I'm having real difficulty in locating an authentic replacement top for my baby.
thread on another forum - http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=26860
A précis of my findings over the last 6 months:
Canvas was originally manufactured by Haartz and is their Sonnenland product http://www.haartz.com/Product_Lines/Wcpl_Main_Page.htm
Rear flex-glass was manufactured by Gurit called 'Wopavin' http://www3.gurit.com/auto/products_wopavin.php. Its thickness is 1.5mm for the rear quarter sections and 1.25mm for the rear centre.
I have spoken to Gurit directly and they have informed me that NO UK soft top manufacturers take the correct thickness Wopavin - there one can assume that all hoods manufacturerd in the UK are not authentic!
Soft top cost from Benz £2000 inc VAT
Cost for fitting at Benz £1850 inc VAT
There are many alternative hood manufacturers but they often either: don't use Wopavin; use Wopavin but only at 1mm thickness for both sections; or use Ultralite BUV (US manufacturered material from Polyone Corp) .
The replacement hoods are all around £500
My goal is to find a manufaturer who replicates the hood with the most detail and uses Sonnenland and Wopavin at the correct thickness.
Here's the simple soft top criteria:
1. Must use Wopavin flex-glass at 1.5mm and 1.25mm thickness for rear quarter and centre plastic
2. Flex glass must be stitched
3. Must use Sonnenland canvas (or send me a sample to review)
4. Must have piping around the edges
5. Preferable to have the rubber strip that runs horizontally across the canvas between the front and rear sections.
Here are the companies I have reviewed:
Aresma GmbH
Eurotop GmbH
GAHH (US)
Prestige Auto (UK)
None of the above meet the min requirements or simply refuse to reply to email when asked about their hood materials and construction!
so just wondering if anyone can suggest alternative manufacturers?
I'm specifically interested if anyone could post a couple of snaps if you have had your hood replaced recently - would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Lea
thread on another forum - http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=26860
A précis of my findings over the last 6 months:
Canvas was originally manufactured by Haartz and is their Sonnenland product http://www.haartz.com/Product_Lines/Wcpl_Main_Page.htm
Rear flex-glass was manufactured by Gurit called 'Wopavin' http://www3.gurit.com/auto/products_wopavin.php. Its thickness is 1.5mm for the rear quarter sections and 1.25mm for the rear centre.
I have spoken to Gurit directly and they have informed me that NO UK soft top manufacturers take the correct thickness Wopavin - there one can assume that all hoods manufacturerd in the UK are not authentic!
Soft top cost from Benz £2000 inc VAT
Cost for fitting at Benz £1850 inc VAT
There are many alternative hood manufacturers but they often either: don't use Wopavin; use Wopavin but only at 1mm thickness for both sections; or use Ultralite BUV (US manufacturered material from Polyone Corp) .
The replacement hoods are all around £500
My goal is to find a manufaturer who replicates the hood with the most detail and uses Sonnenland and Wopavin at the correct thickness.
Here's the simple soft top criteria:
1. Must use Wopavin flex-glass at 1.5mm and 1.25mm thickness for rear quarter and centre plastic
2. Flex glass must be stitched
3. Must use Sonnenland canvas (or send me a sample to review)
4. Must have piping around the edges
5. Preferable to have the rubber strip that runs horizontally across the canvas between the front and rear sections.
Here are the companies I have reviewed:
Aresma GmbH
Eurotop GmbH
GAHH (US)
Prestige Auto (UK)
None of the above meet the min requirements or simply refuse to reply to email when asked about their hood materials and construction!
so just wondering if anyone can suggest alternative manufacturers?I'm specifically interested if anyone could post a couple of snaps if you have had your hood replaced recently - would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Lea
