I decided to replace the plastic windows in my soft top because the fabric part is still in great shape - the windows have deteriorated. I found a kit at r129motoring.com. The kit comes with a sheet of clear window plastic claimed to be more chemically modern than the original, the black rubber seal that goes around the window edge, a set of instructions, a stitching awl loaded with a spool of UV resistant thread, a seam stitch ripper, scissors, retractable razor knife, a pin cushion block, and a set of T-pins to set the new window in place.
My son's BMW Z3 has a plastic rear window with a zipper around it making installation easy. A few months after we replaced his window, the back seam holding the zipper started to separate so I used the stitching awl from my window kit to repair it. This gave me a good practice session to apply to my window project.
For awhile, I considered installing a zipper to the windows in my 107 like BMW and Mazda did. I decided against it when I considered the difficulty of machine sewing the zipper and black rubber seal accurately enough to make the window tight and straight.
Removing the old windows takes about 5 minutes - simply cut the seam closest to the window (inner seam) and the window drops out of the channel. Removing the stitches from the outside and the locking thread from the inside might take an hour or so.
The instructions suggest cutting and installing the center window first. You simply trace out the old window over the sheet of plastic and cut. I used a nice pair of scissors for this instead of a knife. I found that you can make the cut inside the trace mark more accurately with scissors. This insures your new window is not bigger than your old window. The instructions say our windows stretch a bit over the years so cutting slightly (1/16" - 1/8") small is a good idea.
I struggled with the next step because the kit provides 16 T-pins to set the window in place. I bought a box of T pins and used 40 or so to do this. You want the window edge to be fully inserted into the seam channel when you set it. I had to get my wife to help me start this. The top should be completely free to float from the rear lock. Set pins in the corners just to get it started. Shove the window fully into the seam at the top, then at the bottom of one side (I started at the driver's side). Continue with pins along that side of the window then pin top to bottom across the width of the window finishing with a line at the far edge from where you start.
The instructions suggest starting at a lower corner of the center window. At this point, you are stitching the window and the seal into the seam with the stitching awl. There are ample You Tube videos that teach the lock stitch you will be making with the awl. Keeping the awl oriented so the hole in the needle trails the direction of the stitch helps keep things untangled. I also recommend the use of a heavy needle at the end of the locking thread from the inside of the seam - it speeds things up in a painfully slow process.
The instructions suggest use of as much as a 3-1 stitch ratio. I am stitching 1-1 using the original holes from the factory stitch. It looks better and will be stronger.
This project will take some time as the stitching is slow going. Take frequent breaks and sit inside the car to admire your progress and clarity of the new windows as you go . . .
My son's BMW Z3 has a plastic rear window with a zipper around it making installation easy. A few months after we replaced his window, the back seam holding the zipper started to separate so I used the stitching awl from my window kit to repair it. This gave me a good practice session to apply to my window project.
For awhile, I considered installing a zipper to the windows in my 107 like BMW and Mazda did. I decided against it when I considered the difficulty of machine sewing the zipper and black rubber seal accurately enough to make the window tight and straight.
Removing the old windows takes about 5 minutes - simply cut the seam closest to the window (inner seam) and the window drops out of the channel. Removing the stitches from the outside and the locking thread from the inside might take an hour or so.
The instructions suggest cutting and installing the center window first. You simply trace out the old window over the sheet of plastic and cut. I used a nice pair of scissors for this instead of a knife. I found that you can make the cut inside the trace mark more accurately with scissors. This insures your new window is not bigger than your old window. The instructions say our windows stretch a bit over the years so cutting slightly (1/16" - 1/8") small is a good idea.
I struggled with the next step because the kit provides 16 T-pins to set the window in place. I bought a box of T pins and used 40 or so to do this. You want the window edge to be fully inserted into the seam channel when you set it. I had to get my wife to help me start this. The top should be completely free to float from the rear lock. Set pins in the corners just to get it started. Shove the window fully into the seam at the top, then at the bottom of one side (I started at the driver's side). Continue with pins along that side of the window then pin top to bottom across the width of the window finishing with a line at the far edge from where you start.
The instructions suggest starting at a lower corner of the center window. At this point, you are stitching the window and the seal into the seam with the stitching awl. There are ample You Tube videos that teach the lock stitch you will be making with the awl. Keeping the awl oriented so the hole in the needle trails the direction of the stitch helps keep things untangled. I also recommend the use of a heavy needle at the end of the locking thread from the inside of the seam - it speeds things up in a painfully slow process.
The instructions suggest use of as much as a 3-1 stitch ratio. I am stitching 1-1 using the original holes from the factory stitch. It looks better and will be stronger.
This project will take some time as the stitching is slow going. Take frequent breaks and sit inside the car to admire your progress and clarity of the new windows as you go . . .
