Hood Replacement

[Guest]

Hi
I need to get my hood replaced on my 996 - its an insurance job (Privilege insurance) thank goodness - they have appointed a company in Hatfield (near me in st Albans called UK Assistance)
To be honest I'm not sure I fancy leaving my pride and joy (996 C4 1999) with these guys so two questions..
1. Can I choose to have my car repaired by the local OPC instead of their asppointed repairer
2. Does any one know of a good place to go - the OPC in Hatfield have told me that they send it away to be done, but for obvious reasons wont tell me where! I reckon they'll add so much of a mark-up on the job that the insurance compnay will refuse to pay out!

thanks
Alex

 

[NXI20]

I suspect you are right to be nervous. You might want to take a look at this thread to get an idea of how tricky it can be. It also seems that there's a chap at Reading OPC who has mastered the art!

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

You might also want to take a look at this thread on the Boxster forum:

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=245268

 

[THX911]

As with all insurance jobs, you can get an independent quote and choose to go with a company of your choice (think they ask for two independent quotes). This would be a great opportunity to get a rear glass replacement for your plastic.

 

[Guest]

how can I get a rear galss replacement - is it genuine Porsche???

 

[THX911]

ORIGINAL: alexbartman

how can I get a rear galss replacement - is it genuine Porsche???

Sadly Porsche don't retrofit glass to older models; but then Porsche probably don't make their own hoods either...

 

[burrow01]

I would speak to Southbound Trimmers - they have a very good reputation for all Porsche hood and trim

As far as I know you can select your own repairer for Insurance claims

Cheers

Pete

 

[Mark_Bennett]

If Southbound say yes, can you let me know?
Last time I spoke to them they would not do hoods for the 996/986 as they could not guarantee complete weatherproofing...

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

ORIGINAL: alexbartman
how can I get a rear galss replacement - is it genuine Porsche???

The only glass one for 996 I have seen is from GAHH in the US:
http://www.gahh.com/product_info.php?cPath=27_57_3525_339_2991&products_id=1575

It gives a bit of a "speedster" look, as the rear window is significantly smaller.

I recall that John Ware was looking into this some while ago. I don't know if he found a UK distributor. Might be worth a search.

 

[John Ware]

Still working on it. May have news soon....

 

[ghia70]

Hi, speak to these people
http://www.carhood.com/contact.html they seemed very knowledgable and helpfull when I was talking to them about a replacement hood for my Karmann Ghia. They also do glass rear window conversions / replacements. was very reasonable prices as well.

 

[drmeng]

Going or new hood with heated rear glass which should made winter driving easier its with cemoore can't wait alo got a lat battery
[

 

[steveoz32]

I'm glad in that case my Mercedes has a glass window! I hadn't even considered that plastic would be an issue though.

I know many people that have had plastic replaced like for like, but haven't heard of anyone who upgrades sorry

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

The only downside to the glass-windowed replacement hoods is that the rear window is smaller than the plastic one. The mechanism on the earlier cars won't allow a glass screen the same size as the later models. It changes the look a bit - some prefer it and others don't. Personally, I would want the hardtop on in winter, but I'm not a cabrio type.

I helped a chap out with a diagnostic test on a 997 cabrio last week. He drove all the way from Leicester with the top down!

 

[steveoz32]

I hope it didn't rain!

 

[drmeng]

Got it back yes the heated glass is a god send in this weather also easier to scrape than the plastic although smaller still functional