removing the roof pads

ASmartMan · 01-31-2008, 08:16 PM

WELL

it is not an easy job, you want to pull the pads down as much intact as possible, trying to leave ONLY the glue behind.

I used GOOF Off to loosen the cement, this job took 8 hours to clean the entire glass roof.

BUT on The first HOT Sunny DAY, you'll be searching for that SunBlind, this can be had from FastEddie and some of the MB dealers in CA )cost will be about $50 + shipping

Dave777 · 01-31-2008, 09:42 PM

Sorry for my confusion, but what are you doing and why?

24-42 · 01-31-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASmartMan

WELL

it is not an easy job, you want to pull the pads down as much intact as possible, trying to leave ONLY the glue behind.

I used GOOF Off to loosen the cement, this job took 8 hours to clean the entire glass roof.

BUT on The first HOT Sunny DAY, you'll be searching for that SunBlind, this can be had from FastEddie and some of the MB dealers in CA )cost will be about $50 + shipping

If you are talking about the original sunblind that works from the bar that runs from front to rear in the middleof the roof, I'm sure G&K will send you one that they remove, for just the cost of shipping. They have many, many of them. Tell them I referred you and said "Hello". Ask for "Avo"

If you need their phone # let me know.

Donald LaFavor

BeSmart · 01-31-2008, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave777

Sorry for my confusion, but what are you doing and why?

This is a mod to the 450.

A smart man and Donald my 450 came with a sunroof, ie, one that opens, so the pads were never installed. Guess a few slipped through to the states. It's a bit windy and noisy, but really appreciate it in the heat.

spdickey · 02-01-2008, 12:27 AM

Some background on those roof pads. One of the G&K mods to meet Federal safety standards was to remove the sunshade from the coupe ceiling and replace it with upholstered pads to prevent you from knocking your head against the plastic moon roof. It looked okay from inside, from the outside looking through the roof you saw the glue strips and padding. Not pretty. You also lost the moon roof, and the shade was gone if you pulled off the pads.

Some would say this was a bit of a kludge fix to a problem smart doesn't have with the new 451 coupes imported through PAG.

24-42 · 02-01-2008, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeSmart

This is a mod to the 450.

A smart man and Donald my 450 came with a sunroof, ie, one that opens, so the pads were never installed. Guess a few slipped through to the states. It's a bit windy and noisy, but really appreciate it in the heat.

There are many times I would like to have a sunroof.
You are also fortunate to not have needed to remove the pads. I had raw places on both hands from separating pad from glass. Then solvent burning the raw places when removing stuck on contact cement.
G&K said they were required to make and install the pads after removing the sunshade for federal compliance.

I relived the pain when I read smartman's post.

My hat's off to G&K for all the uncharted territory work they did. Including trial & error expence. They made it easier and paved the way for PAG to get the cars imported after learning what all G&K had to do.

ASmartMan · 02-01-2008, 06:27 AM

Don

Yes please PM me with a #, I would LOVE to get a sunblind for just the cost of shipping.

ASM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 24-42

If you are talking about the original sunblind that works from the bar that runs from front to rear in the middleof the roof, I'm sure G&K will send you one that they remove, for just the cost of shipping. They have many, many of them. Tell them I referred you and said "Hello". Ask for "Avo"

If you need their phone # let me know.

Donald LaFavor

rgaus · 02-01-2008, 08:00 AM

No need for secrecy on G&K's number, Don. 714-545-9503.

Ron Gaus, asmartcar.com

smartie yank · 02-02-2008, 12:53 AM

There is also a plastic grab handle the mounts in the two holes above the passenger seat when you remove the pads.

idahosmart · 02-04-2008, 10:18 AM

Dang. I was one of the first to rip the pads off. I contacted G&K about it when I got the car in April 2006 and I asked them if I could get my sunblind back from them. They said they couldn't do that as that meant they would be helping me to remove something the feds required them to install. So I ordered my sunblind from Fast Eddy.

Tom