[R129 SL] cleaning soft top

[MBKindOfGuy]

Meguiars makes a clear plastic polish for the plastic convertible windows:

http://www.meguiars.com/?clear-plastic-care/PlastX-Clear-Plastic-Cleaner-Polish

I plan to use some this weekend and will report back on its effectiveness.

I need to find a place to get the RagTopp cleaner and proctectant.

Regards,
Howard M. Ginsberg
1998 SL500, 55KMiles
1993 300E, 118KMiles
1988 300E, Sold at 165KMiles
1986 300E, Sold at 180KMiles


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mark DeLuca 
  To: SL Mailing List 
  Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 8:37 AM
  Subject: Re: [R129 SL] cleaning soft top


  Paul -

  My SL500 is never used in bad weather so the top hasn't needed much attention. When it was new I treated it with a product called Rag Top Protectant which really made my black top blacker in addition to beading water. 

  The plastic windows need attention every year or so to keep them clear. I use McGuire's scratch X which is the mildest abrasive that they sell and it has been really fantastic. I buffed out my rear window with it (be careful not to get it onto the fabric at the edges) and it did a great job removing very small scratches. I followed that with an aresol plastic window cleaner (forget the name, blue can) which seemed to put a smooth coating on the plastic. Once the ScratchX gets the schmutz off, then the plastic window cleaner does fine for the rest of the season. 

  BTW cleaning the inside of the plastic windows is a chore. Through trial and error I now open the top just enough to release the back of the top and then I pull up the rear bow so that I can clean the windows from the outside of the car, half at a time (because they will be folded in half). I found that the inside of the rear window was collecting the most scratches, primarily from rubbing against the roll bar as it went down. I now keep a bath towel in the trunk so that when I can, I put it over the roll bar when dropping the top to minimize scratching. 

  - Mark D.



  On 6/17/06, Paul Samarin <pauls at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
    So far, my top is still perfectly clean and black, having never been
    used by the prior owner.  The windows are also very clean and clear,
    but a bit wrinkled in a couple of places.

    What are the best methods and products for cleaning the canvass and the 
    window "glass"?

    Thanks,

    Paul
    90 500 SL
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/r129list/attachments/20060617/df5c4d7b/attachment.htm