Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: athadani on March 29, 2003, 12:42:49
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Just got a wind deflector from DJS chrome in Germany. Looking at installation, I see that a self adhesive velcro tape goes on the padding on the soft top metal case. Of course this will leave marks and wondered if any one has experience with this and if a wind deflector is really an added comfort.
BTW for German speakers look at
http://www.mercedes-pagode.ch/
Thanks for any advice.
Ashok
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Most people who have a wind deflector are very enthusiastic about it, in that it really cuts down on the wind turbulence. Not sure about how the different types attach, but most adhesives can be removed later if need be and should not leave marks?
Personally, I would not install one if you paid me, because I think they look silly and out of place on the car. (But then I also won't roll up my windows when driving topless on the highway, or point my sunvisors upward, because I think that looks silly, too, and I actually like the feeling of all that airflow).
Cees
white 1969 280 SL
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I doubted two years about buying a wind deflector. I tried the official MB one and one of an own make. Both were black and did not look nice on the car. On the other hand, the comfort was so convincing that I searched further on the internet. The result was the deflector of Cabriodesign, made of plexyglass without frame and easy to install. It is cheaper than the black ones and does not diturb the appearance of the car and the feeling free while driving. People looking at the car do not notice the part at their first glance. See www.cabriodesign.nl.
G.Wuisman 1971 280sl
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I have one of those. The self adhesive velcro tape attaches to the inside of the rim of the soft-top box, so that the cloth part of the wind-deflector is pulled tight. When the lid is shut, you cannot see it.
The winddeflector is relatively easy to remove, as it attaches to the upper bolt of the seatbelts.
I've found the comfort level to be quite high... with side windows up you can easily drive the car in 0 degree centigrade with the top down.
Peter
Check out http://bali.esweb.nl for photographs of classic car events and my 1970 280 SL
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Here you go:
http://www.auto-centro.de/shop1/einbau-windschott/Einbau-w113.html
Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220
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I purchased one a couple of years ago and it works incredibly well. It clamps on the hatch cover using allen screws and comes off without leaving a mark. I, however have never had reason to remove it. When not in use it folds down out of site and covers the parcel shelf to add a little privacy. At my local gun shop yesterday I had it up, it's getting colder here, and the salesperson asked if it was bulletproof. He remembered the old James Bond Aston Martin, I of course said it certianly was and I also have the oil slick option. The windscreen is now a permanent part of my car and gets constant use. You can just fold it down to put the top up, or just leave it up as it clears the top no problem. It really makes the car comfy and warm, you roll the windows, up turn on the heat and cruise around with the temp in the 40s no problem. It really extends top down riding here in the Northeast.
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I once entertained the idea of buying one of these deflectors and decided to wait. Seems there's quite a few different opinions on this topic. Whenever I drive my 280 I'd say that about 98% of the time is with the top down. I also do not use my car as a daily driver but more as a personal pleasure vehicle. If it's a chilly day I'll wear my MB ski cap. ;)
In order for this deflector to be effective you would have to have the windows rolled up. In essence aren't we talking about a giant sunroof? It may take some time for me to decide on this, meanwhile I'll take the cash and do some work to my car that will further enhance it to be what she was created for.
1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.
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You don't need the windows up to get a great benifit from the screen. It really does a great job of keeping the wind off of you neck. It is one of the best things I have purchased for my car, and the only real aftermarket addition, except for the Bosch H4 headlights I can recommend. I use it almost evertime I drive the car.
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If that's the case I guess I was miss informed. I thought the windows had to be up. Perhaps if we get this Florida event underway someone might show up with one of these wind deflectors and make a believer out of me. Thanks for clearing this matter up for me!
1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.
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Dont't hesitate - go 4 it. No discussion necessary.
Best,
Ashok
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gwuisman
This looks like a far less visible item than the black things that are sold by Classic Additions (for example). Reminds me of that screen you cannot see between the head-rests on a Boxster. If it's good enough for (OK, won't go there ;) )
A couple of questions...
