Rear plastic screen

[Guest]

Hi folks,

I've a problem & just wondered if anyone on the forum had ahad a similar experience or could offer some advice.

I've an '01 Boxster S which I've been very happy with until Sunday afternoon. It was a really clear day, temperature sitting around 7 degree C & when I opened the roof the rear screen split. I've been in touch with Glenvargill in Glasgow & their service manager told me that this wouldn't be covered under warranty as the roof shouldn't be opened in cold conditions & that they were prone to damage at temperatures under 8 degrees unless they were allowed to warm up first! He was expecting to get a few similar calls over the forthcoming weeks so this must be a fairly common problem.

The handbook I have for the car states that the roof shouldn't be open around freezing so I wondered if anyone had taken this up with Porsche?

As I've been quoted around £800 for the repair plus the inconvenience of being without the car for a week I'd be happy to hear any alternative solutions too!

Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated,

John.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

John,

Very common I'm afraid.
I think that it is more likely if the roof has repeatedly been lowered without stopping half-way and doing the "Boxster Chop" on the rear window. (It sounds like you may not have been told to do this?)
The Boxster Chop involves lowering the roof halfway, getting out of the car, and smothing out the creases that would otherwise cause stress-points in the plastic window. "Chop" is a bit of a misnomer - gently-arrange-the-crease is more accurate!
You are corrcet - the manual (or at least some model years manuals) says 0 degrees, but as you have discovered anything below about 10 will need "warming up" first (using the car heater on high for a while before lowering).

£800 sounds like they are sewing in a new window - the whole roof is something like £1500 before fitting.
You might be interested in --> THIS THREAD <-- which has a replacement GLASS rear window option for "plastic" window cars. []

 

[Guest]

John,

This is an all too common fault (see many other postings). I'm afraid regardless of the temperature issue, the back window will fail at some point through natural wear and tear. This is one of the reasons why Porsche moved to a glass screen in later boxsters.

I've been looking into other ways of fixing this other than a new hood which appears to be the only official solution but with no success so far.

Does anyone out there know of a hood repairer in Scotland?

cheers,

Iain

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Iain,

See the link in my post! []

 

[Rodney Naghar]

Interesting how they told you that 1c over the temperature you dropped the hood at it was prone to cracking! If the manual says 0c then I don't see why you should have to pay out....

The same happened to my car at around 5c as I was doing the 'Boxster Chop' it cracked in the middle. I got a new plastic window stitched in for around £250 in London.

You can get a whole new replacement hood for around £850 including glass window from after market specialists (I forget which) do a search on here and you'll find it.

 

[Geoff_Fields]

Forget repair, Jasmine do a replacement hood with heated glass window for £950 fitted inc .VAT. Or do it youself for £750. 911 & Porsche World ran an article on this product a few months back.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Same one as in my link I believe...
( http://bas-international.com/ ) This must be Jasmines supplier?

 

[Paul Fraser]

Have a look at http://www.boxa.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=18551&hl=
This is a very current thread -- I think Steve Evans at BAS just got his new glass rear window today.
You have the choice of the GAHH top from the States from Carhood Warehouse at £795 +VAT fitted IIRC or £500+VAT delivered, or the BAS one at £695+VAT fitted, and a hundred quid cheaper delivered.
NO WAY would I pay the OPC £800 for a new plastic screen. I'd rather drive down to Wales and stay in a Travelodge overnight. Or order one and get someone local to fit it. Apparently, it is not that hard a job to fit it yourself, and I may just follow up this glib comment with some action photos in the near future!

 

[JCB..]

There are a few posts on PPBB concerning the GAHH option where the glass has come adrift from it's seals. I'd get an opinion from someone who has one.

JCB..

 

[Paul Fraser]

I asked the UK supplier about this and they said they had no problem/there is a one year warranty. I think all but one of the problems experienced by the GAHH hoods were part of an early batch. But I understand and share the concern.

 

[Guest]

I had my screen go a couple of years ago and assumed that some scrote had knifed it. Anyway my insurance paid for a new hood and screen. If the bas one had been available I would definately have gone for that

 

[Guest]

Thanks a lot folks,

You've given me plenty of food for thought & it certainly rules out the OPC option for me anyway!

If this is as common a fault as it appears to be I'm surprised Porsche haven't done the decent thing & recalled their cars.

Wish I'd known about this site & the 'Boxster Chop' a week ago!

 

[JCB..]

ORIGINAL: mclayj

Thanks a lot folks,

You've given me plenty of food for thought & it certainly rules out the OPC option for me anyway!

If this is as common a fault as it appears to be I'm surprised Porsche haven't done the decent thing & recalled their cars.

Wish I'd known about this site & the 'Boxster Chop' a week ago!

"Recall" isn't in the Porsche dictionary! [&:]

 

[Geoff_Fields]

"recall" does appear occasionally, after US legal system threatens e.g. 993 engine wiring loom.

 

[JCB..]

Last time I checked we're still in the UK. []

 

[juliany27]

For goodness' sake, don't tell tet Prime Minister. It will only confuse him...