A common question from people shopping for their first SL: does the R107 have a power convertible top? The short answer is no. Every R107 soft top is operated by hand. That surprises some buyers, but once you have done it a few times, it takes very little effort.
The manual soft top
The R107’s soft top folds into a compartment behind the seats, under a metal cover lid. To lower it, you release the front latches at the windshield, open the cover lid, fold the top back into the well and close the lid. Raising it is the reverse. The full steps are in soft top operation.
How hard is it?
It is not difficult, but it has a technique. The top is light enough for one person to handle, and the mechanism is well balanced. The things that make it harder are a shrunken top, out-of-adjustment latches or a sticking cover lid release. See soft top latch adjustment if yours is a struggle. Most owners can lower or raise the top in a minute or two once they know the sequence.
Where the hydraulic confusion comes from
Some people assume the R107 has hydraulics because its successor, the R129 SL from 1989, has a fully automatic electro-hydraulic top. Others have seen the R107’s central locking, which uses vacuum, and think it operates the top. It does not. On the R107, the top is purely mechanical, and the hardtop is removed by hand or with a hoist.
Are there aftermarket power top kits?
I am not aware of a widely used, proven power top conversion for the R107. Converting would require major changes to the top frame, the top well and the electrics, and would make the car less original, which can affect its value. If someone offers one, ask for examples that have been in use for years. In practice, a well-adjusted manual top is the better solution.
Compared with the R129
| R107 | R129 | |
|---|---|---|
| Soft top operation | Manual | Electro-hydraulic, push-button |
| Hardtop | Removable, by hand or hoist | Removable, by hand or hoist |
| Complexity | Simple, few failure points | Hydraulic cylinders, pump and sensors can fail |
The R107’s manual top is one of the reasons it is simpler and cheaper to own. There is nothing to leak or fail except fabric, latches and seals.
Quick answers
- Can one person lower the top? Yes.
- Is the hardtop power operated? No; it is lifted off. See hardtop removal.
- Does any R107 have a power top? Not from the factory.
- Is a manual top a reason not to buy? For most owners, no. It is quick and reliable.
