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Car Forum / Porsche / Porsche Cars / April 2006Boxster Plastic Window Dilemma
I have a 2002 Boxster, and of course, the rear window is cracked. Only a tiny crack on the "pinch point," but it is a real bummer to wash the car now, and with Florida's torrential downpours of summer coming, I need to remedy the situation. I have heard claims that the rear window can be replaced - no problem. And then I have heard that it can NOT be replaced at all. Finally, I have heard that it can be replaced, but it will never be waterproof. Anyone have an authoritative source to check on this? ALTERNATIVE - www.gahh.com has replacement tops with GLASS windows for $1000. The cheapest I have been able to find one installed is $1800 (ouch). Does it seem excessive to anyone that it would cost $800 to install the top? I dont have any idea what goes into replacing the top, so, maybe it is entirely reasonable. So, has anyone out there dealt with their cracked window by replacing the plastic, or getting a GAHH top with a glass window? What was your experience? If you got it replaced, provide details! I just got my Boxster (2001) and I've been thinking about doing the same thing. I didn't know you could put a glass window in it when replacing the old top. I'm having the car serviced soon and will ask the shop about it. I'll post the response. >I have a 2002 Boxster, and of course, the rear window is cracked. Only >a tiny crack on the "pinch point," but it is a real bummer to wash the [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >the plastic, or getting a GAHH top with a glass window? What was your >experience? If you got it replaced, provide details! > I have a 2002 Boxster, and of course, the rear window is cracked. Only > a tiny crack on the "pinch point," but it is a real bummer to wash the [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > the plastic, or getting a GAHH top with a glass window? What was your > experience? If you got it replaced, provide details! I had my plastic window replaced last year. The dealership 'had a guy' who sewed (not glued) a new window on. I was told it was covered under warranty. A couple of months ago I queried my service rep at the dealership if the '03 tops (with the glass window) were retrofittable on my '02. He said it was, but that Porsche doesn't replace windows, they replace whole tops (the linkages are different for the glass window, which is smaller than the plastic window -- the only disadvantage IMO), but that it cost like $6000 - $7000. So if you can get it done for $1800 and you believe it will be done right, sounds like a small price to pay. I too am coming out of warranty soon and I too will have to 'suck it up' to pay for playing with such an awesome car to drive. Dan  SignatureDan Stephenson Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe: http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda Dan, thank you for the reply. I didnt even consider that it might be covered under the warranty. Guess what! Its covered! Sure, I would love to get a glass window, but when I weigh $1800 for a glass window vs. $0.00 for a whole new top with a plastic one. Well, its a no brainer! Thanks a lot. I wouldnt have even thought that it would be covered. > Dan, thank you for the reply. I didnt even consider that it might be > covered under the warranty. Guess what! Its covered! [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Thanks a lot. I wouldnt have even thought that it would be covered. Well I don't think you'll get a whole new top, just a new plastic window sewn-in. Good luck to you. I noticed that my new plastic window doesn't "fog" on me like the original once used to all the time. In fact, I have never in the past one year ever had to use that "polish" stuff on it. I just have a California Duster for the outside and the mini-version Duster for the inside. That's it. This is a word out to everyone else - I never had one of these Dusters until about a year ago. They're GREAT. They're at Wal*Mart and are what the dealership people use daily to keep their cars shiny. Regular use delays the need for a washing. Dan SignatureDan Stephenson Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe: http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda Looks like my dealer loves me... confirmed that a whole new top is being installed. Not that there is anything wrong with the top that I have... but at least I know it won't fail. Well, until it cracks again in a couple of years. > Looks like my dealer loves me... confirmed that a whole new top is > being installed. Not that there is anything wrong with the top that I > have... but at least I know it won't fail. Well, until it cracks again > in a couple of years. Congratulations. Did you ask if you could get the top for the '03-'04 Boxster, the one with the glass? SignatureDan Stephenson Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe: http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda I did ask, and they said no. I guess the dealer doesnt love me that much. Actually, they claimed that you CANT retrofit. I think they are full of crap. Nevertheless, I've never worried about the rear window being plastic, except for the cracking thing. And I presume that the new top will have its own independent warranty. Ok, looks like the dealer may not have been full of crap. The dealer said that the '03 '04 top works on totally different linkage, so you cant retrofit a 2002 with a glass window from Porsche. The GAHH aftermarket one has a MUCH narrower rear window, and according to the dealer, must be removed from the car in order to access the engine. In any event, they put on a brand spankin new top, free of charge. The new one doesnt have the "earflaps" that the old one had in the pinch points though. But, the old earflaps never seemed to actually fold into place, so no great loss. Gentlemen, I just read your string of messages on the internet site for Boxsters with plastic window dilemmas, and I was hoping if any of you could help me out with your experiences. I have a 2001 Boxster that I bought this past December 2005 directly from a Porsche dealership here in the Northeast. One of my reasons for buying it directly from the dealership was because I also wanted the extended two year Porsche Warranty that came with the car. Unfortunately my rear window pane cracked a few weeks in a vertical crack (kind of unusual) . My Porsche Warranty states that the REAR WINDOW PANE is covered but now I have my local Porsche dealer telling me that the regional Porsche Warranty representative states that this is not covered. Any advice you can give me to reverse this situation would be great. Thanks for any advice and/or help you can give me. Tucker Is there any way you can post a picture of the cracked window? IF porsche wont honor their warranty, I'd have no problem helping to get people to write to Porsche on your behalf. Thats bullshit if they wont honor it. Chowda Hed, Thanks for your reply. Sorry I didn't get back to this sooner but I thought I set myself up to be contacted via email when a response came....I guess I have to go check that out...any pointers on how to set it up correctly would be greatly appreciated. I cannot attach a picture here. I did try to do that originally but this site will not allow for picture attachments. I you want to send my your email address directly I will gladly send you the picture that I have sent to Porsche. My email address is: tucker.glavin@fmr.com. The story here is that I live in Boston, MA. I bought the Boxster at Princeton Porsche in Princeton, NJ. When the vertical crack happened on my rear window pane I went to my local Porsche service manager with my purchase agreement and warranty from Porsche which clearly states all covered items, which includes the REAR WINDOW PANE. The local service manager spoke with the Regional Porsche Warranty Rep and that rep said "no" to my rear window being covered. Keep in mind this is with the fact that I showed the local service manager the sale agreement and the Porsche Warranty that came with my car that list covered items only, including the rear window pane. At the same time the Porsche Warranty Rep also stated that they don't replace the plastic windows they only replace the entire top. But nonetheless, they were not going to help me. At this point I am still working with the Service Manager at Princeton Porsche who is still trying to help me but has not confirmed anything yet. I dont get it. There seems to be no reason not to cover it - unless they are claiming that you did something that violated the warranty. Does operating the convertible top in the cold violate it? Perhaps they are very good about the replacement in Florida is because the temp never gets cold enough to "brittle-ize" the window? |
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