Should I repair or replace my windshield

While driving on the freeway at 70-75 mph, something (I believe it was a nut/bolt combo) hit my windshield. My windshield now has a chip that's roughly the diameter of a golf ball. This feels like a silly question, but is there a chance of something bad happening while on the track with a repaired windshield? Is the windshield subjected to higher stress forces on the track (vs. the street) that could cause the repair to fail? I can get the windshield repaired for under $100 and replaced for just under $700. I understand that all money isn't worth saving...... Is this $600 worth saving?

Not sure about the safety issue but where can you get a windshield replacement for $700?

A Porsche glass installed is around $800. A PPG one should be a few hundred less. I'd recommend you replace the glass since your chip is quite large. If it's totally out of sight and you choose to fix it, you can do so yourself with a glass repair kit for $10. It has resin to fill into the chip. Once dried, it'll make most of the chip disappear except the center where the glass has a hole. I had a chip the size of a dime that is now only the size of a grain of rice after fix (1/10).

Replace it, that ding will be a huge crack at the track, probably won't pass tech anyway.

Two Porsche dealers quoted $700. The quotes included factory glass, trim molding, and labor and (drum roll........) a discount for being a PCA member. I don't think the quotes included tax so I'm sure the final tab will be somewhere north of $700. I've already asked my dealer to order the glass for me. Hope to have the work done by the end of this week.

Windshields are a good reason to set your comprehensive insurance deductible to $0. Comprehensive claims don't count toward premium adjustments, and the difference in cost between a $0 and $500 comprehensive deductible is under $100. It pays for itself the first time you get a rock in the glass!

LiveNupe: Looks like I'm in the same situation as you are with my 40th. Just last weekend my car's windshield was struck by a rock and now has a quarter size bullseye. What dealership is going to perform your replacement? Will they do this on site? TIA

dealership usually outsource it to a glass shop but can provide a factory glass. The installer can pick up the glass from dealer and do it at your work place.

Erik Patino @ Beverly Hills Porsche is taking care of me. You can give him a call at [phone removed] if you're interested. BHP outsources their glass work to a shop that does the work at their location. However, since I work in the Valley and the shop is located in the Valley, they're going to come out to my office for the install tomorrow morning. If you want, I can let you know about the quality of the work after it's completed. If you call Erik, be sure to tell 'em Reggie sent you.

Fast, We missed you on the fun run Sunday. Riozilla and I did the best we could to represent our 40 Jahre brethren, but wished you could have made it. Hope to see you next time!

Thanks Live. Sorry I missed you guys last Sunday. I know you guys did a great job representing the 40th contingency! I'll be seeing you guys about a month from now on Dec 4th for the toys-for-tots run. Sunday, I was having some fun of my own coming back from a trip around Monterey and Big Sur (and getting my windshield broken by nasty flying gravel...) Let me know how your windshield replacement goes. Orient Express provided a great word of caution on a similar post https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/234663-replacing-the-windshield-any-tips.html (check item #3 - i.e: removal of A pillar interior covers and the defroster vent assembly) Regards.

If you have a good windshield repair guy, he will fix it and the repair joints will be stronger than the glass itself. And if properly repaired, it will not spread. Of course, there are plenty of bozos that don't/can't do the repair right, and then there are the useless do-it-your-self kits. But there are plenty of bozos that will botch a windshield replacement too. I had a 6" crack repaired on my 996 6 months ago and no one notices it and it's hasn't gotten any worse.

I had a small chip occur at the track, about the size of a nickle, it looked "ok". By the next morning a crack had extended nearly all the way across the windscreen. Next time I get a chip, I will get it fixed STAT.

Why don't you have glass coverage on your insurance? It pays for itself even if you only have a windshield replaced once every 15-20 years...

I have glass coverage on my insurance. However, I don't feel it's worth the risk to my premiums. I have personal experiences that are contrary to Orient Express'. From what I gather, the factors that impact risk ratings vary by state. Due to the nature of my career, I move around quite a bit (I've changed states 7 times in 20 years) so I tend to be conservative with insurance claims. A few years ago, my wife and I lived in Chicago and had a rash of bad luck. We had several insurance rating "events" within a 3 year span. We were pleasently surprised by the fact that our rates were never increased. When we moved to Dallas, we were shocked to learn that we were considered "high risk" since we were getting the preferred motorist rates in Illinois. However, to our surprise, the comprehensive claims and not-at-fault collision claims (included a replaced windshield on my wife's Lexus) increased our risk rating. Consequently, the insurance companies were quoting ridiculously high premiums. So, since I don't know when we'll have another rash of bad luck or when/where I'll move next, I'm extremely conservative with insurance claims. I consider myself to be self-insured for anything under $1,000-$1,500. I've come to value a clean insurance record almost as highly as having "good credit".