Aftermarket vs. OEM glass top
 

I'm looking at two glass tops right now with a $200 difference in price. One is an aftermarket top on the old style frame without a headliner, and the second is the OEM glass top, new style frame with a headliner.

My top is manual and will stay that way so engine access isnt an issue if it's truly as easy as I understand it to be to remove the top (just a few bolts right?). I also hardly ever need to access the engine.

Is the OEM glass window any larger or different in other ways? How about headliner vs no headliner noise levels? The plastic window top I have now has a headliner so would it be a harsh transition to go to no headliner?

Thanks

I installed a 2004 top and frame on my 2000 Boxster. Because of the design of the later frame, the window on the 2003 and 2004 OEM tops is larger than the window in the aftermarket tops on 1997-2002 frame. I've heard some people describe looking out the back window of an aftermarket top as "looking through a mail slot."

Installation is easy.

I didn't have a headliner on my OEM plastic window top. The headliner gives the car a more upscale feel. The OEM top with glass window and headliner definitely reduced the noise in the cabin when compared to the plastic window and no headliner. I don't know how much of the noise reduction can be credited to the headliner.

If the OEM top and frame are in good shape I would choose that option. The only potential issue is that the OEM top will be at least 21 years old, and it may show some wear.

Good luck with your decision.

thanks that was a very detailed answer. I'll try to go for the OEM top then but it does look to be in worse shape but maybe I'll keep looking out then.

If I recall correctly, searching for a good 2003/2004 top and frame was my hobby for over a year. They are likely to be less plentiful now than when I was in the market.

If the 2003/2004 top you are considering is in acceptable condition, you can use it for a while and then replace the canvas portion when you have time and resources. (If I understand correctly, the replacement tops that fit the 2003/2004 frame have the larger rear window.) Of course, that would add to your overall expense.

Here's a picture of my car with the 2004 top installed:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1732022854.jpg


Post #11 in this thread https://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/7260-gahh-glass-window-top.html shows several photos of an aftermarket top on earlier frame. The window is smaller, but it may be acceptable to you.

I replaced the original cloth top w/plastic window on my 1998 Boxster with the cloth and glass rear window.

YES, the glass window is smaller than the plastic window but the reduced size really doesn't matter to me at all. Since my 98 is a summer sunny weather driver, I keep the top down about 95% of the time....so the size of the rear window is of little concern. Having said that, the few times I've needed to "defrost" the rear window I've appreciated the heating wires in the glass window. My 98 was already wired up from the factory with the proper electrical connection and instrument panel on/off lighted switch.

Best of all no more worries of the plastic window, cracking, fogging, dis-coloring, or need for the Boxster window "karate chop"....LOL

How often do you check your power steering level? Both of my 987Ss don't leak but are always a titch low on fluid. Ignore the resevoir and get ready for an expensive repair. I always check the level in my Cayman before doing a DE. Thankfully it's very easy to get to the top of the engine on a Cayman.

How often do you change your engine air filter? Hopefully it's not one of those K&N style filters that needs oiling to keep it working. Not oiling it means dirt is going directly into your engine. Personally, I'd change it back to a factory paper filter, but that's just me.

Service mode and removing speakers, etc, doesn't make it easy to get to the top of a Boxster engine. And now that I've typed this up, I think I need to go check my PS level in my Box. ;)

Great point, haven't checked in quite a while but I'll be checking tonight. I decided to go with the newer top mechanism anyway just for the headliner and larger window but engine access is a good point. And no, I just have a regular air filter that I replace when it needs it.

Good point, the top looks like it should be fine for the forseeable future. Not nearly as pretty as yours but it'll do

Yup very excited. Mine's a daily so top up days do occur, mostly in the summer actually. At this point anything at all is better than what I have in terms of rearward visibility but I think the difference in price is still worth the extra visibility for me.