............pop, and there goes my plastic window

[GTA_G20]

I bought this car in september of 2009 and had folded the top up and down numerous times without issue! Over the winter i wanted to fix the windscreen from rattling so I folded it half way and hear a crack and noticed a 2mm crack behind the drivers seat in the window by the edge of the canvas. So today i decide to fix my lexan screen and so far so good, then 'bang' passenger side of the window splits. :ah: Time for a glass top unless I can swap an '03-04 top into my 97 which I doubt

[eightsandaces]

The glass back top uses a different style subframe, so you cannot simply buy a factory glassback. You can however, find aftermarket glass back tops for sale, some have been reported to obstruct the mechanicals a bit in the service mode as opposed to the plastic back. If the canvass is in good shape, cheapest option would be to visit a marine canvass shop, trust me the back window of the Boxster is a walk in the park next to some of the work I used to see on Searays, maybe you'll get lucky and they can just do it on the car. I don't know where ajax is but if you're near Cape Vincent US side, call weatherstoppers, that guy is very talented.

[Boxtaboy]

You can put a 2003 or 04 OEM top with glass on your 97, as long as you get one complete with the whole top frame (it's a 4-rib frame, not 3, which the pre-2003 models came with). Here's a pic of my 01 (in silver with an 03 top), and my friend Maurice's 97 (in blue with an 04 top). It's a direct swap for the 2000, 2001, and 2002 model yr. cars (you just unbolt your whole top with frame, and then bolt in the new one), but you can still make it work with the 97, 98, and 99 models, if you do a little extra wiring work so that the top knows when to stop cycling when you operate it. Not difficult at all. Just contact Maurice (his handle on this board is "schoir"), and he can walk you thru what's needed to get it done. The tough part is finding the 03 or 04 top. I got mine directly from a guy who wrecked his car, and decided to part it out for only $700 bucks; my pal Maurice got it from a dismantler in the Northeast for only a little more.

It's by far my best mod because I no longer have to worry if it's too cold to put the top down and since it's OEM, there's no restriction to the top of the engine cover when you need to get in there (there's a built in strap to hold the glass window up when you put it into service position), and the glass area is still large for a clear view of what's behind you. The plastic window also makes the car look dated to me, so I was glad to get that cracking piece of shower curtain looking like thing off the car (yes, my plastic window also cracked in mid 50s weather).

If you want to see how the conversion actually works once done, just look at this video we took right after bolting in the 03 top on my car. Works like it came like that right from the factory!

Video after 03 factory top conversion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGCKcRrmR_c

[Perfectlap]

my rear window tore as well. two nickel width cuts that penetrated completely.
My downfall was mostly likely lowering when the temp was below 60. Big no no.
I really don't want to do the glass upgrade because my canvas is spotless. I've taken very good care of it with Raggtopp treatments and cleanings. I'm also not crazy about the limited access of the glass retrofit. I've searched for an OEM unit from a dismantled car but those go fast and the canvas is rarely in as good a shape as my car. I also prefer the far wider visibility of the plastic window. My plastic is crystal clear. I'd rather put the $1200+ for a new glass top and labor towards major maintenance like suspension, clutch or new wheels, tires, paint touch ups, Nav, etc. I've done top replacements on other cars and they don't always turn out perfect, things get loose requiring fiddling every time you lower or raise. I'd rather avoid all that.
Maybe I can find someone to do the plastic swap for a recession buster price.

[Lil bastard]

Sorry guys... that hurts!

Yep, below 60 degrees is risky.

My car is stored top up and before I lower it for the season (my car is a sunny weather car so the top stays down most of the season except for washing and service) I close the car up and run it with the heater on full. Outside, just before I lower it, I go over the outside of the window with a blow dryer so it's nice, warm and pliable. Window is perfect, clear, flexible.

But, it's also now 12 yrs. old, so I'm fearing any day now...

Cheers!

[MN 986]

Originally Posted by Lil bastard

Sorry guys... that hurts!

Yep, below 60 degrees is risky.

