Convertible Top Material Choices

[Phil DeSimone]

I have a 1992 500SL and after viewing the 12 or so videos I found thanks to this Forum, I've decided to take a shot at changing the top myself.
The videos seem pretty good although after viewing them a number of times, I have a few questions. I digress for the moment. My question for this thread is, which fabric should I use? I see the original "German" fabric, "Sonnedecke", and "Stayfast".
The Sonnedecke looks comparable to the German but $100 cheaper.
I don't know anything about the Stayfast. Any info on what you know, liked, disliked etc. about any of these choices would be greatly appreciated. Also if anyone has particular experiences with installation and/or manufactures of tops that they would like to share, I'll take anything I can get.
Thanks in advance. Phil

[chriswufgator]

Originally Posted by Phil DeSimone

I have a 1992 500SL and after viewing the 12 or so videos I found thanks to this Forum, I've decided to take a shot at changing the top myself.
The videos seem pretty good although after viewing them a number of times, I have a few questions. I digress for the moment. My question for this thread is, which fabric should I use? I see the original "German" fabric, "Sonnedecke", and "Stayfast".
The Sonnedecke looks comparable to the German but $100 cheaper.
I don't know anything about the Stayfast. Any info on what you know, liked, disliked etc. about any of these choices would be greatly appreciated. Also if anyone has particular experiences with installation and/or manufactures of tops that they would like to share, I'll take anything I can get.
Thanks in advance. Phil

Can't go wrong with Haartz (the manufacturer of the 'Stayfast' line). They are top-quality (excuse the pun).

[MarvClott]

Phil,
I decfided to do my own as well and I just finished it last week. I am happy with the material and how it came out, but I made a mistake and I have to take it into the dealer to have the top and windows synched.
I bought a top from egbay and the guys name was David Daoud email daviddaoud3000@yahoo.com for uner $400. The material is as good as the original or I can't tell the difference. I think he said it is German Canvas. The workmanship and cut of the top was very good. He also has seats for the SLs as well.
The local top guy wanted $1500. The Stealer wanted $2300. I decided I would tackle it. The video is pretty good and directions come with the top. You need to review both together. It will take longer than you think. It took me 7 hours to take the old one off and get the old glue off. Make sure you get all the old glue off or it will not be a smooth finish. Then I had my father help me for two days on the weekend put the new top on.
The two key points are getting the seam on the front part positioned correct. The front bow and listing stitch are the reference points when gluing the top to the header bow. I screwed up here and had to pull it off and redo it.
The other key is making sure that you cut out areas or prepunch holes for both the back bow which gets several layers of canvas and the side flaps where they attach to the vertical piece by the door windows(these must be cut away). The video showed simpy punching the bow, but what I found was using a little longer sheet metal screw worked good in order to find the hole in bow and be able to snug it up.

Good luck. Take your time. I watched the video several times even when I was installing the top.

Marv

[Markcooper]

Hi Marv,

Could you tell me how can get the video that show how to replace soft top.

Thanks

Mark

[MarvClott]

Originally Posted by Markcooper

Hi Marv,

Could you tell me how can get the video that show how to replace soft top.

Thanks

Mark

I found them in the stickies at the top of the first page of the fourm. There are videos for doing the top and videos for taking apart the console, the doors and a couple of other things. They are vey helpful. I had a little bit of a problem figuring out how to download them so I could have the on my computer, but somehow I managed to do that. Don't ask me how because I can't remember.