Miata Mailing List: April 1993, Message #90
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   From: (none)
Subject: Re: Rear window zipper replacement.
   Date: (none)

> I've been enquiring about getting the zipper for my rear window replaced
> Getting replaced through the dealer would be around $450. Through an auto
> upholstery/soft top place seems to be around $220! The zipper only
> costs about 20 bucks but they say it'll take about 5 hours labour.

ugh, that's a lot (although it's still less than replacing the
whole top at around $1200 plus labor...)

Q:  do their quotes include removal/reassembly of the top?
    if so, see how much less it is if you do the removal yourself.
    i'm assuming you'd be willing to try this yourself to
    save some money (in return for a fair amount of hassle,
    of course :-)

suggestion:
don't bother going through the dealer for the actual work.
trust me, their mechanics won't be sewing on the zipper :-)
they'll just farm it out to an upholstery shop (possible the same
one you talked to anyway...) and you'll be paying both of them for
the privilege.  cut your losses and try to only pay one of them...

my assumption is that removing the old and stitching on the new zipper
shouldn't take 5 hours, but still, it'll probably take 2 or 3, anyway.
i'm afraid that unless you have the skills yourself, or know someone
else that does, you're probably better off paying the money to get it
done right.