Replacing plastic back window '01 Boxster's Top - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Cloudsurfer · 02-24-2008, 03:26 PM

Personally, I wouldn't mess with trying to fix this yourself. Most shops will charge $400-$500 to sew in a new rear glass. Keep in mind, the factory plastic is stitched AND glued in place- the repair will only be stitched, and will likely never be as taught. There is no way to install a glass window into your plastic top.

I would go to GAHH.com. You can either purchase a new top with glass or plastic. Figure a couple hundred for installation.

Patrick

kabel · 02-24-2008, 06:44 PM

That crack will only get progressively worse. Patrick is correct, I know from experience. I recently hand stitched in a new piece of plastic and never plan to try that again!
I wanted a new gahh glass window top but experienced successive multiple what I call 'out of budget experiences' that put getting a new top way down on the priority list. So I opted to invest a little sweat equity and discovered it was a task that takes a lot of time, way more than I had anticipated. Took me a week of evenings to get it stitched in and the result is marginal at best, however I now have a rear window and that was really the point of that little adventure ($80 + 24 hours labor vs. $1800 for a new top).

My advise, if you can justify the cost, is a new top with glass window, which means no more need for the boxster 'chop'.

djomlas · 02-25-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kabel

That crack will only get progressively worse. Patrick is correct, I know from experience. I recently hand stitched in a new piece of plastic and never plan to try that again!
I wanted a new gahh glass window top but experienced successive multiple what I call 'out of budget experiences' that put getting a new top way down on the priority list. So I opted to invest a little sweat equity and discovered it was a task that takes a lot of time, way more than I had anticipated. Took me a week of evenings to get it stitched in and the result is marginal at best, however I now have a rear window and that was really the point of that little adventure ($80 + 24 hours labor vs. $1800 for a new top).

My advise, if you can justify the cost, is a new top with glass window, which means no more need for the boxster 'chop'.

mind posting some pics of your work?
did you remove the top from the car, or did you do it while it was still attached to the car?

kabel · 02-25-2008, 04:11 PM

I'm not sure I want to post pics of this one, not my best work

. If your on Renntech I sort-of took over another thread about a top, there are a couple pics there as well as some discussion of the process.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=17836&st=20&p=94287&#entry94287

I removed the entire top and worked on it in my living-room floor. Actually getting the top off was amazingly easy, just eight bolts total and the whole thing lifts off.

marco · 02-25-2008, 05:17 PM

I just dropped $400.00 bones for a new tinted plastic iwindow installed.
Top was removed, new marine grade plastic installed. My guy did a great job.
I will drop the cash for a new top with glass in 2-3 years.

RZimm1 · 03-01-2008, 07:20 AM

Hey all,
Thanks for great input. I think I'm convinced not to take on the install myself. Little self confidence in artsy detail work. Kabel sounded like he was glad to have the project done and that he wasn't sure the final product was as good as hoped for.

I'm still unsure if one can pay to have a glass window installed into the existing canvas top of what was a plastic window top? In other words, if I want a glass window do I have to get a whole new top with glass, or will a shop install glass where plastic had been? Also what should I expect to pay? (I understand there may be regional differences etc.) Will there be issues with the defrosting element? I've read kabel's thread, and jiinc's iput. Very informative, great stuff and I saw the photos. If you guys have explained what I'm asking sorry I've missed the point. Thanks for some help.

kabel · 03-01-2008, 08:02 AM

I have not heard of anyone modifying a plastic window top to accommodate a glass window. Sounds like more effort than would be worth it in the end, and I doubt any reputable top shop would want to undertake that.

I have seen people quote anywhere from $250 to $600 to have a new plastic window put into their top. What most shops want to do is remove the canvas from the frame to install a new window, that is why it gets so expensive (labor). Knowing what I know now, I would consider finding a shop that would agree to replace the window while the top is still on the frame. Like I mentioned, removing the top from the car was actually very easy.

If you are part of your local PCA, ask around to find top shop that has experience with Porsches.

99 Boxcutter · 07-06-2011, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kabel

I'm not sure I want to post pics of this one, not my best work

. If your on Renntech I sort-of took over another thread about a top, there are a couple pics there as well as some discussion of the process.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=17836&st=20&p=94287&#entry94287

I removed the entire top and worked on it in my living-room floor. Actually getting the top off was amazingly easy, just eight bolts total and the whole thing lifts off.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.... Stop the press. I have a parts car (some of you have been unfortunate to see) but the top is just fine. You're telling me I could just swap these out with a few bolts? Which ones?

MN 986 · 07-07-2011, 04:56 AM

Yes, you can swap the whole frame and top from another car (plastic window or 2003-2004 glass window) in about an hour. I replaced my plastic window top on my 2002 with a 2004 OEM top using the instructions I will try to attach below. The same procedure would be used to swap another plastic window top/frame unit. It was surprisingly easy. Good luck.

I couldn't attach the pdf so here is a link to Mike Focke's page on the subject. Open the pdf files on the bottom of the page for instructions and pictures.

http://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/installinga%2703-%2704glasstopandframeona%2797

ProjectM96 · 07-20-2011, 09:56 AM

I replaced my rear window on my Boxster for $300 total with labor in NE Philly. It took 4 hours. They gave me a nice dot approved rear window.

They took the top off the car, cut out the old plastic. Sewn in the new plastic. Then put the top back on.

You can't replace the rear window with glass or hard plastic because of the way the top folds. The glass or hard plastic would have to be fold-able.