Time for a new top. Asking a few questions.
 

So the temperature drop claimed my plastic window this weekend (only 52 degrees F though?). Now I'm in the market for a glass window. I'm looking at GAHH. Here's where I'm at:

Got quoted $1250 for top and labor. The other shop I called said they don't do Boxsters, but said the first guy is the best "top guy" in town. Sound like a good deal?

German A5 vs. Sonnendeck: Which one should I go for? Seems like the difference is A5 is supposed to keep out noise. Also, I didn't clarify at the time, but I'm assuming the quote I got is for the Sonnendeck since that with the A5 would be too much of a steal in labor. Will try to clarify later.

Glass top: I hear it makes getting to the engine a lot more difficult. Is it worth it? Will it add to my labor costs in the future?

Defroster: the installer said on my 2000 model the defroster cannot be connected. That makes sense, but I thought I read somewhere that the defroster actually can be retrofitted? Can it be activated through the rear view defrosters?

Color: Factory top was indigo/blueish on ocean blue metallic. I like the look, but do y'all have any other recommendations? I think black would look good (interior is black on blue) but it's also much more common (although cheapest option). Other colors?

Is GAHH where I should go or should I look at other suppliers?

Thanks for your input. :cheers:

I have had both glass and plastic and getting to the engine is no different.

It's interesting that you should say that because virtually everyone that has put a glass replacement top on a 3-bow frame has commented on increased difficulty accessing the engine. This is why peeps commonly look for a 4-bow frame from an 03 or 04 car when they want to replace the plastic window with glass.

That would be because Trimer lists his car as an 03

The glass window on a 2000 does limit access to the engine somewhat but it is still very manageable

It also has a much smaller rear window for viewing in the rearview mirror

That seems like a great price

I have a Gahh top with glass window and German A5 material and love it. Mine was around $1500 installed and I would never go back to a lame plastic window again. The glass does make it slightly more challenging to get into the engine bay but sheesh... the minor inconvenience once a year is outweighed 100 fold by the magnificent clear glass window that no longer requires a Boxster chop each time you open your top. I say go for it!

:cheers:

I learn something everyday on this site. 3 bow or 4 bow...was not even aware that the tops would be different. my last box was an 02 with the plastic and for what it is worth, I also would have given up a little when putting into service mode to have the glass window on the 02 as well. never needed changed but hands down the glass window is fantastic.

I'm messing with both kinds on two different Boxsters ('98 and '00). The glass top is superior and IMHO makes the car look newer.

Engine access is a little tougher with the glass window but certainly not a show stopper.
1. For normal access to top of engine, connect a bungee or some sort of strap from front of unlatched top to the rear bow and you can keep the glass window up and out of the way without fighting it.
2. If engine work requires prolonged access to the top of the motor, remove entire top assembly and set it out of the way. Top assembly can be removed in about 30 minutes. Install always take me a bit longer as I always seem to 'have fun' getting the first bolt on each side lined up and started.

I got my top off of eBay from Auto Tops Direct. Lots of discussion here that GAHH owns ATD. I couldn't see a difference and I am very happy with the glass! It is sooooo nice not to have to chop the plastic one! I bought the Blue, very nice. I paid $559 shipped for the top and $500 for the labor to install. The same shop that did the install sells GAHH and the quote for it was $1500 installed. They had never done an ATD but once they saw it, they also couldn't see the difference.

Defroster
 

Your 2000 has all the wiring for the defroster installed. It is there for the hardtop option. You would just need to source a cable to go from glass to plug behind drivers seat.

The top should include the defroster cable, plug and play!

I just installed a new top with the glass window in my 02 by myself. I purchased it directly from Autotopsdirect. It was an 8 hour job to install with about 4 hours of assistance from a "helper." The end result looks great and I have gotten a lot of compliments. As others have said, the glass window does interfere somewhat with the engine access but that is a small price to pay for the clarity of the glass.

Initially I noticed the similarities between this top and the GAHH top. I called GAHH and asked them about the 2 tops and what the differences were between them. The woman I spoke with told me that they are in fact the same tops. Needless to say I ordered the top from Autotopsdirect.

