Author Topic: Chrome hardtop garnish rails  (Read 1958 times)

Davek1

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Chrome hardtop garnish rails
« on: June 26, 2022, 19:20:58 »
Hi all,

I would like to add the garnish rails to my hard top roof, is this a hard job to do? Are there pre marked drill holes under the roof linning?
Next question is does anyone have a good set of garnish rail they would like to sell?

Thanks

DaveB

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Re: Chrome hardtop garnish rails
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2022, 06:52:35 »
Personally I don’t think you should do it…unless you have one of those rare roof racks…
The two chrome rails do look good in a way but remember ‘perfection is achieved not when there’s no more to add but when there’s no more to take away’.

It’s unlikely there are guide marks; you’d probably need the rails as a template.
DaveB
'65 US 230sl 4-speed, DB190

Davek1

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Re: Chrome hardtop garnish rails
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2022, 09:23:52 »
Hi Dave,

The reason I am considering adding them is that my car does not have its original hard top. The one I have has no rails but the original one for the car had them. Thanks for your thoughts

DaveB

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Re: Chrome hardtop garnish rails
« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2022, 10:30:12 »
Ok, makes sense. Hope somebody can help you find a pair.
DaveB
'65 US 230sl 4-speed, DB190

MikeSimon

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Re: Chrome hardtop garnish rails
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2022, 17:41:46 »
These are probably "unobtainium". I could not find a part-number for these in my parts-lists, which could mean they were not available as spares. As these were not cosmetic/appearance parts, but served as a mount for the roof rack, the attachment to the roof is likely rather solid and not that easy to facilitate
1970/71 280SL Automatic
Sandy Beige
Parchment Leather
Power Steering
Automatic
Hardtop
Heated Tinted Rear Window
German specs
3rd owner

Peter

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MikeSimon

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Re: Chrome hardtop garnish rails
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2022, 19:16:18 »
Thanks, Peter. That is really interesting. Item No 39 is not shown in the parts diagram. It is, however in the part-number list as 113 698 0381/0481 "Zierstab links/rechts" and a "Sonderwunsch".
I wonder if there was a variety which was just a cosmetic item?
1970/71 280SL Automatic
Sandy Beige
Parchment Leather
Power Steering
Automatic
Hardtop
Heated Tinted Rear Window
German specs
3rd owner

Davek1

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Re: Chrome hardtop garnish rails
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2022, 19:21:01 »
Hi Peter,

Thanks for these, I had seen after market ones for sale but was hoping some one had a pair from a old hard top kicking about. Would prefer M/B ones if possible.


Peter

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Re: Chrome hardtop garnish rails
« Reply #8 on: June 27, 2022, 19:27:10 »
Also on the original parts site of MB, and much less expensive

https://originalteile.mercedes-benz.de/search?sSearch=1136980481
ZIERSTAB Teilenummer: A1136980481 133,83 €

https://originalteile.mercedes-benz.de/search?sSearch=1136980381
ZIERSTAB Teilenummer: A1136980381 133,83 €

Peter

Davek1

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Re: Chrome hardtop garnish rails
« Reply #9 on: June 27, 2022, 19:44:22 »
Thanks, Ill give M/B a call tomorrow.

waltklatt

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Re: Chrome hardtop garnish rails
« Reply #10 on: July 18, 2022, 19:21:56 »
Also note that the garnish rails changed from plated brass to polished aluminum somewhere along the production run.  Believe when the 250SL was around and being phased out to the 280SL.  Think all 280SL's had the aluminum ones.
Brass ones were held by screws and aluminum ones by rivets.
Walter
1967 220SL-diesel

66andBlue

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Re: Chrome hardtop garnish rails
« Reply #11 on: July 20, 2022, 03:36:58 »
The aluminum rails came along with 280SL VIN 015025 Dec. 1969, together with plastic clips.
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=14529

If you plan to use them with a carrier then limit heavy loads.
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

Davek1

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Re: Chrome hardtop garnish rails
« Reply #12 on: July 21, 2022, 21:47:37 »
Manage to find an original good used set. Strangle aluminum rails but with brass fixings and not plastic as previously thought.

DaveB

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Re: Chrome hardtop garnish rails
« Reply #13 on: July 21, 2022, 22:24:04 »
Well done finding those. Brass definitely sounds better than plastic.
DaveB
'65 US 230sl 4-speed, DB190