Reflection
 

I felt I deserved a break today so I took a spirited drive down lonely stretches of newly paved country roads. I only had to share the road with a few motorcycles (why weren’t they at work), so many grand vistas with striking scenery, It was such a joyful day.

So on to the reason for my post, I have discovered a huge problem with my new to me Boxster. You are not going to believe my one HUGE complaint, You see the reflection of the dash in the windshield. It is really really bad, its actually horrible. The image is there in both the sun and shade. I know this may sound like a tiny issue to some of you reading this but let me tell you if you can’t see well it makes for a stressful day. Not only was it hard to see where I was going but it made it hard to judge speed and distance. I don’t know if its the beige dash (Ive always had black), or some cleaning solution the previous owner put on the inside (or even outside maybe) of the windshield, or some weird chemical makeup of the windshield from the manufacture, I don’t know the cause. After the long drive today it made me nauseated. It made me dizzy. Didn't ruin my drive, but it sure put a damper on it. Has anyone else experienced this? Do you have any ideas what I can do to alleviate the problem?

Also today I discovered little upside down hooks on the outside edge of the seat backs, the hook is spring loaded and can be moved up and down, I don’t think it has anything to do with the seatbelt because I can’t incorporate it with the use of the seatbelt. Does anyone know the answer to this delima?

Thanks

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1471914393.jpg

So I was looking at the seat and there are hooks on each side of the back.

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If you're referring to Shrek's ears on each side, well those are the setback release. Pull up unlocks and you can move the setback forward, That will enable you to access the massive storage area behind the seats. :)

Your seat pictured doesn't look like standard 986 dare to me. 986's have plastic "hooks" as you call them. (But really what they are are seat-back release levers... You lift up either one, and you can fold the seat back forward to access the area behind the seat :) )

I haven't noticed problems with dashboard reflections in my 986, but it's a black dashboard and also it's a 986 and not a 987 (which does have a different interior.). I have noticed problems with the secondary reflection in the rear view mirror, however, being distracting with the top down. (On a usual hard top car, I find the headliner is not much to reflect, but with the top down, bright trees or other things can cause much brighter and distracting secondary reflections. Solution to that might be using one of those electrically tinting rear view mirrors, but I'll probably just live with it. Oh, there are additional reflections from the windstop piece also, although the worse rear view problem I have at the moment with the top up is the foggy and distortion-inducing plastic rear window. A fix for that is going to the glass rear window. Best of luck!

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Thanks 911monty and jakeru, Now that you tell me what the levers (hooks) are for I was able to find them in my owners manual. Egg in my face!

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Solved
 

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I can really be dense sometimes. Like my asking about the levers on the seat backs.

I’ve been trying my best to come up a solution to the glare issue, thinking I might have to use a dash cover; I really, really didn’t want to do that.

So someone told me to put my sunglasses on to get rid of the glare….. well duh!

I will let you know if its case solved.

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It may be a combination of your height and distance from the windshield that are causing the reflections. You may be at just the wrong angle and the result is the annoying reflection.

If the sunglasses don't work, try varying the distance between you and the windshield and the height of the seat bottom and see if that helps. The steering wheel adjusts a little, but I realize that you may have trouble reaching the pedals if you are too far back or too high up.

By the way, do you have a 986 (1996-2004 model) or a 987 (2005 through the introduction of the 981?)

That's actually a really good idea. Make sure they are polarized (most, but not all sunglasses are), and I'll bet it will "magically" make that glare disappear. :)

I have a 987, a 2007 Boxster S

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The image of the seat is not from my car, it was dark when I posted the image so I stole one from the internet. It is the same lever as those on my seats.

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Yeah figured it was that or your windshield is REALLY screwed up! :eek:

Make sure you do not have that awful ArmorAll or similar crap on your dash - It should be nice and matt. Due to the angle of the windscreen anything on the dash will reflect.
The thingies on the seat enable people to access the back seats :)

Polarized sunglasses work wonders!

I had an 07 Cayman S with a beige int and would also have the glare of the dash into the windshield. It didn't make me dizzy but beige seems to reflect more than gray or black.

Porsche has actually put a little warning on their site about cars with sand beige dashboards. Something to the effect of "some drivers report excessive glare - test drive before buying." If sunglasses don't help, or removing high sheen treatments, you might consider some type of aftermarket black dash cover.

FYI - it's not a problem for me with savanna beige on my 986.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I think this is what MARTHA has for an interior:
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1471959074.jpg

If it has a gloss to it from Armor All or a similar product, I'd recommend using a saddle soap to clean it to more of a matte finish. The previous owner of my white '01 had painted the dash speakers glossy white (black dash). Glare was terrible. one of the first things I did after driving it was pull out the speakers and paint them black. I can understand not wanting to get a dash cover, but it may be the best solution.
Not too expensive and may be good just to keep the sun off when parked.
Amazon and Pelican Parts

Thanks everyone!

Yes this is pretty much the interior I have in my car. I think it has ArmorAll on it but it doesn't seem excessively shiney, but I'm betting it contributes to the problem. I will get some saddle soap; I know nothing about saddle soap, do I need to get spray, liquid or wax? Does anyone want to suggest a brand?

On a brighter note I picked up my license plate today, it was exciting, it now feels like "my car"
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Martha,

I have the same Savannah Beige interior on my white car and really like the look of it and in the middle of the summer, you will appreciate that this interior does not get as hhot as a dark color interior.

The reflections..? I guess that by now I am use to them, and does not bother me any more, but you may want to change a bit the angle or height of the seat to see if helps.

What is the color of your car?