Do you remember what it cost you?
I assume no drilling etc is required?
Have you had any issues with "updraft" sucking stuff out of the kinder seat? The advantage of the other types would seem to be something like a tonneau for the kinder set - which has it's uses!
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Folks -- I am in agreement with Graphic66. Sounds like we have the same wind deflector, which was surprisingly though. I've gotten to where I even like the look of it. But if doesn't care for the look then all it takes is the touch of a finger to lay it down; 2-seconds tops.
But I too find that it works wonders. Sometimes we go on long driving trips (a thousand miles or more) and will keep the top down the entire trip; only putting the soft top up in case of weather or at night for security. Especially with the side windows up one can drive all day at speed while enjoying the stereo with crystal clarity or have a conversation without having to shout. My wife loves it because her hair stays in place. And I like it because without all of the normal noise and turbulance one doesn't get tired and worn out the way it normally happens after a long day of driving in a convertible.
Our new '04 CLK-500 cabriolet has the same thing. Both work very well, and the '71 280SL is now almost as comfortable as the CLK-500 on long road trips. I say "almost" because the CLK-500 has heated and active-ventilated seats. The 280SL does not; at least not yet, but we're about to fix that.
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Does anyone know where there are low cost after market windscreen that will fit the Pagoda. Do we need to have the special model for 113 or if some other type would work also.
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Homemade, and it works fairly well.
Download Attachment: (http://images/icon_paperclip.gif) Windblock1.JPG (http://www.sl113.org/forums/uploaded/george%20davis/2005317104512_Windblock1.JPG)
83.73 KB
George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual
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And up...
Download Attachment: (http://images/icon_paperclip.gif) Windblock3.JPG (http://www.sl113.org/forums/uploaded/george%20davis/200531710474_Windblock3.JPG)
73.34 KB
George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual
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George,
Can you share the design?
Thanks,
Louis
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Do the wind deflectors need to be a solid material like plexi-glass in order to be effective? I thought that I have seen some that are made with a screen, or mesh type material, surrounded by some sort of light weight tubing or frame structure?
Bob
bpossel
Memphis, TN.
1971 280SL
1997 E320
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Excellent work George and you've also answered another of my questions I think. I was going to make one from plexiglass but I woried that it would wobble and flex a lot if it were too tall. Yours is small and neat so I wondered what are the benefits of extra height, if any ?
Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
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Ben, Louis, and anyone else interested,
in my opinion, the low wind deflector I made works "well enough". With the screen down, if I wear a baseball cap the wind buffeting in the cockpit will blow the cap off at highway speeds. With the screen up, the cap stays on. However, not all wind is eliminated, which I like. By shear luck, this design is what I'd consider a nice compromise between too much wind and not enough. My wife and I made a 1200 mile freeway trip top down all the way, and we both thought it worked well. I'd guess the taller screens reduce the wind even more.
I don't have actual plans, but will make some measurements and take some pics of details and post here; it'll probably be a few days before I can do that.
George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual
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Good stuff George !
I'd appreciate the details when you get a chance, especially how/where it is mounted to the body !
Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
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Bob, the later SLs have a mesh-and-aluminum-frame popup--my 500 has one, and it's very effective. But I sorta like George's kitchen cabinet Euro-hinges! :D
Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder
Sarasota FL
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Do you guys think the mesh works better ? I reckon some of the air would get through so what effect this would have I dont know ?
Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
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Ben -- I can confirm that the black mesh screen works really well. But if someone wants the wind-blown effect then its not necessasrily the way to go.
However, if you want minimal turbulence & wind noise they do an amazing job. I have them on both my '04 CLK-500 cabriolet and '71 280SL. Because of these screens my wife now loves these convertibles...her hair doesn't get torn up. Also, we can make really long drives (500+ miles) with the top down the for the entire trip and we don't get tired out as would normally happen if the wind were blowing & buffeting. Seems to me that driving hundreds of miles, at speed, with the top down and then arriving feeling comfortable & refreshed is pretty impressive.
