Convertible soft tops

A soft top wears from the outside and the inside at the same time: sun and rain work on it from above, damp and folding from within. First it goes dull and loses its water resistance, then the folds crack, and finally it leaks — usually in the corner by the window.

A separate and very common problem is the rear window. Plexiglass yellows and clouds over to the point where you can't see through it at all; glass cracks along the fold line when the top has been folded in frost. Replacing just the window is far cheaper than a whole top and is usually enough.

How we do it

• Checking what is actually worn out: the fabric, the window, the seals or the mechanism.
• Repairing tears and chafing along the folds.
• Rear window replacement — plexiglass or glass, stitched into the top fabric.
• Restoring the surface and bringing back water resistance.
• Checking for leaks and testing the mechanism once it's back together.

When to replace and when to repair

If the fabric is sound and the problem is a dull surface and one worn edge — repair. If the fabric is coming apart at the seams along its whole length or has split in several places at once, repairing is throwing money away; then we're talking about a new top.