like calling the fabric "German, "factory", or saying "first-grade" plastic windows, etc. If you look up the sites, this form of speech is practiced by most, from the cheapest to the most expensive.
A cat is a cat, and a dog a dog.
There is only one replication, and only one, of the original OEM R107 fabric. It's called "Sonnenland Classic" made by Haartz. It's a two fiber weave (cotton-polyester I think) and too expensive-marginal to bother to copy as is.
There are fakes. Some are good, but should be stated as such, and sold at a much lower price.
There is currently a better fabric, the post-1994 or so Twillfast-Sonnenland A5 (Twillfast is the name used for US cars, Sonnenland for Euros), which has a black-only dobby backing ie a black-only correct pattern inner lining. Reputedlly, this lasts longer than Sonnenland Classic.
The regular Twillfast with correct brown dobby is also reputed excellent.
Sonnenland Classic is reputed to look nicer than Twillfast.
I'm of the opinion that both Sonnenland Classic and Twillfast will last a long time, most probably so than the plastic windows. So, it's between price and looks for the outer fabric.
Only one supplier confirmed that he used a high-quality brand-name plastic for his windows: ARO 2000. I think that this is a decisive factor: many fabric tops can be seen to be in VGC but for their windows.
ARO 2000 uses "Ultralite" by O'Sullivan USA and swear by it. It's a product used by car manufacturers, not only aftermarket. OK, but it seems that Bayer Flexglas 9120 (I think, the one used on BMW Z8s) is better and suppliers should do some research.
So, do business with whoever you want, but before you order, have it confirmed of what, EXACTLY, your top is made of. "German" and "high-quality" is not enough.
My personal choice...
I hesitated between ARO and Prestige tops.
Unfortunately, I asked, no begged, for Prestige to confirm fabric and plastic used. They declined to name the products they use. Note that I stated in a previous report that they used Bayer et al. Flexglas (r) for their windows. That's before I discovered that Flexglas is like Kleenex, a brand name used to describe similar products. I asked Prestige to confirm they used Bayer et al. Flexglas(r) -an excellent product- and they declined. Too bad, because they did seem more thanOK, at a great price. But if they deem their clients unworthy of info, so be it.
In the end, only ARO 2000 provided complete, precise information about their product. Mr. Georgi answered each and every of my questions. They get my vote, and they'll get my money.
In closing:
1-you other soft-top suppliers, wake up and inform us consumers.
2- If you want to charge us more than 30-50% the average, tell us why EXACTLY.
I'll keep you posted on my purchase and install of the ARO top, but it'll be awhile, it's winter for still two more months here in the Great Whit North.
I have never seen a top as good as the genuine MB. But the last time I got a quote it was $1700 just for the top. I thought the GAHH tops were pretty good but they seam to use a heavier plastic window which doesn't like to flex here in the cooler northeast weather. I got my last top from German Auto Tops. I believe it was $450 when I got it, but I haven't had a chance to install it yet.
Like I had said previously. You get what you pay for and you get a little more if you pay alot more.
Hello,
To W107etc., Stayfast is a pefectly good fabric, some come with the dobby liner, not as good as Twillfast or Sonnenland. You should use Sonnenland if you want the real look.
Personnallly, I don't think that good brand-name fabrics will deteriorate very quickly: the windows will go first. Double-check that they use brand-name plastic for the windows. If they won't say, don't buy. OOPs, I forgot about the shop in Montreal. I'll check for you...
To Roncallo: some top manufacturers use computers for patterning and cutting, use Sonnenland fabric, excellent quality windows, real dobby lining, poly stitching with HF fusing, and sell for less than 500.00
Others do presumably the same, but do not say so, and charge double. Others, while not outright lying, are so imprecise that anything goes.
The top business is a quagmire.
GAHH has an excellent reputation, but there is not sufficiently precise info to justify the price premium.
Here's the last instalment. I hope all this research will be of some help. I've had enough of it...
There's many soft-top manufacturers and resellers, I did not research them all.
Most practice what we call in French "flou artistique" in their statements, an artistical somewhat out-of-focus form of speech. Like calling the fabric "German, "factory", or saying "first-grade" plastic windows, etc. If you look up the sites, this form of speech is practiced by most, from the cheapest to the most expensive.
A cat is a cat, and a dog a dog.
There is only one replication, and only one, of the original OEM R107 fabric. It's called "Sonnenland Classic" made by Haartz. It's a two fiber weave (cotton-polyester I think) and too expensive-marginal to bother to copy as is.
There are fakes. Some are good, but should be stated as such, and sold at a much lower price.
There is currently a better fabric, the post-1994 or so Twillfast-Sonnenland A5 (Twillfast is the name used for US cars, Sonnenland for Euros), which has a black-only dobby backing ie a black-only correct pattern inner lining. Reputedlly, this lasts longer than Sonnenland Classic.
The regular Twillfast with correct brown dobby is also reputed excellent.
Sonnenland Classic is reputed to look nicer than Twillfast.
I'm of the opinion that both Sonnenland Classic and Twillfast will last a long time, most probably so than the plastic windows. So, it's between price and looks for the outer fabric.
Only one supplier confirmed that he used a high-quality brand-name plastic for his windows: ARO 2000. I think that this is a decisive factor: many fabric tops can be seen to be in VGC but for their windows.
ARO 2000 uses "Ultralite" by O'Sullivan USA and swear by it. It's a product used by car manufacturers, not only aftermarket. OK, but it seems that Bayer Flexglas 9120 (I think, the one used on BMW Z8s) is better and suppliers should do some research.
So, do business with whoever you want, but before you order, have it confirmed of what, EXACTLY, your top is made of. "German" and "high-quality" is not enough.
My personal choice...
I hesitated between ARO and Prestige tops.
Unfortunately, I asked, no begged, for Prestige to confirm fabric and plastic used. They declined to name the products they use. Note that I stated in a previous report that they used Bayer et al. Flexglas (r) for their windows. That's before I discovered that Flexglas is like Kleenex, a brand name used to describe similar products. I asked Prestige to confirm they used Bayer et al. Flexglas(r) -an excellent product- and they declined. Too bad, because they did seem more thanOK, at a great price. But if they deem their clients unworthy of info, so be it.
In the end, only ARO 2000 provided complete, precise information about their product. Mr. Georgi answered each and every of my questions. They get my vote, and they'll get my money.
In closing:
1-you other soft-top suppliers, wake up and inform us consumers.
2- If you want to charge us more than 30-50% the average, tell us why EXACTLY.
I'll keep you posted on my purchase and install of the ARO top, but it'll be awhile, it's winter for still two more months here in the Great Whit North.
Ciao,
Laverda
Laverda: I am impressed with your info and knowledge on tops and would like to quote you on our Mercedes 107 website Mercedes Benz 107 SL SLC Roadster Information Home Page on the repairs page and would greatly appreciate it if you could take digital pictures and supply step instructions as you complete your top installation. You will find installation instructions on our links page Mercedes Benz 107 SL SLC Roadster Links Page but we are looking for more detailed actual installation. You will be quoted and recognized on the page as the author. please contact me at kmb@northernresource.com
Sincerely Keith
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