500sl 1981 roof instructions

[Jay Kilby]

anybody got a set of insructions on how to remove the hard top and use the roof on a 1981 500sl?

thanks

 

[Myros]

yep

Move the little lever at the rear passenger seat down as far as you can, swinging it clockwise as you look at it. Move the big lever ( with the spinner) all the way counter-clockwise as you look at it. You'll hear the thunk as the pin releases. Use the handles provided to release the middle pins, by swinging them from front to rear, about 100 degrees, and then the windscreen lugs the same, from outboard to inboard, I think. Disconnect the heated rear screen and get a friend to help you hump it off. or use a lifter.It weighs 40 kg so deep breath.

Windows down before you start.

 

[Myros]

to get the soft top up

do the same thing with the lever at the passenger rear seat. That releases the soft top deck. Lift it up, and gently pull the leading edge of the soft top up and out. Rest it on the windscreen top edge. Lift the soft top rear edge up to the vertical, and then close the soft top cover. replace the rear, locating the pin in the central hole. Use the handles to lock the leading edge to the windscreen, and then pull the passenger rear handle back over to it's 3 o'clock position. You should see the rear edge seat down as you do this. If not, just wind the handle back and press down on the rear edge as you lock it off again.

Do all this with the windows down, soft and hard tops.

I take it it is sunny where you are today.

 

[Jay Kilby]

Thank you Myros,

it has been sunny so need to de-winter the car. though Battery was flat when i went to start her this weekend!!
it all sounds a bit fiddly?

thanks again

Jayk

 

[Myros]

if the missus helps

I can get it up in about 20 secs, 30 on my own (after a bit of pre-season training) There's nothing like a bit of rain to sharpen the performance.
When putting the softie away, don't forget to fold down the rear skirt and make nice folds in the hood. A tea towel on the outer side of the perspex screen saves scratches and rubs from stowage.
I might decapitate mine this weekend as well then.

 

[Jay Kilby]

well the car has the roof off and all looks very very handsome!! all i need to do now is get using the soft top.
very nice worth every penny i paid for her just for looking so dam fine........let alone she runs really well.

 

[television]

well the car has the roof off and all looks very very handsome!! all i need to do now is get using the soft top.
very nice worth every penny i paid for her just for looking so dam fine........let alone she runs really well.

They are very nice, Shall we start a new thread "how slow can drive your SL" they did it in the states, and it was very funny.

Malcolm

 

[Myros]

I will own up to actually obeying the speed limits

in ours.
Took our eldest out for her first ever spin with roof off on Thursday. "Ooh Daddy, no roof, no windows".
Got up to 30 before I thought the draught might be too much.
There's just so much going on aurally with the top down, I love it. Below 50mph you can hear the radio as well.

 

[television]

in ours.
Took our eldest out for her first ever spin with roof off on Thursday. "Ooh Daddy, no roof, no windows".
Got up to 30 before I thought the draught might be too much.
There's just so much going on aurally with the top down, I love it. Below 50mph you can hear the radio as well.

It has been years since I played with E types and the rest of them, the SL has brought it all back, strange at first, with everyone looking in. I find that if you have the windows up, then the draught screen also needs to be up, windows down its OK. The little seaside town where I live goes from 2800 to 22,000 people in summer, I have got the nickname Batman down here.

malcolm