Out of curiosity, how difficult is it to install the top yourself? If it's just a matter of time and endurance, I think I'd be fine. But if it required some skill or ability, I think I'd be out of luck.

My main reason for wanting to have it professionally installed is that they are responsible and I know it will (should) look great and work perfectly. If I install, I could mess it up beyond fix.

The Autotopsdirect pricing, though, has me bargain minded again. Not sure what to do.

Right now, I'm in the process of installing a top (ebay) on my wife's '04 350Z. I'm in the middle of it now and feel that the effort to install will be about the same as the Boxster.

So far, no real issues with the install. I had to stop as I managed to buy the wrong size rivets.

After the 350Z, my 2000S will be next. I've already purchased the top and will get after in in the next few weeks.

It's definitely a challenge, and it really helps to have an assistant. There are lot of bits and pieces so I would suggest taking lots of pictures as you do the disassembly in case you forget how parts of it go back together. You get one shot at the stages requiring contact cement.

I'd also look into getting a complete top with frame off of a 03-04 car. It's a cinch to pull the entire thing off and reinstall with a helper.

I had a top installed on my old 986 by the PO, and it never looked right fit wise. If you get one put on, be a stickler and send it back for readjustment if it doesn't look 100% factory tight when they're done.

I had glass rear window on my 2000, and it was more difficult than it should've been to get under to do maintenance. I was able to do waterpump, air filter, clutch, IMSB, and top transmission with it on though. I realized, however, that it was super easy to unbolt and lift off after those jobs and did that for future work.

Where are you located. I replaced mine with glass last year.
Found an installer who works for a hot rod shop and he charged me $300 to remove the old one and install the top. He said it was one of the easiest top he ever worked on. He got it done in less than 3 hours (removal and install the new one).
I got my top from Robbins.

Wow!

I would like to meet the man that can do a Boxster top in less than 3 hours and only charged $300.

I must admit the second time around would be easier, but I still wouldn't want to do another one!

I ordered it today and explained to her about the defroster plug. I think it's a very good price considering. I will update with any info and hopefully some pics in a few weeks. Thanks for all the help!

Which one did you order?

GAHH A5 in black.

Mine came with the defroster wire included from auto tops direct. The socket is already there and you just plug in in.

his name is Dave. He owns a home based shop, called M D trim shop in canton, Michigan.
he is doing this as a side, he works in National Parts Depot doing lots of muscle cars interior and tops.

My plastic window was spotless until it similarly succumbed to below freezing incident. I was hesistant to go with the M1 Tank field of vision with a glass unit so I had the plastic window replaced for $400. Not the smartest move looking back as the money would have been better spent goiing towards the replacement top but my canvas was in excellent shape.

But to all the plastic window owners, don't clear ice/or snow from it with any force. And certainly don't use an ice-scraper. I managed a hairline crack simply sliding a piece of ice off the plastic to quickly. At freezing temps it can break easily. Best thing is to pour hot water over it. And if you want to lower the top below 60 degrees warm up the cabin after driving for about 10 minutes first. Don't drive off on a cold day with the top down from a cold start. You'll wreck the plastic. Greater visibility requires a bit more care with these tops.

I met another Boxster owner at a coin-operated car wash who said the same.
Piece of cake once you know what you're doing. He even offered to help me with mine, as in for free. Which made me think that it couldn't be very time consuming if a total stranger, however helpful, was willing to do another. I checked out the operation and fit of his new top and it looked 100% factory tight.

I will need a new top soon as well, I am getting a small hole on the driver's side and the window is in rough shape. I highly recommend placing fleece in the plastic window when you chop it, and if you take it to a mechanic insist that they replace the fleece. Unfortunately, mine did not and I went almost a year before I noticed, causing lots of scratches to the plastic while under the hardtop.

Can anyone comment on the difference between the rear visibility of the plastic vs glass on pre-03 (3 bow) tops?

I know it is narrower, but I am curious to hear some opinions after people have driven with it for a while. Does it decrease visibility in any direction, or is it just narrower?

Thanks!

Yes the window is narrower but the visibility is so much better than the hazy plastic! I highly recommend going with a glass replacement.

