Replacing Rear Top Covering
Replacing Rear Top Covering
Preceding work:
Hardtop removed.
NOTE: Install top covering with MB special glue, part no. 000 989 92 71.
Soft top unlock at front
Recessed handle (1), trim (2) remove
Headliner (3) (previous version with retaining rail on corner brace) remove
Headliner (3) (modified version without retaining rail on corner brace) allow to hang downward
Covering strip (arrow) on corner brace (previous version) detach
Screws (4) on corner brace screw out
Soft top move to vertical position
Seal, rail and corner bracket remove on B-pillar
Rubber strap (5) remove on B-pillar
Top covering detach on B-pillar (front section)
Screw (6) screw out
Soft top lock completely
Top covering press off of corner brace with plastic wedge
Clips (arrows) remove
Soft top bow unlock
Top covering detach at B-pillar (rear section)
Cloth holding rail (7) remove on B-pillar
Rubber strap (8) remove on B-pillar
Tensioning cable (9) unhook on B-pillar
Rubber strap (10) remove on corner brace (previous version)
Velcro strip (11) open on corner brace (modified version)
Top covering detach on corner brace
Tensioning cable remove on corner brace
Soft top bow remove
Seal on soft top bow remove
Screw (12, 13) on soft top bow screw out
Top covering detach from soft top bow, pull out tensioning cables and remove top covering
Shop-made tools.
Hook (cable installation) & Hook (corner brace fixation):
Installing top covering
As of vehicle ident. end no.62 964 the belting on the top frame has been eliminated and the cut of the covering modified (shaded areas eliminated). The modified top covering can be installed on all vehicles from the start of production. On vehicles with previous version, do not remove belting.
Tensioning cable (14, 9) pull into top covering with hooks (shop-made)
Tensioning cable (14) hook into corner brace and holder (15) (observe cable routing)
Tensioning cable (9) hook onto B-pillar
Tensioning cable (15), cable routing on soft top brace:
Top covering glue onto ribbed surface on soft top bow
NOTE: When gluing on ensure that the mark on the soft top brace and slit in the top covering coincide.
Covering strips glue to inside of soft top bow
NOTE: The seam on the top covering must be located in front of the edge on the soft top bow (figure at top right).
Screws (13, 12) on soft top bow screw in
Corner brace (16) secure against swinging down with hook (shop-made) on guide arm (17)
NOTE: On vehicles without belting between corner brace and 2nd brace.
Rubber strap (8) fasten to corner brace with Velcro strip (11)
Rubber strap (8) glue onto B-pillar and screw in screw
NOTE: The mark on the rubber strap must be positioned at the edge of the B-pillar.
Rubber strap (8) cut off at corner of B-pillar
Cloth holding rail (7) fasten flush with edge of B-pillar while observing impression of screw heads on cloth holding rail (7)
Top covering glue onto corner brace while observing marking on top covering in relation to hole pattern corner brace
Installation dimensions
When gluing onto the corner brace ensure that all dimensions specified for the version in question are maintained.
1 Previous version with straight corner brace
Dimension a = 35 mm
Dimension a = 40 mm
2 Modified version with off-set corner brace
Dimension a = 42 mm
Dimension b = 40 mm
NOTE: If the closing forces are too high, dimension b can be increased to 42 mm
Soft top bow line at center toward soft top compartment cover approx. 50 mm
Top covering glue onto cloth holding rail (figure at top left)
Screw screw in on bottom of B-pillar
NOTE: Observe position of top covering at bottom of cloth holding rail. To avoid damage to the paint ensure that the top covering does not touch the paintwork under tension in the area of the cloth holding rail when the soft top bow is locked (figure at top right)
Hook remove from corner brace and guide arm
Soft top bow lock and check top covering for wrinkles, correct top covering, if required
Top covering cut out in area of screw heads (arrows on left, figure at bottom left)
Top covering cut off at corner of cloth holding rail
Covering strips glue onto corner braces
Soft top bow unlock.
Sealing cord, part no. 005 989 12 7110 position above mounting holes in bow (19, front of top covering) (figure at top left)
Top covering position with bow (19) on corner brace and screw in screw (4)
NOTE: Press damper (18) forward while tightening screws.
Soft top lock completely
Screw (6) screw in
Rubber strap (8) pull out of top covering, glue onto cloth holding rail and screw in screw
Sealing cord, part no. 005 989 12 7110 press on (arrow, figure at top left)
Top covering glue onto cloth holding rail
NOTE: Glue covering strip (20) on with tension so that the border makes contact with the rail (21, arrow) without a gap.
Soft top move to vertical position
NOTE: Before putting down for the first time in the soft top compartment align the top covering toward the outside on the side of the soft top bow.
Screws (arrows) screw out
NOTE: The screw (second arrow from top) serves for mounting the cloth holding rail and should no longer be screwed out.
Rail (21), corner bracket and seal install in B-pillar
Soft top bow put up
Seal install on soft top bow
Soft top lock completely
Transition of seal at top corner of B-pillar check, correct, if required
Soft top bow put up, unlock soft top at front
Headliner, trim and recessed handle install on soft top frame
Soft top motion check, adjust, if required
NOTE: If wind noises occur at the B-pillar, install butyl cord, part no. 005 989 12 71, to seal between rail (21) and top covering.
Rain test perform