Windshield saga w/ Master-glass

[SlantnoseSD]

I caught a rock in the windshield of my car over a month ago. I called my insurance and they covered the cost of the glass and a new OEM rubber seal form Porsche so I asked for referrals on this site. Some people told me to call master-glass.com in Escondido.

They were very reasonable on price so they came out to my house and changed out the windshield with OEM glass. The next day I went out to see my car and that windshield was cracked completely in half down the middle.

I called them bakc and they said it might have been a faulty install and they would be back next week to replace it.

1 whole week later with a broken windshield they came back and replaced it with a new one. They said they sent their best installer and I was not home at the time but they did it in my driveway. I got home that ngiht and got into the car and as I closed the door I saw the windshield jump like it was put in correctly. I grabbed alight and checked the windshield and the bottom near the dash was never installed. You could stick your fingers underneath. Luckily it did not rain between the time the install was doen and when I checked it.

Called Master-glass again and they said it must have been an oversight and the guy would come back the next day to fix it. He comes back to fix it and once again I was not home. He calls my cell phone to tell me he fixed it but it would never seal properly becasue I was still using the old seal fromt he previous windshield.

At this point I was a little upset. I informed him that my insurance had not only paid for the new windshield but the new seal from Porsche and that the original guy who put int he windshiedl that broke assured me he had replaced the seal. The guy was very quiet and did not know what to say. He said his boss woudl call me.

I received a call form the boss and they assred me that the guy would go to Porsche and pick up a new seal and come back the very next day to replace the windshield for the 4th time wiht a new seal that I (insurance) had paid for.

Bottom line: 2 weeks, 4 installs, much time wasted, many angry phone calls = new windshield installed.

I do have to say thgouh that master-glass never said they would not come back to fix my problems so their customer service is fine but this should have been done right the first time.

[Superman]

The bottom portion of the seal is the first part that gets roped in. The roping starts at the bottom and ends at the top. At least, that's my recollection from having watched it twice, and that is what makes the most sense.

[jackb911]

I'm not a big fan of mobile glass installation. I'm in the market for a windshield for my 993, and this time I'm going to take it to the glass shop for installation and wait in the lobby. I really think you get a better job that way.

Also, it it super important for the shop to use a OEM Porsche windshield rubber seal. I'd recommend that you get one in advance from Pelican or the Porsche dealer. The aftermarket ones DO NOT fit the same. I speak from experience having had three 911 windshields replaced in a year.

[derkpitt]

Please tell what W/S shop your using in the ATL?

I have yet to find one that can say they can do a 911 on the southside of the town.

[DW SD]

SDSlant,
I'm sorry, I was the one who recommended them. I do advocate watching your car anytime someone comes to your place to work on it.
Obviously, that is not always possible.

My installer was friendly, professional, knowledgeable and extremely careful. He also did it right the first time. I didn't think to ask for his card. I guess, like many technicians, it is all about who comes to service your needs.

Sorry for the hassle.

Doug

[jackb911]

Please tell what W/S shop your using in the ATL?

I used ABRA Glass. They are affilited with ABRA body shops, and there should be one on the Southside. I've used them for 3 Porsche windshields and one BMW E36.

I've also used Harmon Glass on a Chevy Astro I used to have. They did a great job as well. Not sure if they do a lot of Porsches, though.

They generally do very nice work, but they used an aftermarket seal on the last install, and it shrunk badly after several months. They installed a Sigla (German) windshield. It seems like the German glass is more prone to road rash than the American (PPG) glass, so I will be looking for a shop that will install a PPG windshield this time. ABRA may be able to do this, but I haven't called yet. I am in the process of trying to get (yet) another 911, so the glass job on the 993 is on hold for now.

[SlantnoseSD]

Dont worry about it Doug. I can't say I wasn't displeased with the service. It was just the work took along time to get done right but now its good. They were always friendly and apologetic on the phone although I do not think I will use them again.