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WoW….. grc0456 is correct, I did a search and there is a class action lawsuit against Porsche over beige colored dashboards being dangerous, beige reflections causing temporary blindness, etc. I certainly can support their claim because the reflection is horrible in my car, very disappointing.

And Porsche’s response, they can’t control the sun. Doubly disappointing.

Just one problem with Porsche’s defense, I see the images when I’m running down a canopied country road, and I see images on cloudy days.

Porsche’s response is unsatisfactory.

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Class action lawsuit over an interior that they chose? Ugh...

Martha: I assume you test drove it first? Like others have said, polarized shades will fix you up. ;)
FWIW, I get some pretty bad glare with the top down and my interior is black. Sunglasses fix that.

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Yes I love the color of the interior and appreciate its not as hot as darker colors.

I have changed the seat height adjustment (up) and that does help some. But I'm old and obese so I have to have the seat in its lowest position so I can get into and out of the car. I'd sure hate having to readjust the seat every time I get into and out of the car.

I think my exterior color is Midnight Blue.

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Well, I'm against class action lawsuits as much as the next guy, I have never had a lawsuit and I can't foresee ever having one, and as I personally would never participate in a lawsuit over windshield reflection I think they may have a case, I can see how it would make the car undriveable for some folks. Can you imagine purchasing a expensive brand new car you can't drive. As I've said the reflection in my car is really really bad. In fact when I was reading about the reflection case I read the judge refused to throw the case out because he said the owner of beige dashboards have a bonafide lawsuit. I'm not taking sides I'm just posting what I've read on the internet.

Yes I did drive it first, its a 10 year old car and I would have been remiss if I had not taken its condition very seriously. I have driven it several times since, but only when I took it for a 6 hour drive did I realize how bad the reflection is.

I'm happy with my car, I'm not going to allow this issue to ruin the joy I have found in my car, but had I know of there being a reflection issue I would have looked for a black dash.

I've never worn sunglasses. When I grew up many moon ago it wasn't popular to wear sunglasses. I'm going to give sunglasses a try first time the sun pops out. It's been raining today but I'm anxious to see how much sun glasses help the issue.

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Also I read somewhere that Porsche had used the “didn’t you drive it first” defense, and the purchaser said he had driven a new 2015 car just like the one he purchased, but the car they give him to try out had a black dash. His point was Porsche knew of the problem for years before he purchased his car and they didn’t inform him of the issue. He couldn’t make an informed decision of an issue he had no knowledge of. And they may have hid the issue giving him a driver with a black dash.

I have no dog in this fight, I don't care about a lawsuit one way or another, its not going to affect me, my reason for posting about a lawsuit was my trying to say looky here, there are others having the same issue with windshield reflection.
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Yeah, I don't buy it. To many entitled people want to blame others for their own bad choices (speaking of the lawsuit, not lumping you in there). Regarding Porsche beige interiors causing reflections, this applies to any make of vehicle with a light interior, not just Porsche. No one else is getting sued over it (that I'm aware of :p).

If you're not into shades, you can get clear or even color tinted polarized driving glasses. ;)


I like this look :D

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/a...CED4FEA0BE.jpg

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I've nothing against sun glasses just for some reason I've never worn them, this is a good excuse to buy a pair (or two). LoL

Thanks for your help!

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Love the Image!!!

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PM sent. I might have something to help

Use polarized sunglasses.

I had a used 986 with a light gray dash. It was terrible (not as bad as tan.)

Had a good upholsterer dye the top half of the dash a 'Satin' black. Huge difference.

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I was wondering if maybe I could dye the top of the dash black, but I'm scared I will mess it up.

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Tcar, could you please post a couple of pictures of your two tone dash? It sounds like a neat idea!

. . . . . . .http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1472048394.jpg

The sun is shining bright today, I have my sunglasses on and I’m going for a drive to see if they defeat the reflections.

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Any light colored dash is going to cause reflections on the glass in every car on the road today.

Black dashes are probably the least reflective.

The solution is to remove the glass on that Lawsuit plaintiffs car, once again reaffirming that a hammer is the solution to all problems. :eek:

Personally I chose to act like an intelligent human being that has evolved past the caring of his mothers bossom, and bought some polarized sunglasses, but alas, now its hard to see the climate control readings due to the polarization.

As one acquires wisdom it becomes very apparent that all solutions are a compromise of some form or another.

Love 'em, haha! :D

I have a beige dash and never noticed a reflection, but I always wear Costas

Martha, I have a gray dash...FWIW, I'm 6'3 and and at normal driving/seating position, I see the speakers reflecting more than the dash. If I raise the seat back to more of a vertical position, I see more of the dash...If I lower the seat back/recline, I see much less of anything. Perhaps you can tinker with your seat position to find the least distracting position.

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Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

I drove it today while wearing sunglasses and the reflective image is still there just as bad as I remember. However while the image is still there it doesn’t seem as scintillating or gleaming when I’m wearing sun glasses. I don’t know how to explain it, its just easier on the eyes somehow. Sunglasses definitely helped.

ArizonaDan… I have tried different seat positions and some are less distracting than other, however I am obese and I am limited on how much I can change the seating positions. As Dan said I mostly see the vents and speakers and the rest of the dash not so much. If I cannot find a manufactured cover I may make one of my own design, I think it needing to be less than half as wide (front to back) as the ones I’ve seen online.
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great....
 

...great.... NOW .....I will notice dash glare.......thanks

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I believe there is some truth to what you are saying. Is it that I've noticed the glare and now I can't stop looking at it. LoL

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polarized sunglasses eliminates the problem completely for me. FWIW I am finding the glare from other vehicles at night wanting me to wear driving glasses at night. Part of getting older?