Windscreen replacement - OPC or Autoglass?

Just got a crack right across driver's eye-line What does everyone recommend? Trust Autoglass? or stick with OPC? OPC = £100 excess, pay the bill and claim it back, collect and deliver car, minimum inconvenience - but booking 3 weeks ahead and my car's a (currently technically MOT failure) daily driver! Autoglass = £60 excess, pay that and forget it, but car has to be driven to nearest centre (20 miles) and stay there 2 1/2 hours while job is done? Can be done tomorrow! What would you do? :?

I would try another OPC or two.

I had mine done by Autoglass, I knew t was risky but it was the least time consuming way. When the guy rolled up I spent time with him going through the process - Had he done 911 before? etc, talking about importance of fit etc... He did a good job, I may have been lucky as he was genuinely interested in the car and wanted to do a good job!!

I'm going to need mine doing soon as the seal is coming loose and to replace the windscreen needs removing. When I asked at a OPC they said it would be quite expensive and I would be better off "waiting" for a chip and getting AutoGlass to do it.

I had multiple problems and delays when my insurer sent me to Autoglass. In the end I insisted that they let me take it to my OPC to get the windscreen replaced. Payed the bill and claimed back from insurance company, payed £60 excess.

Aren't the OPC supposed to call Autoglass out to replace the screen but the OPC fit the seal?

Thanks guys - Autoglass won't come out to do a Porsche according to the person who answered the phone - they insist on it being in their workshop incase the weather changes and the seal doesn't 'cure' properly or something! Booked it in to another OPC as I suddenly remembered I was working near the one I bought it from next week.

Screen fitting is a specialist area would call out autoglass personally.

Autoglass gets my vote. They are used to doing all manner of vehicles and their work is guaranteed. Bonding and seals are no problem to them because they do it all the time unlike Porsche technicians which will be more like once in a blue moon IMO.

mine needs replacing soon, but hadn't even thought about taking it to anyone bar autoglass...same as everyone else says...its what they do rather than OPC's every now and again.

There is are little lines on the windscreen which look like filaments or something. I am not sure this is for heating or just some sort of aerial. ( My car has PCM2 with phone). Is it still okay for autoglass?

I believe its the Aerial. Tis on my 993, again proved no issue for Autoglass.

-1 for Autoglass Just picked my 996 up from the OPC (another story another time) I had a 12 inch crack across the windscreen which was covered by insurance who use Autoglass. Anyway, my thinking was that since it was in an OPC that the Autoglass tech guy would be careful and pay attention to what he was doing. WRONG , big bloody 'Z' shaped scratch in the dash infront of the instrument cluster. Well at least 2 inches by an inch... P!ss!ing Bl00dy hell... They said they'd fix it and were quite understanding over the phone but bl00dy hell.... :x

Unlucky Stuart. It's almost like these companies expect to feck up the job and then repair any damage afterwards :evil: Hope it's sorted for you.

I did some tips for ppl changing their windscreen on their 997. I will never go to AUTOGLASS again. Okay. These are my tips. Autoglass replaced mine and made a pigs ear of it. Had to get the OPC to fit it again as I refused to let Autoglass have another go. My insurance co. understood my issues and let me take it to the OPC so it could be done properly. Anyway, here's what I remember specifically. 1) Porsche are the only supplier of front windscreens, so you will get an OEM part and not some crappy pattern part. 2) Make a mental note of any wind/cabin noise before the screen is replaced. You'll be paranoid if you feel it is noisier when it's replaced. 3) Check the seal around the glass in situ. Show this to the company changing the glass as it's quite a precise thing refitting it. It looks like the glass isn't fitted correctly as you can see the edge of the glass. This is correct and quite the norm but the edge you see is only slight. 4) Use your finger to pull the glass seal away from the corner pillar just above the bonnet and check to see if any water is released. I never noticed that the seal trapped water until after it was replaced so I'm not sure if this a problem waiting to happen or the norm. 5) Make sure the glass company doing the fitting has already done a "997" before. When I took mine in they had instructions relating to a 996 which is NOT the same. Muppets. 6) When the glass is removed, there is a secondary seal stuck in the channel. They "MUST" remove this and replace it with the new one that comes with the new windscreen. NOT chuck it away like the idiots did with mine!!! 7) When the glass is replaced, check inside the car around the perimeter to make sure they have not applied too much sealant and it has not squirted out and is visible. It might be difficult to see as the sealant is clear and it's on a black background (The shadow band) 8) Tell them to use the right torque screw size to remove the cover under the wipers as they are easily damaged and look like crap when they are. 9) Connect the Sat Nav connector etc as already mentioned. 10) Use wing protectors that are clean from grit. NOT like they did with mine scratching both wings. In fact point out there are no scratches on the wings before they start. 11) Make sure the rear view mirror is stuck to the glass correctly and seated completely flat. There should be no bubbles. 13) You're supposed to leave the glass stuck in place for 24 hours before you drive it. This ensures the integrity of the body is intact and safe. The body gets a lot of it's strength from the screen. Tell the OPC these tips also as they also cocked mine up.