Mercedes 129 titivation
Discussion
Thanks for the recommendations (and the loaner offer, Prinny). There's a place in Sunderland called Kish Automotive who have a decent reputation and I see from his Insta that he has done some 129s before. I will probably go there.
I managed to get air in the brakes when changing the pads last night. Was up until midnight bleeding the damned things. I am not quite sure how I did it but there we are.
I managed to get air in the brakes when changing the pads last night. Was up until midnight bleeding the damned things. I am not quite sure how I did it but there we are.
My cabriolet top is now on its last legs. Not only has the rear side window completely split but the lateral stitching across the top blew away the other day. I was bombing along with the roof up at a decent three figure lick and there was a big bang followed by a hissing noise. The top of the roof has essentially come away from the frame. I am running with the hard top at the moment. The alternative is driving a Bedouin tent.
So I have at long last ordered a new top from KHM. With all of the bits and bobs it comes to €1,120.11. I am guessing I'll have to pay import duty and VAT (out of my tax paid income, grr: serve me right for voting for Brexit) in addition to that. The top takes about a month to come. It is going to be fitted by Angus Kish at http://www.kishtrim.co.uk who is local to me. I spoke to him this morning (he called me rather too eagerly at 7h13) and he seemed to know his onions inside out.
I have gone for the original dark brown in the Sonnenland Plus fabric. KHM (www.cabrio.de) are supposedly the best top manufacturer for the 129 and they certainly are not cheap, though nor are they mad-expensive. Installation is £500 plus VAT. There is a good thread here in which all of the alternatives are considered and researched. https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/r129-soft-top-...
This is a big job, as big as a paint job or an engine transplant, it seems to me. I am very much looking forward to aesthetic and functional improvements. In particular, the thin Ultralite BUV plastic glass in the present top is inadequate. It flaps and bangs in the wind, setting the alarm off when park and making driving much above 120mph quite unpleasant. But the present top also is faded and heavily worn in places and it lets in drips of water around the edges.
Now the question is, do I get Mr Kish to install "Exclusiv" leather upholstery at the same time...
So I have at long last ordered a new top from KHM. With all of the bits and bobs it comes to €1,120.11. I am guessing I'll have to pay import duty and VAT (out of my tax paid income, grr: serve me right for voting for Brexit) in addition to that. The top takes about a month to come. It is going to be fitted by Angus Kish at http://www.kishtrim.co.uk who is local to me. I spoke to him this morning (he called me rather too eagerly at 7h13) and he seemed to know his onions inside out.
I have gone for the original dark brown in the Sonnenland Plus fabric. KHM (www.cabrio.de) are supposedly the best top manufacturer for the 129 and they certainly are not cheap, though nor are they mad-expensive. Installation is £500 plus VAT. There is a good thread here in which all of the alternatives are considered and researched. https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/threads/r129-soft-top-...
This is a big job, as big as a paint job or an engine transplant, it seems to me. I am very much looking forward to aesthetic and functional improvements. In particular, the thin Ultralite BUV plastic glass in the present top is inadequate. It flaps and bangs in the wind, setting the alarm off when park and making driving much above 120mph quite unpleasant. But the present top also is faded and heavily worn in places and it lets in drips of water around the edges.
Now the question is, do I get Mr Kish to install "Exclusiv" leather upholstery at the same time...
It sounds more like a bivouac, than a hardy Bedouin tent, begotten of a pastoral nomadic people that honed the effectiveness of their gear over centuries.
It may be worth directing Mr Kish solely for the roof replacement first in order to ascertain the quality of his workmanship and professionalism, unless there is a timing issue to replacing the leather?
It may be worth directing Mr Kish solely for the roof replacement first in order to ascertain the quality of his workmanship and professionalism, unless there is a timing issue to replacing the leather?
23.7 said:
I had mine done a couple of yrs ago. Jolly good too.
At the time I was keen to do a side window delete, like this. But couldn't find a UK supplier.
That is an interesting top which I have come across before. Do you have a link to the manufacturer? It is more like the Porsche 993 top in its shape, no?At the time I was keen to do a side window delete, like this. But couldn't find a UK supplier.
r129sl said:
23.7 said:
That is an interesting top which I have come across before. Do you have a link to the manufacturer? It is more like the Porsche 993 top in its shape, no?https://www.ck-cabrio.de/verdecke/cabrioverdecke-v...
The soft-top is an R129 design flaw, at least this one goes some way towards addressing it.
My problem was finding a UK fitter. I prefer a supply and fit service because it cuts out all the 'he said she said' warranty issues.
The SL shop is local to me so used them for a std 3 window item albeit they contract out.
23.7 said:
Took it for it's MOT today, sailed through.
Then the windscreen wiper failed on the way home.
I can hear the motor running but arm is floppy, so that's saturday mornings job.
Bring a 13mm spanner and tighten before taking it apart. It's probably just a loose arm on the spindle Then the windscreen wiper failed on the way home.
I can hear the motor running but arm is floppy, so that's saturday mornings job.
alabbasi said:
23.7 said:
Took it for it's MOT today, sailed through.
Then the windscreen wiper failed on the way home.
I can hear the motor running but arm is floppy, so that's saturday mornings job.
Bring a 13mm spanner and tighten before taking it apart. It's probably just a loose arm on the spindle Then the windscreen wiper failed on the way home.
I can hear the motor running but arm is floppy, so that's saturday mornings job.
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