Well, folks, I want to thank those who reassured me about Gene, of Gene's German Cars in Queens. What a character! (Eugen Tiganila, Romanian dude).
He gave me a GREAT rate for my oil change, he spent 2.5 hours dealing with my car (and only charged for one); he personally introduced me to his ragtop and interiors pal, McCoy's Upholstery ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/mccoys-upholstery-woodside ), who quoted me $450 - $500 to replace my ragtop when the time comes (I already bought the top).
Then Gene gave me a tutorial about how to take the hardtop off and raise the ragtop. During this escapade, we discovered that my dad (88) and his pals (86 and 90 years old) had put the hardtop back on without latching any of the rear latches!!! Yikes!
I am still stuck with the heat being on All. The. Time, and need to get some scratch together to get that diagnosed and fixed. Gene's hourly rate is $90/hr., and he told me that his charge for doing this depends entirely on what the problem turns out to be.
Then he replaced my windshield wipers with the "new" ones I bought on Ebay, no charge: but pointed out that the portside one was too long. :-( Suggested I get the Ebay dude to swap the blade for one of the correct length.
Photos of "Awesome" Krautzie below, with her newly revealed original ragtop. The ragtop well is in great shape, no rust. Frame looks great. Except for a small tear in the right rear, the ragtop is, says Gene, "in EXCELLENT condition."
He gave me a GREAT rate for my oil change, he spent 2.5 hours dealing with my car (and only charged for one); he personally introduced me to his ragtop and interiors pal, McCoy's Upholstery ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/mccoys-upholstery-woodside ), who quoted me $450 - $500 to replace my ragtop when the time comes (I already bought the top).
Then Gene gave me a tutorial about how to take the hardtop off and raise the ragtop. During this escapade, we discovered that my dad (88) and his pals (86 and 90 years old) had put the hardtop back on without latching any of the rear latches!!! Yikes!
I am still stuck with the heat being on All. The. Time, and need to get some scratch together to get that diagnosed and fixed. Gene's hourly rate is $90/hr., and he told me that his charge for doing this depends entirely on what the problem turns out to be.
Then he replaced my windshield wipers with the "new" ones I bought on Ebay, no charge: but pointed out that the portside one was too long. :-( Suggested I get the Ebay dude to swap the blade for one of the correct length.
Photos of "Awesome" Krautzie below, with her newly revealed original ragtop. The ragtop well is in great shape, no rust. Frame looks great. Except for a small tear in the right rear, the ragtop is, says Gene, "in EXCELLENT condition."