My car is stored top up and before I lower it for the season (my car is a sunny weather car so the top stays down most of the season except for washing and service) I close the car up and run it with the heater on full. Outside, just before I lower it, I go over the outside of the window with a blow dryer so it's nice, warm and pliable. Window is perfect, clear, flexible.

But, it's also now 12 yrs. old, so I'm fearing any day now...

Cheers!

I thought I was the only one using a hair dryer on the back window
Top down weather is short enough in Minnesota. I cant wait for 60 degrees!

[jcb986]

My top plastic window cracked this winter also. Guess there's a window virus running around. I got an estimate from the Porsche dealership to replace the plastic...$1000, ouch. Went down the street to top shop, he's done 3 so far this year...$450, reasonable. While at the Porsche dealership, I asked about the glass window and I was actually speaking to a mechanic who was replacing an issue like mine. When you need to service the engine they actually have to remove the top because the glass window will not clear like the plastic, which adds more cost if you ever need to use a dealer. Food for thought here.

[schoir]

Originally Posted by jcb986

....
While at the Porsche dealership, I asked about the glass window and I was actually speaking to a mechanic who was replacing an issue like mine. When you need to service the engine they actually have to remove the top because the glass window will not clear like the plastic, which adds more cost if you ever need to use a dealer. Food for thought here.

That's only true with certain aftermarket glass-windowed tops. Much less of an issue with the '03 or '04 OEM retrofit.

Regards, Maurice.

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by jcb986

My top plastic window cracked this winter also. Guess there's a window virus running around. I got an estimate from the Porsche dealership to replace the plastic...$1000, ouch. Went down the street to top shop, he's done 3 so far this year...$450, reasonable. While at the Porsche dealership, I asked about the glass window and I was actually speaking to a mechanic who was replacing an issue like mine. When you need to service the engine they actually have to remove the top because the glass window will not clear like the plastic, which adds more cost if you ever need to use a dealer. Food for thought here.

That's not food for thought. That's just incorrect information given to you by your dealer. They take the whole top and frame off because they can charge you more labor and because they are not crafty enough to figure out how to get around a small issue. Yes, the aftermarket glass tops give you less access to the engine because they don't fold up as much due to the 3-bow framed roof that it is put on, but it still has plenty of room to get to the engine if they know how to get the back of the window to stay up. This is easily done by using a rope or strap to tie it up. See below pic of aftermarket Robbins top that comes with such a strap:


If you get an 03 or 04 OEM top with the 4-bow frame (which allows better folding of the window), it opens up in the engine service position just like the 03 and 04 cars, without any restriction, and the glass window is held up with a built in strap that is much more integrated than the aftermarket strap solution. Here's my 03 top in the open position when I changed out my dirty air filter:


IMO, no matter how you cut it, getting glass (whether OEM or aftermarket) is the way to go. It allows you to never again have to worry if it's too cold out to put the top down, you never have to get out of the car to make sure the window folds right, you never have to polish the window to make sure it stays soft and without scratches, less risk of vandalism damage with glass, while also updating the look of the car.

[schoir]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

my rear window tore as well. two nickel width cuts that penetrated completely.
My downfall was mostly likely lowering when the temp was below 60. Big no no.
I really don't want to do the glass upgrade because my canvas is spotless. I've taken very good care of it with Raggtopp treatments and cleanings. I'm also not crazy about the limited access of the glass retrofit. I've searched for an OEM unit from a dismantled car but those go fast and the canvas is rarely in as good a shape as my car. I also prefer the far wider visibility of the plastic window. My plastic is crystal clear. I'd rather put the $1200+ for a new glass top and labor towards major maintenance like suspension, clutch or new wheels, tires, paint touch ups, Nav, etc. I've done top replacements on other cars and they don't always turn out perfect, things get loose requiring fiddling every time you lower or raise. I'd rather avoid all that.
Maybe I can find someone to do the plastic swap for a recession buster price.

Perfectlap:

I might be able to help you out.
Send me a PM. Your PM box is full.

Regards, Maurice.