by Stephen Winters'' and with comments by other Carrscorner Professionals This article has been copied from another source and it still needs to be edited and cleaned up.

Problem: Small Slit in Convertible Top

Because I'm primarily a furniture upholsterer and don't do much work with automobiles, I normally wouldn't even think about fixing a convertible top. However, a friend of mine brought a convertible car (a 1982 Mercedes convertible owned by one of his friends) that has a rip in the convertible. When he first called up, from his description, (in my ignorance) I had thought that it was something that I might be able to just hand sew up. He said that the owner had recently purchased the car recently (and because of the rip she may have gotten a good deal on the car) and she was just looking for something that wouldn't cost very much. she didn't want to put a lot of money into the repair. She just wants something that will seal it and stop any water from leaking through the rip. The Car is a 1982 Mercedes Convertible

The Convertible top has a slit at the point of the arrow

A close up view shows the damage.

This shows the inside view.

Here is a close up of the inside of the rip.

Question: Is there some quick or inexpensive way to fix the slit?

*Is there any simple way to to patch or repair it without taking the whole top off the car? *If the rip was patched, how would the patch be sealed so that it wouldn't leak? *If I just send him to an auto upholsterer, how much should a job like this cost? (I'm assuming that the auto upholsterer would take off the top, and replace the whole back panel (that has the vinyl windows in it.) Is this possible? Am I on the right track? *Are there any other possibilities or suggestions?

Possible Fixes

*As far as a patch goes, black duck tape would do as good as anything. Stitching might hold it together, but you would need to seal it. Most all glues will git hard a brittle. Maybe silicone would be the best . (papasage) !!! Possible Consequences of Makeshift Repairs Doing a quick fix can be risky, or it might not hold. Leaks can cause far more damage than a little bit of money that is saved.

Leaks Can cause much damage to interior of the car.

• Water to drip down into all the padding and carpets.
• Mold to start in the car
• Metal to rust
• Carpets get ruined
• Value of car greatly reduced

Professional Comments

Here are the suggestions and recommendations from several professionals

1. Replace the Top - I have never repaired a convertible top that has been torn or ripped. If the customer insisted on just a repair I go about telling them what to use and a little on how to repair. Along with this I constantly recommend to them to replace the top. Even if they are only doing the repair as a quick fix so they can sell the car. I suggest that the cost for a new top would make selling their car faster and they can always re-coop the cost with the selling price. If they are keeping the car then the new top will afford them many years of use. Eight out of ten times they elect to replace the tops once they see the value in doing so. ([http://www.carrscorner.com/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1754;start=0#msg12819|Stacey])

2. Section Not Replaceable - Not many trim/auto shops would try to just replace the back section. You have the matching problem, with the original having faded and discolored. If my memory serves me right and looking at the picutures, I think I'm right, The back section is sewn to the front section and is not separate. This means separating the seam and trying to put it back together and I wouldn't want to do that on a Mercedes or most any other for that matter. ([http://www.carrscorner.com/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1754;start=0#msg12820|Jack])

3. Replace the Top - Personal opinion here is that it should be replaced. That top from Robbins* goes about $850-900 and is estimated book time to install at about 8 hours, though I would say probably 10. ([http://www.carrscorner.com/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1754;start=0#msg12820|Jack])

4. Patch & Cover with Emblem - Well I would do this if it was a good client or a friend and only if the top is easily removable. I would remove the top , stitch it at the rip and maybe even put a small patch to make shure thing hold together. Then I would find matching material for inside and out or reletively close. I would have the Mercedes emblem embroidered using the same colors as the car or do it in silver. Sew that on both sides. I guess this could also be done by hand without removing the top. If you can't fix it , you can hide it. Hopes This Helps, ([http://www.carrscorner.com/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1754;start=msg12820#msg12842|Rene, at the Topshop]) **I would hand sew the cut first ** then I would crazy clue the seam together but the crazy glue that stays flexible ,or silicone like mchappy sujested **Now the patch can be a long white fabric along the window with Mecedes going up and down or reverse colors , or black on black for a classier look **To attache the emblem use a good 2 way tape or tranfer tape that we use on boats ,it's only 1/2 wide so you would need a couple of strips, this would also help in sealing. **Now with the outside done I would do the inside ,think it's beige ? I would go with beige on beige Mecedes and cover the black stiching that you just made from sewing the outside ,this I would think you don't sew right thru the top, you just sew the material. ([http://www.carrscorner.com/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1754;start=msg12820#msg12869|Rene, at the Topshop]) *__Sealing The Patch__ - You asked,"Now I have another question. If that were to be done, how would the patch (under the emblem) be sealed so that it wouldn't leak?" ..... I almost cringe to suggest this but if you are going to put a patch on both sides as Rene suggests, you could use a silicon sealant on the cut before sewing on the patch. ([http://www.carrscorner.com/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1754;start=msg12820#msg12864|mchappy]) *__Replace The Top__ - I rarely do repairs on convertible tops as almost inevitably they look like a repair, plus the time taken to do a poor looking job would better be invested in putting on a new top, and in the end make the customer happier. Just a thought. ([http://www.carrscorner.com/yabbse/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1754;start=msg12820#msg12864|mchappy]) !!Recommendations No matter how little or how much was paid for the Mercedes, it is a nice car. It deserves to be repaired correctly. You want to have the top fixed so that you won't have to worry about it for many years. I'd recommend that you find a reputable automobile upholsterer in your area. __Recommended Choice: Replace The Top__ *My first recommendation would be to have the convertible top replaced. It might be hard to think about spending that much money, but, once you have paid out the money, then you have to live it the solution. A new top would protect your car probably better than anything else. *If you don't already know of a good upholstery shop, then get recommendation from: **Friends who may have had their cars repaired. **Perhaps ..... **Ask to see some of their work. **Ask (or find out) how long they have been in business. Although not a guarantee of quality, a shop that has been in business for a number of years is likely to do quality work. **Ask for references, and check them out. *Before contracting with an unknown shop, check with the BBB to see if that shop has any unresolved complaints against it. __Patching The Top__ *If you just don't want to have the top replaced, then, as a second choice, the idea of patching the rip, sealing the area, and then sewing an emblem over the patch has some possibilities. ''(Although I would still have some concerns about it remaining sealed for a long period.)'' *If you do think about having an emblem made, it wouldn't have to be a Mercedes emblem, it could be any type of an emblem that would fit large enough to cover the size and shape of the patch under the emblem. *To get an emblem that is the correct size, you may be able to go to a shop that sell trophies and custom embroidered emblems. They may be able to make up a Mercedes (or other type) emblem that is resized to fit over the patch.

Concerns About Patching

• Patches, no matter how well they are done, have the potential for deteriating much sooner.
• The fabric on the convertible top is already over 20 years old and it might be time to replace it anyway.
• If you had a new patch sewn to the existing fabric, the patch would be sewn to the old fabric, and would only last as long as the old fabric holds.
• If the fabric is old enough that it split once, then, if it's just patched, it's likely to split again at the patch, or somewhere else.
• If the top is removed to sew a new patch in it, it could get damaged more in the process of removing and reinstalling it.
• If you decide to just have the top patched, it seems you'd have more potential to get a job that won't last.

New Convertible Tops

One of the well respected manufacturers of replacement convertible tops is the "Robbins Auto Top Company ".

For more information about Robbins Convertible tops, the Robbins Auto Top Company has a website at: http://www.robbinsautotopco.com

They have a list of installers here: Robbins Tops Installers

Since my client is in Salem, The Closest installers, referred by Robbins Tops, are:

Robbins Tops Installers For Oregon