Tom in Boise
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Tosh,
I missed your post on my wind deflector and by that your questions. Here are the answers:
- I paid 361 Euros in 2001
- There is no drilling on the car. The system hangs on the edges of the soft top storage.
For security reasons I drilled two holes in the frame that holds the screen and the shelf for a pair of bolds and nuts in order to be sure the screen would not come lose from the shelf. The system is based on clamming on the frame.
Gerard Wuisman
1970 280sl
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Ben and others,
My wind deflector is of solid material (carbonate glass). The advantage is that it hardly hurts the lines of the car when up. The ‘glass’ is crystal clear. The disadvantage is that at higher highway speeds a low pressure is built up behind the screen. When there is much turbulence in the air for example when driving behind a lorry or during take over, the deflector shakes. Mesh deflectors don’t do because of the transparency for air. I took the disadvantage in favour of the elegancy of the car as my wife disagreed on the mesh deflector I first took home.
I asked the aviation department of the Technical University Delft to do experiments with perforating the bottom side of a solid deflector screen as a student project. Perhaps this could avoid the built up of the low pressure zone. Unfortunately I never got an answer on my e-mail.
Gerard Wuisman
1970 280sl
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I posted details on the homemade wind deflector in a separate post, see
http://index.php?topic=3135
George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual
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George,
I have a bit of problem: I have a side facing jump seat that does not leave me with enough room to hang the shelf. I am thinking about fabricating the plexiglas screen and attach it to the headrests with velcro straps (similar to one design I have seem out there in the market). My question is: Do I need to have the space behind the seats covered in order for the windscreen to be effective? If so, I think I will try to find a thin cardboard; cover it with vinyl, and attach it to the car with some velcro or something to cover-up the space. Like to hear some opinion about the shelf.
Louis
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Louis,
As I understand the shelf is necessary to prevent an air stream from under the screen. This stream will be caused by the under pressure behind the screen when driving. The passengers get an unpleasant airflow in their middle and things would be blown out of the car. The wind deflector I have, even has a piece of vinyl that covers the gap between the screen and the bottom panels. I saw mesh deflectors have it too. Its not only to cover the stored items but it also protects them from being driven out by the turbulence which still is there at higher speeds.
Gerard Wuisman
1970n 280sl
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I bought one through the UK Mercedes Owners club and I wouldn't want to be without it. It makes long motorway driving possible; last summer I drove from the South of France to Holland with the roof down the whole way. Without the wind deflector it would, in my experience, have been impossible to do with the roof down. The deflector uses the bolts that hold the seat belts, so there are no modifications to the car.
My deflector does not have any additional screen to cover the luggage area; despite this, I have had a reduction in things blowing about with the screen up.
1970 280SL
1965 Volvo 122S
1986 Ford Capri 280 Brooklands
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Japp,
Can you post a picture of your wind screen showing seat belt bolt mount and hing arrangement?
Dick M
1970 280SL
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Louis,
I agree completely with Gerard; the shelf or something that serves the same purpose is critical. In your case, perhaps a panel that fits behind the seats and extends up to about the height of the headrests would work. I'm imagining something that would sit on the floor and be contoured to fit over the tunnel or something like that, secured by straps to the seats or perhaps some sort of braces that attach someplace convenient (not sure where that is right now). It'll be very turbulent behind such a panel, so loose items back there will soon be... Gone with the Wind. Sorry.
George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual
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Originally posted by Dick M
Japp,
Can you post a picture of your wind screen showing seat belt bolt mount and hing arrangement?
Sure -I'll try & take a pic tomorrow and will post it here.
Jaap
1970 280SL
1965 Volvo 122S
1986 Ford Capri 280 Brooklands
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Here is a wind deflector they claim to be quite effective without the shelf.
http://www.autobarn.net/windspoiler.html
I am thinking about fabricating something like this and then build a shelf using thin material like cardboard or plexiglas to cover the back. Do I have to worry about the gap between the shelf and the screen? Japp's experience seems to suggest that a screen without the shelf would work also.
