Received my top from these guys a few days ago. Top is great quality. Prices for installation were quoted $700-$900 at five shops. I found a shop on outskirts of DC that installed my top and all seals for $500. To show me the quality of his work, owner showed me a 1964 Mercedes that came in bare and he has totally re-upholstered the entire interior. You could eat off the thing. My new blue top looks awesome with my anthracite gray 380SL. This deal can't be beat!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Convertguy99:
First to Topmerc: I never sell anything on this sit.... Not every member on this forum sells items here. Most are just here to help fellow MBZ 107 SL owners. Which, by the way, I do own one. Business is business and the price for the tops are just away of showing some gratitude to the members.... Through all this I have met and spoken to some very kind people. Something that probably would not have happened if I did not offer the special price.
Convertguy

I am afraid that the real point has escaped you. Very few members would want to have the cheek to use the site to sell, or to advertise, their wares other than in the proper place under Classifieds. I have no doubt that your prices are excellent. However, the fact is that you clearly gain a very specific benefit from so directly promoting a service, far more than I have any benefit from sharing the odd bit of advice, and for that reason alone I feel that forking out such a huge sum as $30 or so for a year's help to maintain the site is a very cheap price to pay for someone with such a benefit. If you - and of course so many others - take a look at all the responses and questions asked on this wonderful site and then consider the proportion that have the yellow star next to their name, then you must realise just how few of us are actually contributing the measly $30. The site's 'commercial' sponsorship is actually feeble, and so too, sadly, is the income from those who seem to benefit from it most of all. I don't sell or buy anything, and being in the UK do not get anything like the benefit of US-based members. But you don't have to be a seller to help pay for the site's costs. It simply doesn't seem fair that so few of us should fund the site for the benefit of so many. In short: "Never in the field of website maintenance, has so much been owed by so many to so few." (With sincere acknowledgement to Sir Winston Churchill.) Hopefully Dorian won't rush out with the Rubber Chicken on this !!!

No rubber chicken, but I appreciate the sentiment!

Does seem like we're beating a dead horse.

Dorian and Topmerc,

Your point has come across loud and clear. I have benefited from this site and so have countless others. Please know that I have just become a member. Not sure when the gold star will begin appearing by my name.
I've been wanting to become a member for a while but, with the absolute worst excuse I can conjure, though real, I simply kept forgetting.

This particular thread has some spice to it and should continue to be hit for sometime. I second what these 2 individuals have mentioned and urge everyone to become a premium member.

I, for one have financially benefited far beyond the cost of my membership and all those scanning these vast and valuable posts will do the same.

Lou

quote:

Originally posted by Jazzylou:.....
I've been wanting to become a member for a while but, with the absolute worst excuse I can conjure, though real, I simply kept forgetting.
This particular thread has some spice to it and should continue to be hit for sometime. I second what these 2 individuals have mentioned and urge everyone to become a premium member.

I, for one have financially benefited far beyond the cost of my membership and all those scanning these vast and valuable posts will do the same.

Lou

Jazzylou
Thanks....You've set a great example for one who has been registered as a member for only less than three weeks, and paid up. Let's hope that your example will shame some of the hundreds of others who have been for many months and years regular site users and posters, but who've never contributed a brass farthing. Lest there be any doubt, it's not just about registering as a member: it's about coughing up a measly $33, and since the Home Page links everyone to the process it is simple enough wherever you are in the world.

Hmm... I'd considered using shame before but just didn't have the stomach for it.

I'd rather people simply see the value that this site provides and reason that becoming a member is just the right thing to do.

I can understand "just forgetting" - I've been very quiet about reminding people lately. Maybe they just need more frequent reminders?

The link is here also: http://sl107.com/eve/thrive

I ordered a top from Convertguy99 about 2 weeks ago but haven't received it or heard if it's been shipped. There was no response to my email querry. Has anyone had any trouble with this merchant?

Had exactly the same problem. When top arrived, after numerous e-mails, it was as advertised.

Convertguy99 or other members ,

I would appreciate your advice regarding the procedure to tighten the sag in my convertible top.

Do I have to remove top or can it be done whilst in t5he up position .

I have german canvas with coating on the underside, however there is a slight sag between the top bows and I need some more tension to give the convertible top a real good tight look.

Any help appreciated .

Den Downunder 1982 500sl Red Euro

I go for the lining strategy as well, although I find that an old (large) teatowel, or an old cotton sheet, doubled and doubled over, is probably as good a liner. It will also help draw any moisture from your top if it is not perfectly dry when you lower it.
Do you chaps go for the "sausage roll" method I have heard about, where the liner is rolled up and placed into the crease of the plexi-glass screen, to prevent creasing. I haven't tried it yet, but it is brightening up outside and I am at work in the SL today, so who knows!

Whoops, there was a 2nd page. Read this as though it were a reply to the last post on page 1 and it might make sense.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MyrosII,

Some things to try to get rid of the sag.
Does the rear rail pull down tight when you rotate the lever (window crank)? If not, see if there is something wrong with the adjustment.

You can move the rear rail backward by loosening the four bolts on the inside of the rear rail just above the rear compartment latches. Loosen one side at a time, slide the rear rail back just a .25 inch (6mm) or so on both sides and see what happens. The amount you can move it is limited by two things. The fabric between the door pilar and the rear rail (it will get very tight) and the location of the rear locking pin. Moving the rear rail too far backward will make the pin miss the locking hole.


Also, you can measure the length of the cable from the rear rail to the rear bow (the rear window area). It should be 17.5 inches. It is adjusted with a set screw in the rear bow (the one over the window). But if you shorten the cable to pull the rear bow backward, you will take out the sag in the front and put a sag in the window. You may want to see if this is the trade-off that you want. Also, do not slip and put the screwdriver into the top.

Next, you can peal the top off the front bow and recement it. This is a bit extreme and may damage the top if you are not careful. To do this, remove the front seal, unscrew the retaining rail under the seal, peal off the top from the front bow and contact cement it a bit further forward.


If it were me, and it did not leak, I would leave it alone and spend the time waxing the car and polishing the wheels. I would fix it the next time a new top was installed.

Good Luck.