Replacing a Porsche windscreen through Autoglass - Page 2 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

Has anyone had experience replacing a Porsche windscreen through Autoglass or similar? How did you make sure they replaced everything to the original standard? Was there any problem getting an OEM screen? Do you need to request that they send out someone experienced with this type of car? My car is a 987 and the windscreen is peppered with many little tiny stone-chips.

There’s an expert on here called Glassman I believe, he really knows Porsches and may be able to advise…

This thread may be of some interest. Started by Paul, aka GlassMan, who would be me go-to person for this https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

DarkVeil said: Has anyone had experience replacing a Porsche windscreen through Autoglass or similar? Many have been through the process; the results will vary. DarkVeil said: How did you make sure they replaced everything to the original standard? You can't. All you can do is hope. DarkVeil said: Was there any problem getting an OEM screen? Your insurance company will have nominated a preferred repairer. This is based on them having national coverage and having a direct billing arrangement. The repairer will be keen to use aftermarket glass in order to service the contract. DarkVeil said: Do you need to request that they send out someone experienced with this type of car? You don't need to, but it might help. However, you'll get the best suited technician who is on shift for the day. He may or may not have done one before. DarkVeil said: My car is a 987 and the windscreen is peppered with many little tiny stone-chips. The interpretation of damage might be explained in your policy.

I dropped my car off at my local indi who’ve serviced the car for me previously and asked Autoglass to do the replacement at indi’s premises with them overseeing. Took 2 failed screen attempts before Autoglass relented and fitted a Porsche OEM screen to ensure a decent job.

GT3Gooner said: I dropped my car off at my local indi who’ve serviced the car for me previously and asked Autoglass to do the replacement at indi’s premises with them overseeing. Took 2 failed screen attempts before Autoglass relented and fitted a Porsche OEM screen to ensure a decent job. You did well. A Cayman I was called in to rescue had no fewer than SEVEN attempts, two of which were by an OPC.

I had the screen on my Cayman replaced by "Auto Windscreens" (they were the people my insurer contracted to do the job) and they did an excellent job first time and with no issues (that I could detect). I am obviously not an expert in this area but I am a bit anal and I couldn't find anything to differentiate it from the original screen (both in terms of material and fit). I assume the screen was a pattern part (I didn't specify OEM). Obviously the quality of the actual glass must matter but I think the skill of the individual fitter is perhaps the biggest differentiator? I fitted a windscreen myself when my race car needed a new one and whilst it is entirely functional, I created a fair few scratches removing the old one and the actual fit itself is by no means perfect (and on a road car would probably cause all sorts of issue)

Wow seven failed attempts? What exactly constitutes a 'fail'? Autoglass - when I used them years ago they had 'bricks and mortar' premises where you could book an appointment but I heard they are purely a mobile service now. I would prefer (and certainly for a high value car) for the work to be done indoors in decent conditions rather than on my driveway.

If you use OEM glass what makes Porsches so special to fit a windscreen? Faulty design? Appreciate sensor re calibration is probably different but the physical glass replacement… what’s the big deal?

I had them replace a cracked screen on a nearly new Golf R. A couple of years later it need another windscreen, which was annoying in itself as the previous one was the first ever replacement that I had had in 30 years. I got a local independent fitter out who showed me the cuts and gashes in the trim around the screen pillars where the Autoglass bloke had removed the original screen with what must have been a machete. He had also cracked the cover for the rain sensor and bodged it up with screen glue.

some are good and some are 'beginners' or? so it depends who you get to work on your car, some love special cars and if you stay with them they are I guess more careful. in 1 situation with a special car a one of but on a BMW based, I ordered a BMW window, not a alternative brand, which can be just as good, but I wanted the BMW brand in the window for sale later on :-) Then I came again when they had ordered a special from BMW which of course took them some extra ordening and days, but no problem for me, then I came and the guy opened the package and saw, oeps, not the BMW example and said, nope, not for your car, so he ordered again within their system and that time another few days, it was the right one :-) meanwhile my car was at my home could be used, had just a little crack, I don't leave my (special to me) cars in their shop, I only bring it when all is there to do the job that day. The guy who did the job was the bos of that station, did also some extra good work for free :-) So I was happy, but yeah, you can get a bad repair, but with a big company they want to keep their name, so I guess in the end it will be ok if you keep an eye on it (best) good luck.

We cracked our Macan's windscreen 50 miles after picking the car up. We had it replaced through the insurance. Anyway a year or so later when the car was in for an MOT there was a note saying its a none OEM windscreen. My GF kicked up a fuss with the insurer as we have heard stories about how harsh they can be with warranty etc. They agreed to have it replaced. Its been cracked since and this time we pushed for an OEM one and it was fine.

I had last car's (718C) windscreen change done by Autoglass at my house. I stipulated having OEM glass, which had to be ordered specifically and meant paying about the double excess, so about £200ish. Guy seemed familiar with the cars and was clearly not new to the job by a long chalk. PX'd the car at an OPC a few weeks back with no issues re windscreen which they checked.

My last 911 ended up with a crack and the insurers said to use one or other big national- can’t recall which that they had a back scratching deal with. I explained I wanted an OEM screen and to have the OPC sort it. Had to jump through some hoops. Eventually explained to a manager that if they underwrote any voided warranty issues that may result then they could go ahead. Was in the OPC later that week.

Had my Macan screen changed by Autoglass. Took it to their premises in Worthing and had to leave it for a couple of hours. On return the manager gingerly said that the front camera wouldn't calibrate. He was very apologetic and sort of hinted that he knew this would happen as they don't fit OEM. He basically told me how to complain and insist on an OEM screen. I did and it was booked back in again... expect they sent the wrong screen. Third time lucky and all was fine. Fair play to the team down there who I very much felt were on my side but had to follow head office process. He said that wasn't possible to insist on an OEM initially; there had to be a fault for them to then change it.

I would recommend using Glassman (he’s already posted on this thread). That way you know it’s going to be perfect. He did a fantastic job replacing the windscreen on my 996, it took several hours as the factory glue really didn’t want to release the screen, but he didn’t rush at all, the chap is a real craftsman who knows his trade and Porsches inside out. Much better than taking a risk with anyone else where it’s hard to guarantee you’ll get the right windscreen and a sufficiently skilled fitter

Mark V GTD said: Wow seven failed attempts? What exactly constitutes a 'fail'? This was the last attempt (at an OPC). They even tried telling the owner that he was being unreasonable with unrealistic demands and that the fit cannot be any better.

Seven attempts at fitting the same piece of glass presumably?

Mark V GTD said: Seven attempts at fitting the same piece of glass presumably? Nope. Each attempt was a new windscreen. If you look at the windscreen in the image, it's only been in once. AFAIK (from the owner) the insurance company's nominated people came to remove and refit the first attempt, but broke the windscreen taking it out. This was generally the pattern of events although I'm sure someone went home with a secondhand windscreen to sell on eBay.

Just had a pilkington screen fitted to my 996 by Autoglass. Overall positive experience and happy with the end result. Did have to get the fitter to recover the top seal from the bin bag in the back of his van - he thought it looked fine without it but I begged to differ! He was very grateful that I had spotted his mistake.

Glassman said: This was the last attempt (at an OPC). They even tried telling the owner that he was being unreasonable with unrealistic demands and that the fit cannot be any better. That’s Silverstone OPC for you!