Louis
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Louis,
As I already wrote in my post of 23th of March I experience the total covering the gap as usefull. For the working of the deflector it is necessary not onlly for the comfort. If there is a small gap between the shelf and the screen there will be even more turbulense under the screen and the space under the shelf than without shelf. Leaving a small gap you create in a way a situation of the working of a jet motor. Compressed air on the front side of the screen will wil be boosted by the relatively small gap and the under presure on the back side of the screen.
I noticed that on the page of the site you refer to, the wind block with the US flag on the photo under ENTER WIND BAFFLE PRODUCTS!, has a piece of plexy glass mounted between the two seats. I guess this is done to prevent an air stream I mentioned in my earlier post. I’m not very impressed by the looks of this ensemble. The other two pictures are in my opinion a little bit flattering the product by leaving this part.
Gerard Wuisman
1970 280sl
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Gerard,
A screen and a separate shelf is probably a bad idea based on your input. I am still waiting to see Japp's windblock since he is reporting good results from a screen without additional shelf to cover the luggage area. Thank you for your help.
Louis
70 280sl red
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Hi Dick M, IL2002 and others, below some pics of my winddeflector. Contrary to some other posts here, I find that the deflector brings benefit even with the sidewindows down, although it's certainly most effective with them up. Great for Motorway driving -in town (where, let's face it, most of the posing is done!) I put it down. One drawback of this setup is that you do have to get out of the car to put the screen up or down.
http://www.jaapphoto.com/rear.jpg
http://www.jaapphoto.com/rearquart.jpg
http://www.jaapphoto.com/frontquart.jpg
http://www.jaapphoto.com/closeuphinge.jpg
http://www.jaapphoto.com/down.jpg
I tried to upload these images to this post itself, but no success. Each time it says the image has been uploaded successfully, but it doesn't appear on the post...any tips?
Jaap
1970 280SL
1965 Volvo 122S
1986 Ford Capri 280 Brooklands
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Jaap,
Great pics and thank you for all your help. Do you experience any wind coming from behind the screen through the space between the seats like some other posts have suggected?
Thanks,
Louis
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quote:
Originally posted by ll2002
Jaap,
Do you experience any wind coming from behind the screen through the space between the seats like some other posts have suggected?
I wouldn't leave very light items (sheets of paper) behind the seats, as those will, of course, fly up and out. Heavier items (a book) stay down no problem. I have never noticed any hard wind coming from between the seats into the passenger area. I have driven many miles with my girlfriend in the car, wearing summery skirts (the girlfriend, not me), and she has never mentioned it either. 8)
Jaap
1970 280SL
1965 Volvo 122S
1986 Ford Capri 280 Brooklands
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Jaap...
Excellent..
How did you decide on the hight?
Thanks very much for sharing your design.
Dick M
1970 280SL
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quote:
Originally posted by Dick M
Jaap...
Excellent..
How did you decide on the hight?
Hi Dick, the brackets were pre-shaped & all I did was install it; so not much decision involved.
Jaap
1970 280SL
1965 Volvo 122S
1986 Ford Capri 280 Brooklands
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I installed mine from http://www.cabriodesign.nl./ today and so far, so good
Easy to fit - the covered hardboard "shelf" fits over the lips of the soft-top well easily enough and the perspex slots onto that really easily
Only "gripes" so far...
The hardboard is black, and I have a cognac interior - So I may be in the market for an offcut of cognac tex or leather
The clips that rest over the soft top well wall are black, not chrome (which would be a little more "in-keeping"
The bracket that fits all the way across the front lip of the shelf (and holds the bottom of the perspex) is slightly longer than I'd like - it digs slightly into the top of the backrest of the kinder seat. it's aluminium so a quick grind will get rid of that
As for driving - great. It works really well and is barely visible. Really happy and an eejit like me could fit it without any long term effects to the car
Another win was they took a £sterling cheque when I bought it.