sl r129 anyone taken the risk on a 3/4k car

[Motorrad]

0a said:

Too late - one of my rear little side windows cracked last night

It's really stiff so I've plugged the whole with bubble wrap for the moment.

I'm using the car with the roof down far more often at the moment than in the summer - it's great to leave the office and have a bracing drive home.

What do I need to do to replace the plastic hood windows that are clearly brittle with age (and cracked)

Ouch, I'm revising my temperature limit to around the 10 degree mark I think. Here's hoping it's not too expensive.

No idea on the roof, I'll look forward to your findings for when mine go.

[Kmoosa]

Might as well add to the car park pictures!

[Kmoosa]

0a said:

Too late - one of my rear little side windows cracked last night

It's really stiff so I've plugged the whole with bubble wrap for the moment.

I'm using the car with the roof down far more often at the moment than in the summer - it's great to leave the office and have a bracing drive home.

What do I need to do to replace the plastic hood windows that are clearly brittle with age (and cracked)

Mine had new windows put in by the previous owner a few weeks ago, he was based in the North West and the cost was about £300. I can find out the exact details if you want.

[PositronicRay]

My back 3 were done, just shy of £400. I spotted an after market hood with no side windows, just the back. Now that's a good idea.

[0a]

Thanks all - I'll hopefully find someone in the Midlands or around Edinburgh. I particularly like using the car on cold bright days. I take it that once done the replacement will be a little more supple (unaged) so fairly usable?

[PositronicRay]

Couple of places in Birmingham. I used this guy in Coventry, he came recommended and certainly seems okay, I've no complaints. But as it's the only soft top repair I've had done I've not much to compare it with.

http://www.softtops.org.uk/

[harrykul]

Oa, talk to r129sl- he had a good source for the hoods and screens iirc

He was going to buy them and get The Man to fit them.

[Stegel]

PositronicRay said:

Couple of places in Birmingham. I used this guy in Coventry, he came recommended and certainly seems okay, I've no complaints. But as it's the only soft top repair I've had done I've not much to compare it with.

http://www.softtops.org.uk/

Similarly my only experience, but my SL's previous owner had the rear screens replaced at the Coventry site (£325 in 2011) and they appear good to my eye - nice stitching, strong, clear and supple plastic.

[ras62]

Had the three replaced by Autotrim in Denton Manchester. About £300 iirc

[CarsOrBikes]

I still have a roof winch boxed new, not the electric one but manual

Comes with free 28,000 mile SL320 )

[Motorrad]

Motorrad said:

Ouch, I'm revising my temperature limit to around the 10 degree mark I think. Here's hoping it's not too expensive.

No idea on the roof, I'll look forward to your findings for when mine go.

Update: it was 10 degrees here today. I put the roof down. Put the roof back up after a cracking drive to the beach and -crack- two new side windows required. Currently sporting 'hot wheels' duct tape in case it rains.

Any update on the NW garage to replace them Kmoosa?

[Kmoosa]

Motorrad said:

Update: it was 10 degrees here today. I put the roof down. Put the roof back up after a cracking drive to the beach and -crack- two new side windows required. Currently sporting 'hot wheels' duct tape in case it rains.

Any update on the NW garage to replace them Kmoosa?

Just heard back from the previous owner of my car (thanks Andy), the place is called Advance Car Trimmers, call Roy on 01253 357738. The windows he put in match the factory tint on the door glass.

[Motorrad]

Kmoosa said:

Just heard back from the previous owner of my car (thanks Andy), the place is called Advance Car Trimmers, call Roy on 01253 357738. The windows he put in match the factory tint on the door glass.

Thanks for that. In Blackpool as well, might book myself into a cheap B&B and enjoy some culture while I'm there!

[Kmoosa]

Motorrad said:

Thanks for that. In Blackpool as well, might book myself into a cheap B&B and enjoy some culture while I'm there!

Absolutely. Cruise the strip in your r129 - 90's Hollywood meets 90's England...

[del mar]

I bought one last Jan at ACA auction for £3,000 - dog of a car not my best purchase.....

Runs well and passed mot first time but...

They were jump starting them at the Auction so the roof ecu was dead - £500

You cant see the condition of the roof as the hard top was one - £350 for good second hand roof.

Full repaint and repairs to front wings - £1400

New front seat covers and door cards - bought from Germany seat covers needed work to fit.... - £300

It has a couple of other minor issues still, but mechanically is a good sound car and now looks the part aswell.

It is now a £6000 car, which in this current climate I might just get back...

Del

[0a]

Kmoosa said:

Motorrad said:

Update: it was 10 degrees here today. I put the roof down. Put the roof back up after a cracking drive to the beach and -crack- two new side windows required. Currently sporting 'hot wheels' duct tape in case it rains.

Any update on the NW garage to replace them Kmoosa?

Just heard back from the previous owner of my car (thanks Andy), the place is called Advance Car Trimmers, call Roy on 01253 357738. The windows he put in match the factory tint on the door glass.

Thanks for that. My roof is now refusing to go down at all and I'm a bit fed up with it to be honest. I think I might just manually take the roof down and put the hardtop on and get the roof redone later in the year!

[0a]

Agghhh. Tried manually lowering the roof and the rear left catch won't engage with the hardtop - or the soft top any more. It's sealed reasonably enough but the bonging is back. I will collect the w124 when I get the time. Does anyone have an idea as to how to get the catch to work? Annoying as I now just want the hard top on until I can get it to a specialist for a roof service - I think I'll get new roof fitted (dark blue would be nice), and bite the bullet and get whatever else is needed done.

[QuantumTokoloshi]

0a said:

Agghhh. Tried manually lowering the roof and the rear left catch won't engage with the hardtop - or the soft top any more. It's sealed reasonably enough but the bonging is back. I will collect the w124 when I get the time. Does anyone have an idea as to how to get the catch to work? Annoying as I now just want the hard top on until I can get it to a specialist for a roof service - I think I'll get new roof fitted (dark blue would be nice), and bite the bullet and get whatever else is needed done.

there is a Youtube video on manually locking the roof in place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuVH4tzV9TQ

I can recommend Cayman's in Dorking for hard top repairs etc.

[rubystone]

Cayman are top guys. I travelled to them and will always use them for soft top work

[PositronicRay]

0a said:

Agghhh. Tried manually lowering the roof and the rear left catch won't engage with the hardtop - or the soft top any more. It's sealed reasonably enough but the bonging is back. I will collect the w124 when I get the time. Does anyone have an idea as to how to get the catch to work? Annoying as I now just want the hard top on until I can get it to a specialist for a roof service - I think I'll get new roof fitted (dark blue would be nice), and bite the bullet and get whatever else is needed done.

The prong thingy on the hardtop needs to line up properly or it'll trigger the lock but not be engaged. Try using your unlocking tool to open the rear latches again.