Windshield replacement - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

gstoli · 07-20-2009, 11:09 AM

My windshield was full of small scratches. Last Saturday I managed to brake it.
Unfortunatelly, I did not have this included in my insurance policy, so I would have to pay for the replacement.

I called several companies and I have two best offers.
One is at $695 for the OEM windshield.
The second is $450 for an aftermarket one, from a different glass shop.

Does the quality of the OEM or any other reason justify this big difference in $$$?

Has anyone here replaced his windshield?

Thanks!

George

9eighty6 · 07-20-2009, 01:21 PM

Does the aftermarket one have the integrated AM/FM antenna, or is it just glass?

If not, that would probably account for the difference.

rick3000 · 07-20-2009, 01:53 PM

Does the stock windshield have an integrated antenna? I've never heard of that before.

gstoli · 07-20-2009, 02:04 PM

Yes, the aftermarket has the integrated antenna. It is the first thing they ask you (if you have the antenna in the windshield) when you call for a quote.

ChrisZang · 07-20-2009, 02:17 PM

My windshield needed replacement about a year ago
It's covered in my warranty so I insisted that it will be fixed at Porsche.
When I picked up the car after the work was done, the Porsche service adviser all but admitted that they "outsource" windshield replacement to the same companies where you get your non-OEM windshield repair.

So save yourself a few bucks here...

yimmy149 · 07-20-2009, 02:59 PM

I don't know how things work with Porsche, but I went through this with my Mazda. The dealer said they outsource installation, but provide the OEM glass.

I ended up going through Safelite, and they installed an aftermarket windshield. I immediately noticed optical distortion around the edges of the windshield, and more road noise. Plus they used their own rubber seals, so the windshield surround doesn't look factory.

I'd go 100% OEM on the Porsche.

-james

rick3000 · 07-20-2009, 03:50 PM

Could someone explain this antenna to me? Is there an antenna in the windshield?

ChrisZang · 07-20-2009, 03:59 PM

look closely and you see two very small parallel (vertical) lines in the middle of the windshield. That's the antenna, and I guess that also explains why the antenna, well sucks

vath2001 · 07-20-2009, 04:01 PM

I am assuming I have an aftermarket glass in my '98. It is a Pilkington windshield with the antenna.
I don't know who does the OEM for Porsche.

Its a windshield and it looks fine.