I installed mine on my 2000 base a while ago, Gahh top with glass window.
It is worth every penny, my insurance paid 1700, so you are getting a good deal.
They also installed defroster, it can be done, the shop didn't even mentioned that it couldn't be installed.

Engine access is a bit harder and you have to get used to smaller window however the car looks way better with new top, it's quieter, and I can drop the top at any any temperature

I say go for it, you won't regret it

Sasha

Just finished my first top install....on a 2004 350Z Roadsterwe acquired back in late July! I hadn't planned to do the top right away but as we drove the car and exercised the top, it started to develop holes and tears too big to ignore.

It took me a couple of days but was very straight forward. Removal time for old top was about 2-3 hours. Install took about 6 or 7. If I was doing another, I'd estimate 1.5 hours to remove and about 4 to install.

The top had 18 rivets to drill out and replace other than that, top was screws and double sided tape. Some tugging was required but nothing that ever made me question the top or my install. The top looks nice and tight and I'm pleased with the result.

My 2000 Boxster S is next but I may wait a week or two...

Glass window is on! The problems with visibility are overstated, imo. You can easily see headlights. Only thing that's cut off is the top of taller vehicles. And if your plastic window was as clouded as mine was, it's like going from a 1940s tv the the newest HD flatscreen.

New issue though: A few hooks on the interior lining without places to hook onto. I read the below thread from renntech and vaguely understand what's supposed to happen, but I wanted to check in and see if anyone else has mended this.

I've got the car in service mode, I see the bar under the B-pillar, but am not sure which way to thread the hook and elastic. Anybody have more in depth step-by-step or better pictures than the renntech one? Conv Roof Interior elastic band with hook - 986 Series (Boxster, Boxster S) - RennTech.org Forums

Glass window is difficult to get around. Right now it's sorta just laying flat, adjacent to the roll bar. Pedro says fold the glass over the convertible top, but that seems easier said than done and the picture isn't helping me. Accessing the Engine

Ok I figured out the hooks. Took a lot of time, but hopefully now they will stay in place.

I mentioned earlier that the glass was laying flat next to the rollbar. Well, I'm pretty sure the edge of the glass put a few paint chips in my roll bar. :( Anybody else have this happen? Maybe it was my novice in dealing with the glass in service position, but I am so frustrated by this.

I'm thinking of replacing my top with another plastic window top - do you know if the low temp brittleness is an issue from new - or just worsens with age. In other words if I replace with another plastic window am I at risk for breaks from day one ?

Yes. The plastic window is always at risk below 40F and gets more brittle with age.

My plastic window on a 2002S cracked at a temp just below 60. Glass replacement has not been a problem even in the 40's.

Same. Although mine was not cared for properly when I purchased so I knew I would be replacing it for safety and aesthetic reasons. It had to be around 60F when it cracked.

My rear window is coming unstitched, and it has the beginning of crack in it. Now I'm trying to decide on a hard top/zeintop, replacing the plastic window, or replacing the whole top with one that has a glass window. I had two questions.

1. Does the hard top or a Zeintop require removal of the soft top or is that just left in it's normal folded position when the top is on? I'm thinking of putting the hard top on, and removing the soft top and repairing it at my leisure this winter.

2. Does the 4 bow frame have a larger window than the 3 bow, and will it fit on a 2000 S? Technically that might be 3 questions.

The hard top goes on over the soft top in the down position. The four bow frame top has a larger window. Not sure about the Zeintop.

OEM Hardtop goes over the convertible top. Make sure to place some fleece or similar on the window, if you are folding it for an extended period, especially if it is plastic.

The Zeintop requires you to remove the convertible top and the clamshell.

The 4 bow does have a larger window, in terms of height, almost the same width. It will fit, but finding a 4 bow top at a reasonable price and in your color is very difficult. I think you may have to change the motors as well on some earlier years, but don't quote me on that.

Replaced my 99 top in 2013 because the plastic cracked in about 6 places within 2 months of the first sign of a problem. I went with the GAHH top with glass window.
They also installed the defroster wire.

Very happy!

i have a glass rear window with defroster as well and really enjoy it! Highly recommend!

This is the route I took. A tad more money but IMHO, worth it.