Windshield Replacement Questions

[Oi-Punx]

My dislike of SUV's has become warranted today. I was on the freeway and one spit a small rock onto my windshield and put a nickel sized crack in it. I have only liability insurance so I doubt it will be covered under a "road hazard" or whatever it is that they call it. Has anyone on this board replaced the windshield on their early model car? If so did you go with the original porsche part or an aftermarket? How much did you pay? Any recommendations for a good shop in the south bay area (san jose) california? Thanks in advance!

[Blackfoot]

oi! nice to see ya!

i don't know about auto-glass shops in the south bay, but if you want a good body shop that might also be able to help you, this is the one:

http://yp.yahoo.com/py/ypMap.py?Pyt=Typ&tab=B2C&tuid=10033010&ycat=7844600&city=San+Jose&state=CA&country=us&slt=37.335300&sln=-121.893898&cs=4

bodystyle
(408) 436-1616

ask for carole, owner and ex-racer. mention she cut the front fenders on my beige 911 last month and i think she'll remember me. if she can't help you, she WILL know who can. carole almost won't stop talking porsche. note: this is a high-end shop and it will not be cheap, but they do quality work.

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it's all the craftmanship...

[Oi-Punx]

Yo! Blackfoot What's happening?! I've been lurking on this site from time to time, but haven't posted anything recently. Thanks for the reference. I talked to Carole, very nice lady by the way. She wants about $783 for the original glass installed which is too high for me right now. In the interim i'll be on the lookout for a cheaper alternative.

Thanks!

[Blackfoot]

yeah, she pretty much only deals with oem & high-end parts. i'm sure you can find a cheaper alternative, especially as the earlier windshields didn't have the built-in antenna.

[85944na]

i have an early car and I had the windshield replaced about a year and a half ago. My car had a new aftermarket windshield when i got it, and a few months later it cracked. I dont know how it cracked, so I didnt want to go with non oem. I have full coverage so i just told the glass guy I had do it to buy a windshield from my local porsche dealer. All i know is it cost a ton. The aftermarket windshield i had also covered up my vin number, I hated that! The oem one, of course, does not. if you can go oem

[lambic2000]

About three months ago I had the oil changed in my 1983 944 by a local shop here in Lincoln City, OR. Well, while changing out the windshield wipers the mechanic accidentally let the arm slip. This caused a rather nice splinter in the windshield. I contacted the owner and gave him two choices: fix it or see you in court. I ended up getting an OEM windshield to include the moldings and clips from Sunset Porsche in Beaverton, OR and had a local glass shop install it. The total bill came to just under $1,000. Good luck with your windshield!

[mike944]

Don't go with aftermarket glass, alot of it is junk. it will crack easy, and chip easy, as mentioned by everybody else.

I had my windshield replaced with an OEM Sekurt windshield on my '84 last fall. I had full glass coverage on my insurance, with a $500 limit. The first place i called wanted $750, so i would have been out $250. I called another place and they said they could do it for less than the insurance max. They did a great job.

I could swear i've seen the OEM windshields for sale for $399 for the early cars. I wouldn't reccomend doing yourself, but if you can get the windshield for $399, so can a glass shop.

mike

[pst]

I've replaced early windshields myselr before and it really isn't that difficult. However I've only used used oem windshields. I can't say anything about the aftetmarket. I use 3M window weld sealer which is a butle rubber rope made specificlly for windshields. It works great and only cost about $35.