I took a rock to the windshield coming home the other day and now have a six inch long crack.

I am looking for a referral for a shop to do the replacement here in the South Bay area.

Should I insist upon an OEM windshield?

Should I replace the gasket or anything else while the glass is being replaced?

I guess I should have the "rope" installed at that time.

Thanks in Advance

 

OEM is a must for structual integrity of car and don't take no for an answer
there is alot of cheep glass out there.

 

Actually, I just spoke to Bob Grigsby over at RMG and he told me he can only get OEM glass. He would prefer PPG glass as the OEM stuff is so soft it is always totally pitted from driving.

I will be replacing the gasket as well.

And, insurance won't pay enough so I will have a few hundred out of pocket to make up the difference.

 

Don't know how the 993 replacement works, but when I had the windshield replaced on my Boxster, it was a 2 day process. They had to let the caulking/adhesive dry for 24 hours before they put the molding back on. This was the recommendation of the glass installer that the dealer provided to me.

 

Not that complicated with the 993. I had mine replaced with OEM Sigla glass through Safelite.

 

mimmo
Do you have some credible support for what seems like a brash statement?

hal
There's much in the archives on point. The oem glass is softer than domestic which supposedly makes it more prone to pitting, but less prone to cracking. Safelite replaced my windshield a year ago for 1/2 the dealer cost. Took about an hour & was an easy job. So far no creaks, no problems & the car seems structurally sound on the street & on the track.

 

I had to remove the OEM windshield the PO had installed, because it wasn't fitted properly ( it rattled and squeeked like hell)

Generally, I prefer to use Porsche parts when replacments are needed.

 

You will have to go with OEM simply because I think the antenna is built into the windshield. And mane sure they connect that antenna after installation.

 

Dan Im just going on what porsche of Greenwich and Porsche of Fairfield CT
explained to me, they said if you don't use porsche glass it affects the structure of the car. The cost for the OEM windshield is $1,100 which includes the kit needed to install. I was in a big battle with my insurance company regarding the replacement of the windshield, which i finally won,
my best friend owns a body shop and he himself said what Porsche had told me was correct, and not to go with safelite.

 

Mike
The major aftermarket brands duplicate the oem embedded antenna, the tinting, the black areas, etc. The Safelite glass installed in my car for $394 is indistinguishable from the oem it replaced, except that after a year of normal spirited driving & a dozen track days it does not seem to pit as easily. Many here have installed non factory windshields & after several years I can't recall any posted problems. An experienced tech will need about an hour & there's no need to remove the dash as some have suggested in the past.

Windshield replacement thread

mimmo
IMHO the dealer trying to sell a piece of $1000 glass & your friend are blowing smoke. Many 993s w/oem Porsche glass had delamination problems as well as instances where front &/or rear windshields spontaneously shattered. Mine was among them, although repaired under warranty.

 

My only comment would be to make absolutely sure that when the old screen is removed the paint is not damaged in the housing. My rear screen had been replaced before I purchased the car (I found out afterwards) and thanks to a bad removal I finished up having to have the screen out to repair corrosion all along the bottom lip and half way up both sides of the screen well - and a new screen because the bonded nylon strip had been damaged (obvious really because the sealing rubber just would't seat properly). The corrosion showed itself by a tiny amount of bubbling on the screen pillar - couldn't believe how bad it was underneath once the screen was removed.

PJC

 

I could only get OEM glass here in the UK.

 

I would suggest using a porsche authorized shop to replace the glass. Mine was done by harmon and now that I have a rust bubble at bottom corner of the glass, porsche has said it is not covered by the rust warranty.

 

I had my front windshield replaced last year (2nd replacement) due to flying debris while driving. Both times it was replaced with SIGLA branded glass.

Back in 1997 (1st replacement), I insist on using the OEM (SIGLA) glass.

However last year, when I called my local dealer (Rusnak) for replacement OEM glass, they carry only the non SIGLA glass and according to them they are as supplied by the Porsche parts distribution.

My insurance covered either type of glass (OEM or non-OEM) so I chose the SIGLA type but I do not hink you could go wrong with the other one.

It is more important to have GOOD/EXPERIENCED installer that know what they are doing with the Porsche.

With regard to major squeaking, creaking and/or glass breakage, it might have to do with the car being moved or used before the urethane caulk is fully cured. I always had my car done in my garage and keep it stationary for at least 24hrs after the install.

 

Dan, that's very good news. I heard a number of times that original German glass is "soft" and it pitts easily. I certainly witnessed this on my BMWs, where US-made PPG replacement glass was much more scratch resistant. The only issue was that top tint stripe was not gradual, but that was very minor.
Here in MA we all have full glass coverage, so insurance will cover any replacement for free. But I would rather have PPG glass if I can. Since my car will be going for some rust bubble repairs under warranty (exactly 10 years old now), they will be replacing front windshield as well. I'll talk to them and see what glass they end up using.