Convertible - Soft Top Replacement Guidelines

91mercedes04

MB-NET ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
SEPTEMBER 18, 1991
MESSAGE # 357


SUBJECT: GROUP 77 - MODEL R129 SOFT TOP REPLACEMENT


DURING OUR ROUTINE INSPECTION OF REPLACED SOFT TOPS, WE HAVE DETERMINED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS:

1. SOFT TOP REPLACEMENT ON EARLY VEHTCLES DUE TO DAMAGES FOR WHICH REPAIRS ARE KNOWN. THESE ARE COVERED IN SERVICE INFORMATIONS 77/3, /4, /5, /6, /22 AND /24. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THESE MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. REPEAT FAILURES WHICH ARE CAUSED BY NOT ADHERING TO THE AFOREMENTIONED SERVICE INFORMATIONS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEALER. THEREFORE, RESPECTIVE WARRANTY CLAIMS WILL BE DEBITED TO THE DEALER AS OF OCTOBER 1, 1991.

2. REPLACEMENT OF SOFT TOPS DUE TO INDENTATION IN THE LOWER RIM CAUSED BY PRESSING AGAINST THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT LOCKS. THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS ARE USUALLY LABELED "MARKINGS" OR "FADING" AND THEY ARE NOT AN ACCEPTABLE REASON FOR SOFT TOP REPLACEMENT. THIS IS BECAUSE SUCH MINOR BLEMISHES WILL REAPPEAR SOON AFTER THE TOP HAS BEEN RENEWED.

3. WE HAVE RECEIVED SOME TPRs WHICH INDICATE DAMAGE ON THE LOWER RIM. INSPECTING THE SUPPLIED PHOTOS, WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE SOFT TOP DID NOT PROPERLY FOLD WHEN ENTERING THE STORAGE COMPARTMENT. THIS RESULTED IN MULTIPLE FOLDS, DISPLACEMENT OF THE SOFT TOP MATERIAL AND EXERTING CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE ON THE RIM. IN SUCH CASES, THE TOP HAS TO BE OPENED, STRETCHED, WET AND DRIED IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE IMPROPER FOLDING PATTERN CREASES. THIS PROCEDURE MAY HAVE TO BE REPEATED A NUMBER OF TIMES.

PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT ALMOST ALL SOFT TOPS SUBMITTED FOR WARRANTY ARE EXAMINED ON A REGULAR BASIS. IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE INSPECTION, IT IS MANDATORY THAT THE TPRs AND THE DEALER CLAIM TEXT FIELD CONTAIN MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION. IN ADDITION, WARRANTY PARTS SHOULD BE MARKED CLEARLY INDICATING THE PROBLEM AREA.